Kids, and food with added protein

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thought: if you're going to eat a store-bought tortilla, that is already a processed food. So getting the one with protein added is not really negatively changing the equation. Similarly, protein-enriched pasta is usually pasta with chickpea flour added - its just as processed as the non-enriched stuff, but could benefit your athletic kids.

Second thought: I've been getting serious about increasing protein in my own diet, and find that adding mashed lentils/chickpeas as a thickening agent to sauces and curries rarely impacts the taste. That would be a less processed way of incorporating more protein in the foods you might already be eating. Similarly, I sub greek yogurt as the base for any creamy sauce (just don't cook with it, it'll separate in some weird way that sour cream doesn't).

OP here,

I don’t get this logic. I am a busy working mom of multiple kids. I also believe that denying kids things can lead to them craving things, so my kids definitely eat processed food both away from home, where I don’t police at all, and at home where I sometimes choose processed food for convenience.

But that doesn’t mean that I can’t or shouldn’t make choices that move us in the unprocessed direction when that works for our family.

So, for example, one thing that is a hit with my vegetarian kid is quesadilla with refried beans. The first time we made them, I used canned refried beans, pre shredded cheese, store bought tortillas, and store bought salsa. When it turned out they were an easy thing for her to make that she loved, I thought how can we make this less processed, I looked at all the ingredients and decided to do some things. I learned how to make and freeze my own refried beans, I switched to whole wheat tortillas, I read all the labels on the store bought salsa and found one that seemed healthier, and I started serving them with a side of veggies which lead to her automatically going the same. Now if she makes dinner, for the family we are still eating a hybrid of processed (shredded cheese, store bought tortillas, store bought salsa) and home made things, but it’s still healthier than it was. The fact that the tortillas are still processed doesn’t negate the rest of the changes.

This week, I went to the grocery store, and they were out of the brand of whole wheat tortillas I usually buy, which has an ingredient list that starts with water and whole wheat flour, and includes other things I generally recognize, so I grabbed another brand of whole wheat tortillas. When I got home I realized that they were low carb, and the first ingredient were water and modified wheat starch. We were already home so we used them, no one objected.

DH and I had two different reactions. One of us said “ooh these have more protein! Protein is good for our kids! We should serve these every time!” The other said “I would rather serve my kids whole wheat flour, an ingredient I recognize. The meal already had beans and cheese. That’s plenty of protein.”

I don’t know who is right or wrong, which is why I am posting.

…ok? Its still a tortilla which is a processed food. Not sure what you want from us!

Agree. Seems like OP is trying to elicit whatever his/her position is so they can take it back to spouse and say "See!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thought: if you're going to eat a store-bought tortilla, that is already a processed food. So getting the one with protein added is not really negatively changing the equation. Similarly, protein-enriched pasta is usually pasta with chickpea flour added - its just as processed as the non-enriched stuff, but could benefit your athletic kids.

Second thought: I've been getting serious about increasing protein in my own diet, and find that adding mashed lentils/chickpeas as a thickening agent to sauces and curries rarely impacts the taste. That would be a less processed way of incorporating more protein in the foods you might already be eating. Similarly, I sub greek yogurt as the base for any creamy sauce (just don't cook with it, it'll separate in some weird way that sour cream doesn't).

OP here,

I don’t get this logic. I am a busy working mom of multiple kids. I also believe that denying kids things can lead to them craving things, so my kids definitely eat processed food both away from home, where I don’t police at all, and at home where I sometimes choose processed food for convenience.

But that doesn’t mean that I can’t or shouldn’t make choices that move us in the unprocessed direction when that works for our family.

So, for example, one thing that is a hit with my vegetarian kid is quesadilla with refried beans. The first time we made them, I used canned refried beans, pre shredded cheese, store bought tortillas, and store bought salsa. When it turned out they were an easy thing for her to make that she loved, I thought how can we make this less processed, I looked at all the ingredients and decided to do some things. I learned how to make and freeze my own refried beans, I switched to whole wheat tortillas, I read all the labels on the store bought salsa and found one that seemed healthier, and I started serving them with a side of veggies which lead to her automatically going the same. Now if she makes dinner, for the family we are still eating a hybrid of processed (shredded cheese, store bought tortillas, store bought salsa) and home made things, but it’s still healthier than it was. The fact that the tortillas are still processed doesn’t negate the rest of the changes.

This week, I went to the grocery store, and they were out of the brand of whole wheat tortillas I usually buy, which has an ingredient list that starts with water and whole wheat flour, and includes other things I generally recognize, so I grabbed another brand of whole wheat tortillas. When I got home I realized that they were low carb, and the first ingredient were water and modified wheat starch. We were already home so we used them, no one objected.

DH and I had two different reactions. One of us said “ooh these have more protein! Protein is good for our kids! We should serve these every time!” The other said “I would rather serve my kids whole wheat flour, an ingredient I recognize. The meal already had beans and cheese. That’s plenty of protein.”

I don’t know who is right or wrong, which is why I am posting.

Glyphosate tortillas are not good for your child whether they have protein or not. Find a non wheat version or make your own.

Glyphosate is use even more on corn crops than wheat. You are guiding OP to more Roundup rather than less. Intentional?

Are there no organic corn crops?

[Anonymous]

I think the current push for protein, protein, protein is bonkers. Americans not living in poverty are NOT protein deficient. Are your kids olympians? If so, then dialing in nutrition may make the 0.00001% difference that will get him/her to the podium. For the typical DCUM Larlo/Larla on a club lacross team? Trust, they're eating enough protein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the current push for protein, protein, protein is bonkers. Americans not living in poverty are NOT protein deficient. Are your kids olympians? If so, then dialing in nutrition may make the 0.00001% difference that will get him/her to the podium. For the typical DCUM Larlo/Larla on a club lacross team? Trust, they're eating enough protein.

+1 This is just the last trend. From the no seed oil ground beef and honey bowl people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For people interested in adding protein to foods made at home you might want to look at Mollie Katzen's Sunlight Cafe. She's got breakfast recipes, especially waffles and pancakes, that call for protein powder (and bran). I usually substitute olive oil where she uses melted butter. It's the cookbook in my house I use most frequently.

You make pancakes with olive oil???!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my rule for a kid who decides for no reason something like I want to be vegetarian is that if they are old enough to make that decision then they are old enough to cook their own meals. Obviously it’s different if there is a medial reason for a diet change but just because I want to is not a reason. I wouldn’t cater to that.

And if you don't agree with their reason?
Can't a 6 year old logically decide to become vegetarian because they love animals and don't want to eat them? But then they're still old enough to fend for themselves when it comes to dinner because you don't have a medical reason?

Sure they can-and then they can eat the sides. I’m not making a whole different meal because someone decides they have special preferences that have no medical base. If you have multiple kids and a job-just no. Cooking dinner every single day is already a giant inconvenience. Looking forward to the day that we are empty nesters so I can make myself a sandwich for dinner and call it a day. But let’s me honest- it’s not 6 year olds deciding to be vegetarians. It’s middle schoolers and up who decided it was trendy. And those kids ARE old enough to prepare their own special foods.

[Anonymous]

OP, the answer to your question is that it doesn't matter which tortillas you choose for your kid (more whole foods vs. more protein), unless they are eating them twice a day every day.

Like all food-related questions, yours boils down 1) how much does it matter and 2) what's the alternative/tradeoff.

For example: my teens are pretty inflexible about breakfast. Before school, they are willing to eat either (1) a bowl of cereal or (2) a smoothie with milk, greek yogurt, fruit, and protein powder.

I steer them toward the smoothie because I think getting some fruit and protein in them early in the morning is valuable and sets them up better for the day. (As many of you know, a balanced lunch is a crapshoot for high schoolers.) Then they eat a wide variety of meat, nuts, grains, beans, and vegetables for snacks and dinner.

But if my kid would eat a breakfast burrito? Or dinner leftovers with meat and vegetables? That would be better! As with all things parenting, the perfect is enemy of the good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thought: if you're going to eat a store-bought tortilla, that is already a processed food. So getting the one with protein added is not really negatively changing the equation. Similarly, protein-enriched pasta is usually pasta with chickpea flour added - its just as processed as the non-enriched stuff, but could benefit your athletic kids.

Second thought: I've been getting serious about increasing protein in my own diet, and find that adding mashed lentils/chickpeas as a thickening agent to sauces and curries rarely impacts the taste. That would be a less processed way of incorporating more protein in the foods you might already be eating. Similarly, I sub greek yogurt as the base for any creamy sauce (just don't cook with it, it'll separate in some weird way that sour cream doesn't).

OP here,

I don’t get this logic. I am a busy working mom of multiple kids. I also believe that denying kids things can lead to them craving things, so my kids definitely eat processed food both away from home, where I don’t police at all, and at home where I sometimes choose processed food for convenience.

But that doesn’t mean that I can’t or shouldn’t make choices that move us in the unprocessed direction when that works for our family.

So, for example, one thing that is a hit with my vegetarian kid is quesadilla with refried beans. The first time we made them, I used canned refried beans, pre shredded cheese, store bought tortillas, and store bought salsa. When it turned out they were an easy thing for her to make that she loved, I thought how can we make this less processed, I looked at all the ingredients and decided to do some things. I learned how to make and freeze my own refried beans, I switched to whole wheat tortillas, I read all the labels on the store bought salsa and found one that seemed healthier, and I started serving them with a side of veggies which lead to her automatically going the same. Now if she makes dinner, for the family we are still eating a hybrid of processed (shredded cheese, store bought tortillas, store bought salsa) and home made things, but it’s still healthier than it was. The fact that the tortillas are still processed doesn’t negate the rest of the changes.

This week, I went to the grocery store, and they were out of the brand of whole wheat tortillas I usually buy, which has an ingredient list that starts with water and whole wheat flour, and includes other things I generally recognize, so I grabbed another brand of whole wheat tortillas. When I got home I realized that they were low carb, and the first ingredient were water and modified wheat starch. We were already home so we used them, no one objected.

DH and I had two different reactions. One of us said “ooh these have more protein! Protein is good for our kids! We should serve these every time!” The other said “I would rather serve my kids whole wheat flour, an ingredient I recognize. The meal already had beans and cheese. That’s plenty of protein.”

I don’t know who is right or wrong, which is why I am posting.

Glyphosate tortillas are not good for your child whether they have protein or not. Find a non wheat version or make your own.

Glyphosate is use even more on corn crops than wheat. You are guiding OP to more Roundup rather than less. Intentional?

Are there no organic corn crops?

Pretty much. Small home garden is what you seek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the current push for protein, protein, protein is bonkers. Americans not living in poverty are NOT protein deficient. Are your kids olympians? If so, then dialing in nutrition may make the 0.00001% difference that will get him/her to the podium. For the typical DCUM Larlo/Larla on a club lacross team? Trust, they're eating enough protein.

+1 This is just the last trend. From the no seed oil ground beef and honey bowl people.

Good. If you do your part and eat less protein, then there will be plenty for those who eat more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the current push for protein, protein, protein is bonkers. Americans not living in poverty are NOT protein deficient. Are your kids olympians? If so, then dialing in nutrition may make the 0.00001% difference that will get him/her to the podium. For the typical DCUM Larlo/Larla on a club lacross team? Trust, they're eating enough protein.

+1 This is just the last trend. From the no seed oil ground beef and honey bowl people.

Good. If you do your part and eat less protein, then there will be plenty for those who eat more.

I’m happy to help you get all the kidney stones.

[Anonymous]

Any protein suggestions for vegetarians?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any protein suggestions for vegetarians?

OP here,

I'm surprised to see this come back!

My kids like:

edamame
beans of a few different varieties
lentils cooked a few different ways
chickpeas made into croutons, or hummus, or falafel
oatmeal
seed bars
eggs
higher protein bread like Dave's killer bread
greek yogurt
cheese
milk
tempeh in a few preparations
soy curls in a few preparation
peas