vegetarian parents... question re: solids

[Anonymous]

hi, all. we have a 9-mo-old DS who we intend to raise vegetarian, as my DH and I are. (we are not vegan.)

I've been feeding DS gerber baby foods, puffs and cheerios. he's not a fan of bananas. I'm looking for other finger foods... tofu? cheese? is he too young? If not, what kind of tofu (consistency) or cheese? avocados? suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Both of my children LOVED avocados when they were about that age. Also sweet potatoes cut into cubes. Cheese, yogurt, most vegetables steamed and cut up small...At 9 months, both of my children were mostly eating whatever DH and I were eating.

[Anonymous]

You can also try cooked rice, lentil soup or squash/carrot/tomato soups.

[Anonymous]

Hi- we are vegi parents as well. We gave DS avocados, lentils with rice, tofu marinated in sauce, and at some point we started him on other soy foods from Morning Star Farms- which he still loves.

[Meconbear]

If you live near Bethesda, Daruma, the Japanese store, has very nice fried tofu. We also feed DS the tofu bits from our miso soup, which is softer.

[Anonymous]

We started on tofu (chunks of the firm or xtra firm, which, being tofu, is still soft) around your child's age, maybe a little younger? Mommy brain!She still loves uncooked tofu , go figure.

Finger foods: sweet potato chunks, avocado, cheese (be careful, though - cheese can be toughto chew and swallow since it doesn't melt),

[Anonymous]

DS also really likes edamame, which we would steam and then ouree up when he was that age.
We got a great recipe--actually, many great recipes--out of the "Petit Appetit Cookbook," one of which was to puree the edamame with some plain whole milk yogurt. DS LOVED this.

[Anonymous]

my son lived on garlic/onion tofu (go figure!) and sweet potatoes at that age. he wouldn't really chew crunchy stuff yet, but many that age will.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- what fabulous suggestions! thanks!

[Anonymous]

don't mean to hijack your thread here...but we're not vegetarians but i don't eat red meat and am kind of opposed to my children eating red meat. it keeps coming up with husband and family members as to "why? just b/c you don't eat it shouldn't mean they shouldn't be able to...etc...how to handle those questions and comments?"

[Anonymous]

go to the library and check out "Super Baby Food" and "Simplly Natural Baby Food" by Cathe Olson--both books have some great ideas. I used to feed my son a quinoa and sweet potato mixture that he loved.

PP, I felt the same way, I eat meat but for some reason it just seemed strange to feed it to this little person. I think if you just tell them it's healthier and that he gets everything he needs from his current diet, that's all you can do--some people just can't accept it when others do thing differently. If they keep bringing it up I would just politely say that you've heard them, but you're going to keep doing what you feel is best for your child and that you don't want to discuss it anymore. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:don't mean to hijack your thread here...but we're not vegetarians but i don't eat red meat and am kind of opposed to my children eating red meat. it keeps coming up with husband and family members as to "why? just b/c you don't eat it shouldn't mean they shouldn't be able to...etc...how to handle those questions and comments?"

I usually want to scream - because it's cruel, not healthy and disgusting! But, the nice answer is: We're just doing what works well for us right now. We're all healthy and happy.

I've been a vegetarian my entire life, so don't get those questions much anymore (especially now with all of the mad cow/recall issues)