Accidental Vegans

NaturalMom

My daughter is almost a year and a half old and we are both practically vegans these days because we are both lactose-intolerant and my daughter refuses to eat even the few animal-products I will eat: chicken, eggs, fish. She doesn't like anything white (especially potatoes) and so I hide everything in either tomato or BBQ sauce. Now she has caught on to me, though, and even picks out the tiny diced chicken and tofu chunks I try to hide. She hates eggs in any form: scrambled, omlette, casserole, quiche - nothing! She seems to be surviving on green beans (which she LOVES!), soy cheese, blueberries and bread/crackers/Cherrios. She loves diced turkey hot dogs and fish sticks (homemade) but I have no idea what else there is that I can feed her that is healthy that she can eat. She won't even eat chicken nuggets (homemade or Chick-Fil-A) anymore... Any ideas on how I can get more protein into her?

bksteve26

If you've tried everything...I would talk to your doctor and think about vitamins as an option. That might be your only hope...things will change as she gets older. I was a very picky eater as a child...now i'm a human garbage disposal. Good luck!

lab_goddess

will she do peanut butter or almond butter? You can get all kinds of wheat pastas that have added protein as well...can you get her to try chocolate soy milk?

kellycrow

NO on the nut butters!!! Talk to your dr but in general, you should wait until the child is 3 before introducing nuts into the system... I am allergic to tree nuts so i am sensitive to this issue... but a neighbor gave her son peanut butter crackers and he had a reaction that required 911 the VERY FIRST TIME!!
IM Healthy is a good soy nut butter option --- they even have chocolate... can't buy it anymore or i will eat too much of it! haha!!

That being said - vegan diets can be very healthy!! not sure about making sure your daughter gets enough nutrients to grow on - but raw green veggies are just filled with calcium...

jmarie9

how is she with veggies?! spinach has a good amount of protein. (100 calories of spinach has about the same protein as 100 calories of chicken... granted 100 calories of spinach is about 14 cups... but you get my drift), you can blend a cup or two with soy milk and cocoa, and you can't even taste the spinach!

i also love black bean burritos! beans are great for protein... mash them up with sweet potatoes!

smae1980

NO on the nut butters!!! Talk to your dr but in general, you should wait until the child is 3 before introducing nuts into the system... I am allergic to tree nuts so i am sensitive to this issue... but a neighbor gave her son peanut butter crackers and he had a reaction that required 911 the VERY FIRST TIME!!
IM Healthy is a good soy nut butter option --- they even have chocolate... can't buy it anymore or i will eat too much of it! haha!!

That being said - vegan diets can be very healthy!! not sure about making sure your daughter gets enough nutrients to grow on - but raw green veggies are just filled with calcium...

I have a 3 year old and nuts are no longer held off until age 3 unless there is a prominant family history of nut allergies or the child has a history of other food allergies. Also in most cases children have very mild allergic reactions to foods the first time they eat them if they have the allergy and the reaction becomes worse the more times they are exposed to the food, your friends case was very rare. that said, my daughter loves any kind of dried bean, which are good sources of protein and iron

kellycrow

i remember when i had my kids tested --- after each one turned 3... then i gave them a peanut butter cup in the allergist office just to be safe! haha!! luckily, none of my kids have my allergy. i always figure better to be safe than sorry... and yes, i know her case was rare --- it just scared the crap out of all of us!!
we eat LOTS of beans here!! the kids know the phrase 'beans beans good for your heart' and until my dad came to visit, didn't know the rest! oh well! it was nice while it lasted! )