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Slowtwitch Forums: Lavender Room:
Vegetarian Kid help

 
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TTBooooda

Aug 21, 08 5:27

Post #1 of 10 (218 views)
Vegetarian Kid help Can't Post
My daughter is 5 and slowly become a vegetarian. I'm not sure why and i haven't asked, but she generally eats around the chicken, pork chop, steak what ever it is that's on her plate. It doesn't bother us that she is leaning that way, but i'm concerned she may be missing things from her diet, like protien.

Her standard daily meals look like this:

Breakfast - yogurt, cereal, 1% milk, some fruit.
Lunch - PB&J, more fruit/veggies, cheese/crackers(something crunchy)
Dinner - steamed or raw veggies, pasta/rice/potatoes, some version of a meat - but not always probaby 4-5 days per week.

She takes a multivitamin, plus some kid DHA. Also, there are usually a small snack thrown in there during the day too. I'd say 90% of the time the snack is healthy, more fruit/veggies, mixed nuts, that sort of thing. The other 10% they're at grandma's house and god knows what goes on there :)

If she's not getting the meat, what do i need to supplement her with?

Any thoughts on what to look for, not to encourage this, anything???

Thanks!!!!
Scott


JasoninHalifax

Aug 21, 08 6:12

Post #2 of 10 (205 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [TTBooooda] [In reply to] Can't Post
make sure she gets plenty of other sources of protein, and she'll be fine. plenty of seeds and nuts, dairy (which it looks like she is getting), try to get some eggs in there, etc..

Here is a good resource... http://www.vegsoc.org/info/protein.html

____________________________________
Fishtwitch clique (ex-butterflyer)
"Cats like Ham" - Tom D.


DawnT

Aug 21, 08 6:53

Post #3 of 10 (187 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [TTBooooda] [In reply to] Can't Post
I think she's probably going to change over the next 5 to 10 years what she likes and doesn't like. I would still offer her meat whenever you eat it yourself. Encourage her to at least try a few bites. Start adding a side dish that contains beans or some other kind of alternative protein. Instead of rice/pasta/potato I usually make a side dish with chickpeas or some other kind of bean. Pick up an Indian cookbook and you'll get all kinds of recipes with chickpeas, lentils and other beans. I almost never make rice or potatoes anymore. I also try to make at least one or two dinners a week that are meatless. I will never give up meat completely, but we've been eating less and less all the time.


fitzie

Aug 21, 08 7:55

Post #4 of 10 (167 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [TTBooooda] [In reply to] Can't Post
My first thought it that can't possibly be healthy for a child so young. They have so much growing to do in their bodies and brains, not to leave out simple muscle development.
Protein is essential.
However, I am not dietician or peditrician. Hopefully they will chime in.



"We thought that we had the answers, it was the questions we had wrong."
Bono


CaptainCanada

Aug 21, 08 8:34

Post #5 of 10 (156 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [TTBooooda] [In reply to] Can't Post
It's funny, there is nothing more irritating to a vegetarian/vegan than being asked "Where do you get you protein?". I have learned this from vegan message boards by the way, I could care less when people ask me.

Frankly the diet you describe is well balanced and better than 95% of the diets of teenagers in the states. When I was that age I was working at Mcdonald's and getting fat doing it. If you are really concerned, legumes, soy products and nuts all have plenty of proteins.

And by the way I am a vegan, I train hard, get plenty to eat and am not withering away in the least.

===============
2009 Race Schedule:

Wine Country Oly, IM Lanzarote, Wasa Lake Oly, Rhode Island 70.3, Ultraman Canada Relay, Apple Oly, IMC, Grand Columbian Half


TTBooooda

Aug 21, 08 9:30

Post #6 of 10 (138 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [CaptainCanada] [In reply to] Can't Post
Ok, did a little digging - the general thougt on the web is that a 50 lb person would need 18-22 grams of protein per day. If around 20 grams for a 50lb kid is correct, she easily gets that between the milk, yogurt, peanut butter, nuts and some of her fruits and veggies.

This list isn't everything she eats, but it's a good snap shot. The good news is, they (both kids) are completely open to most veggies. I won't stop making it for her that for sure, but i won't worry about dietary issues.


Meats
3.5 oz steak (cooked) - 25 grams of protein.
6 oz chicken breast - 37.8 grams - she wouldn't eat a whole breast, maybe half, lately barely any, so 19 grams
6 oz pork chop - 49 grams - again less than half, say 24 grams at best.

Dairy/Eggs
Yogurt, low fat (1/2 cup) - 5.3 grams
Milk (1 cup) - 8 grams

Meat Substitutes, Beans and Legumes, Nuts
Peanut Butter (2 Tbsp.) - 8.1 grams
Green Peas (1/2 cup) - 4.1 grams

Fruits and Vegetables
Banana (medium) - 1.2 grams
Green Beans (1/2 cup) - 1 gram
Carrots (1/2 cup) - .8 gram
Apple (large) - 0 grams


CaptainCanada

Aug 21, 08 9:42

Post #7 of 10 (133 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [TTBooooda] [In reply to] Can't Post
Wow, just reread your original post and saw your daughter is 5, I originally read 15. Interesting.

I'm sure her food choices have to do with taste and texture as opposed to any conscious decision not to eat meat.

Be thankful at that age she likes her vegetables.

===============
2009 Race Schedule:

Wine Country Oly, IM Lanzarote, Wasa Lake Oly, Rhode Island 70.3, Ultraman Canada Relay, Apple Oly, IMC, Grand Columbian Half


TTBooooda

Aug 21, 08 9:51

Post #8 of 10 (124 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [CaptainCanada] [In reply to] Can't Post
I'm sure her food choices have to do with taste and texture as opposed to any conscious decision not to eat meat

Yep, i agree. Texture is a big thing with them. Still the original post remains the same.

The interesting thing, a conversation i haven't gotten into yet, is that she is asking -"why is there blood in that bag (eg - freezer bag with steaks)?"

She has absolutely made the connection between the chickens next door and the meat put on the plate. I'm not sure if she has a problem with it, or knows all that goes into getting that meat on the table. Like i said, haven't had that conversation yet.


Scott


CaptainCanada

Aug 21, 08 9:58

Post #9 of 10 (118 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [TTBooooda] [In reply to] Can't Post
Sounds like a smart kid. Good that she is already asking questions. It may not lead to anything, but just consciously asking questions about what she is putting in her mouth could lead to a lifetime of healthy food choices.

Could be worse, my niece ate nothing but mac and cheese, olives and PB & J for about four years. Fortunately she grew up, now she will eat chicken fingers and pizza too. ;)

===============
2009 Race Schedule:

Wine Country Oly, IM Lanzarote, Wasa Lake Oly, Rhode Island 70.3, Ultraman Canada Relay, Apple Oly, IMC, Grand Columbian Half


jackmott

Aug 21, 08 10:08

Post #10 of 10 (112 views)
Re: Vegetarian Kid help [TTBooooda] [In reply to] Can't Post
shes eating milk and cheese, shes probably fine.

My girlfriend is a vegetarian, doesn't supplement with anything, runs 40 miles a week, rock climbs 4 days a week, no problemo.

if you want, get some vanilla whey protein

1 scoop (25g protein), 1 bannana, some ice, dash of skim milk (more protein!), dash of honey, blend

yum


also I wouldn't bother to keep offering her meat, you might consider eating less of it yourself unless you love the taste. Theres no good health reason to eat much of it, and beef especially has a massive environmental impact in the united states. we should try to eat less of it.


(This post was edited by jackmott on Aug 21, 08 10:09)