Starting over... maybe.
I am a lapsed veg'n (for several years) and I want to go back, but I have a major complication. My twelve year old niece moved in with me about six months ago, and she is very restrictive about what she eats. She really won't eat any vegetables, and especially hates onions. I don't know how to cook without onions! Sometimes when I ask her about a recipe before I make it she says that it sounds like it would be good, but then when she sees it made it's too 'weird' to eat. Before she came to live with me her meals were very sketchy in quality; ramen noodles, chicken, and mac and cheese, basically. At first I tried to just make what I wanted to, with the idea that she could either eat it or find an alternative from the pantry or refrigerator herself, but she just ends up not eating. So, I usually break down and make something with chicken, because that's what she's used to eating. I want to be supportive of her health, but I also want to eat healthy things myself, and I just don't know how to accomplish it. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd really appreciate some help.
I would suggest slowly and gently introducing healthy foods into her diet. Try meat analogs. Sometimes you might not even have to tell he a r it's fake! It sounds like she's all about the starches, so try some healthy pasta made from whole wheat or other grains. Make a sauce out of tomato sauce and Boca "meat" crumbles and throw in some veggies. If you have a food processor, you can grind the veggies up so she might not even notice they're in there.
You could also try talking to her about how important it is to eat healthy and ask her to try to keep an open mind. Figure out where you can make compromises. If she feels like she's part of the decision making process, she might be more receptive. Good luck!
12 year olds are already starting to think that they can make grown up decisions. And they are also old enough to help with meal planning and preparation. I'd suggest using that to your advantage. Get a couple of simple vegetarian cookbooks and ask her to look through them and plan a meal. At 12, a kid is also capable of understanding that some foods are really good for us, while some are really bad for your body, not matter how tasty they might be. I went vegetarian around that age because of animal exploitation, so you may want to (not graphically, of course) try that angle. Personally, I wouldn't give in and fix chicken. She is old enough to understand that you do not want chicken in your house. She's old enough to understand that if she doesn't want to eat what was prepared for dinner, she can have a bowl of oatmeal, or a peanut butter sandwich, whatever. And as for the onions: it may be easier if you give them up for now. I'd have to garnish my plate with scallions though.
My suggestions probably aren't too hepful for you. I tend to be pretty tough with my kids... they know who the mom is, and they know what the rules are. I imagine that your situation is a bit more delicate than that. I do know that you and your niece must work together to get this figured out, and I wish you luck there.
12 year olds are already starting to think that they can make grown up decisions. And they are also old enough to help with meal planning and preparation. I'd suggest using that to your advantage. Get a couple of simple vegetarian cookbooks and ask her to look through them and plan a meal.
Great idea! Additionally, when you are making the decision of 'What's for dinner tonight?', you could pick from the many vegan-versions-of-familiar-favourites... to make the food as friendly as possible; as similar to what your niece is used to. At least as a starting point.
yes! That's a great idea--get her to help you make the food--maybe she'll like to eat it knowing she worked for it! And I suggest the gardenburger fake ribs--they are so yummy and vegan to boot--I have gotten many an omni to fall in love with them--she might like them too :)
Good luck!!!