Question about quitting vegetarian

[wdwiala]

We have kept DD8 on a vegetarian meal plan for a couple of years now. I am thinking of reintroducing meat into her diet this summer.

Has anyone had experience with returning to a diet with meat? I don't want to make her sick. The plan is to start with broth here and there and work my way up.

Any advice for making the changeover?

 

[redlight]

I don't have any advice, but I am curious about why you put your daughter on a vegetarian diet and now are planning to take her off of it.

 

[npmommie]

yes I am also curious, why did you have her eat veg now want her to eat meat?

 

[wdwiala]

She was having ongoing stomach aches. At the time, we were so stinking happy at what a "good eater" she was. Our other daughter lived on mac and cheese. We were tickled that our youngest loved meat, chicken, fish, etc. After awhile, we put the clues together and realized that she was just eating too much of it.

SIL follows/followed a nutrition plan that frowns on meat for kids younger than 12 because they feel before then that their bodies aren't ready for it. So, I took my daughter off of meat. Her stomach issues dissapeared. Now that she is a couple of years older, I would like to let her have more food options. More balanced than 2 years ago but not as restrictive as right now.

I'm torn on what to do. I don't mind greatly keeping her on it. I just wonder sometimes if we are restricting her now for no reason.

 

[redlight]

That's reasonable. Because she was having stomach pains before, it sounds like you should talk to her doctor or nutritionist before reintroducing meat.

 

[joyjoy]

It makes no sense to me whatsoever that you would want to change her diet, if it's been working well. Vegetarians, young and old, are perfectly healthy people - perhaps even more healthy than their carnivorous brothers and sisters.

Yes, I'm vegetarian. Good luck with your decision.

 

[npmommie]

She was having ongoing stomach aches. At the time, we were so stinking happy at what a "good eater" she was. Our other daughter lived on mac and cheese. We were tickled that our youngest loved meat, chicken, fish, etc. After awhile, we put the clues together and realized that she was just eating too much of it.

SIL follows/followed a nutrition plan that frowns on meat for kids younger than 12 because they feel before then that their bodies aren't ready for it. So, I took my daughter off of meat. Her stomach issues dissapeared. Now that she is a couple of years older, I would like to let her have more food options. More balanced than 2 years ago but not as restrictive as right now.

I'm torn on what to do. I don't mind greatly keeping her on it. I just wonder sometimes if we are restricting her now for no reason.

She was having stomach issues you took away animal flesh and her stomach issues have disappeared....... why in the world would you want to put animal flesh back into her diet then?

check out our meal swap vegetarian thread, you will see that veg diets can be very varied, and healthy, perfectly healthy for kids. I would leave her diet as it is if she is doing better.

 

[wdwiala]

I'm not set on turning her back to meat. I am just considering it. I really do feel like it wasn't the meat itself but simply the quantity of it that we were feeding her (could be wrong).

That said, I'm not knocking vegetarian. She LOVES her veggie food. She has never complained about what she doesn't have but raves about how good her food is. So, maybe I should feel lucky about that and just continue on with it.

Just something that I've been rolling around in my mind.

PS. In a way it feels odd to see pro veg post back. Most people I know think that I am from the planet Mars to not feed her meat. Many in our family also don't eat pork or things made from pork. (A huge list). Try explaining that one in Iowa.

 

[koima]

I'm with JoyJoy. There are many compelling reasons to follow a vegetarian diet for health, and if she's happy with it I wouldn't switch now. If she's asking to eat meat, I would incorporate it very slowly and in small portions until her body adapts.

When I switched from vegetarian to eating fish and poultry sparingly, I got sick anytime I tried to eat them. Beef and pork still make me sick when I inadvertently have some (like at a party recently when the "vegetarian egg rolls" were actually pork, and forced me to leave early and spend the evening in the bathroom.) Also be prepared that she may not like the taste of meat anymore. I don't like the taste of beef or pork, which I grew up enjoying but cut out as a vegetarian. I can handle chicken, but I'm picky and only buy from a local rancher who has really free range and organic chickens. I'm ridiculously picky about the source of poultry, dairy, and fish, and knowing the source makes a difference for me, haha.

My son is 3.5 is primarily vegetarian, or pescatarian really since he has fish about once a week. I don't like beef or pork so he doesn't get them, and I make poultry so rarely that he hardly ever has it. He's perfectly healthy and happy, and eats a wide variety of very healthy foods. Lentils and beans (LOTS of beans!), whole grains like quinoa, gardenburgers, peanut butter and nuts, hummus, tofu, eggs and dairy give him plenty of protein, and he's less likely to have cholesterol issues, heart disease, and other health issues as an adult. Also less likely to have weight issues and their associated risks since he's eating such a healthy diet in the formative years, which I think is important.

 

[Rio_san7]

I totally agree with joyjoy.

Changing from one diet to another is not a very good decision. You had issues from before that is why you changed it and now you are going back to the same issue.

There are so many vegetables to try and explore. So many recipes to make choices. I am not a vegetarian but is on the process of being one.

However, it is still your choice. Maybe introduce her to organic chicken first and organic meat. Little by little. If she likes to try.

Good luck!

 

[npmommie]

I'm not set on turning her back to meat. I am just considering it. I really do feel like it wasn't the meat itself but simply the quantity of it that we were feeding her (could be wrong).

That said, I'm not knocking vegetarian. She LOVES her veggie food. She has never complained about what she doesn't have but raves about how good her food is. So, maybe I should feel lucky about that and just continue on with it.

Just something that I've been rolling around in my mind.

PS. In a way it feels odd to see pro veg post back. Most people I know think that I am from the planet Mars to not feed her meat. Many in our family also don't eat pork or things made from pork. (A huge list). Try explaining that one in Iowa.

Is your whole family eating vegetarian? or just your dd? what kind of meals does your family eat?
honestly if she is happy healthy and not complaining I would just leave it be.

I have been veg for many years, and occasionally I have tried a bite here and there of something my hubby is raving about in a restaurant for instance, and every time it causes a tummy issue.
so now I told him, I don't care how good it is I will NOT try it!!! LOL

 

[wdwiala]

My daughter is the only one not eating meat. (My young nieces don't though). I make two seperate dinners each night. Her meal usually includes a substitute version of what we are having. Then, we share the side dishes. All vegetarian meals are not an option at our house. My husband would have a cow, then go starve. I can't say that he is fully supportive of my decision to keep her off meat. I make the meals, so he lets it go.

I've seen her get sick from accidently eating foods after not having them for awhile. Hence my fear to reintroduce them.

After discussing this here, I am feeling like maybe I should give it a better shot. Try some new variations for her. As I mentioned, she is totally happy. It's me. I think that I feel like I am short changing her. I also haven't tried to stretch my cooking too much pass sustituting. We go out to eat and her food options drop. Go on vacation and watch the choices go in the hole. Even though she is a good eater, she still is somewhat kid picky.

 

[HunnyPots]

I am confused by your statement about meat not causing her issues but the quantity of it was. Just how much meat was she eating???
And if she is healthy and enjoying her diet, why are you even considering changing it?

 

[quasar4legs]

It might be worth seeing a dietician or an allergy clinic as it certainly sounds like your daughter may have some sort of food intolerance.
Meat has a lot of natural amines and perhaps that was contributing to her stomach pains.
Both my son and I have various food intolerances and with the help of an allergy clinic at a large teaching hospital we have been able to identify all the foods that were giving us health problems.
Please don't be concerned about your daughter being on a vegetarian diet as there is plenty of research highlighting the health benefits of a plant based diet.

Good Luck
Trish

 

[shortbun]

My son has been a vegetarian(his choice) for three plus years. We don't find it so hard to go out to dinner where he has good choices. Even Red Robin has the option of making every burger with a boca burger instead of meat. Choose other restaurants. We eat a lot of Mexican because of the bean and rice option and we eat a lot of Mediterranean for the nuts, humus and grain options. The other night, we went to Cheeseburger in Paradise-again, any one of their burgers can be made with a veggie burger. Cooking at home is easy, DS's main course is often one of our side dishes. He loves tofu, fake burger from Morningstar Farms and Boca are great for chili-spaghetti. My husband and I even use the fake crumblers. We do not substitute any of the breakfast stuff-none of us like it but we find lots of other stuff.

Count me in the group wondering why you would want to re-introduce meat if you know it was bothering her stomach. When she's older, perhaps she'll experiment a little to see if she's outgrown her allergies.

 

[Macca1111]

I have been veg for many years, and occasionally I have tried a bite here and there of something my hubby is raving about in a restaurant for instance, and every time it causes a tummy issue.

This is my understanding for just about everyone. If she hasn't been eating meat for awhile, then she's going to get sick when she does again, including in broth or any other "mild" form you may try. There's no way around it - your body stops being able to process it eventually, and you have to rebuild a tolerance, which means some bad stomach times for awhile. This is especially true since meat was originally causing her stomach problems. I understand why you wouldn't want to keep making two dinners every night, but if she's happy and healthy eating that way, I would leave it alone. There really are a lot of options out there, if you avoid steakhouses for dinner, and she'll probably be healthier in the long run then those of us who eat meat still.

 

[bicker]

I think a doctor should be the one to make the decision about how and/or whether to reintroduce meat into a child's diet. I suspect that, with most physicians, the answer will be to do so, though, and then deal with the consequences, if any, though medicine, which is not the approach I would prefer. If your and/or your child has been pursuing a vegetarian diet for more than just health reasons, then perhaps you should seek out a pediatrician to consult who understands and factors in such concerns.

check out our meal swap vegetarian thread, you will see that veg diets can be very varied, and healthy, perfectly healthy for kids.

Link HERE.

 

[barkley]

My daughter is the only one not eating meat. (My young nieces don't though). I make two seperate dinners each night. Her meal usually includes a substitute version of what we are having. Then, we share the side dishes. All vegetarian meals are not an option at our house. My husband would have a cow, then go starve. I can't say that he is fully supportive of my decision to keep her off meat. I make the meals, so he lets it go.

I've seen her get sick from accidently eating foods after not having them for awhile. Hence my fear to reintroduce them.

After discussing this here, I am feeling like maybe I should give it a better shot. Try some new variations for her. As I mentioned, she is totally happy. It's me. I think that I feel like I am short changing her. I also haven't tried to stretch my cooking too much pass sustituting. We go out to eat and her food options drop. Go on vacation and watch the choices go in the hole. Even though she is a good eater, she still is somewhat kid picky.

if one of the issues is cooking i'll share what i do. almost all of my husband's side of the family is vegetarian for religious reasons, and i have one on my side, additionaly-my kids have attended a vegetarian school for years (so i've had to provide items for pot luck, prepare dinners to ensure left overs for lunch, and feed the entire school on parent "hot lunch" days).

when i'm going to have what we refer to as "the mixed crowd" for dinners i prepare the base of what the main course will be with all of the vegetarian items first. so if it's pasta sauce i make up a big pot of marinara-then just split it into two pots, into one of which i add the pot roast, meat balls or ground meat into (allready cooked), the other i retain as marinara. if it's tacos or tostadas-i prep. everything and then people just make their own (omiting meat if they wish). enchiladas-i just make sure i always use vegetarian refried beans (i know no carnivore that can tell the difference) and then make a batch with meat, a batch with beans, rice and cheese (the rice and beans serve as sides as well for everyone). when we do bbq i just make sure i have veggie burgars and faux dogs plus a big batch of bbq beans (again, i make one large batch then i split it into 2 containers because the carnivores in the family enjoy some bacon in it).

i've done some (what i consider) strictly vegetarian entrees but i provide some meat items that people can add if they wish. i make a baked potato soup that is strictly vegetarian-but i have bacon bits that people can add to the top. i've made both chili and spagetti sauce with "crumbles" (the broken up "grillers" that resemble and taste like ground beef)-my carnivores never knew the difference. same with shepherds pie.

if you can find a copy of the "apple a day" cookbooks they have some great recipies that you might try.

 

[Kimberle]

Hi! You are her Mom, you know best! Follow **your** instint, not those on messageboards!

I think I'd have a chat with her pedi first to see if s/he has any advice. I would also think the best way would be similar to the way we introduced foods to our babies, gradually, 1 at a time. I'd start with 1 meat, probably chicken. Then start with the broth, and gradually add the meat. I'd give her a good month or two before starting with the next type of meat. I'd also stay away from anything processed (like cold cuts and hot dogs).

Good luck!

 

[hulagirl87]

when we were in disney world in november we went to cinderellas castle for breakfast. little did i know that there was bacon in the potatoes. i ate about 3 bites and then realized what it was. i got extremely sick from it as I have not eaten meat in about 15 years. We had to stay in our room for the whole day. Not the way I wanted to spend our vacation! So I would definitely say that reintroducing meat would make you sick. blech!