by GievlosS » Fri Jan 02, 2015 7:45 pm
I started doing McDougall with my son when he was 5. When I explained that it meant no more ice cream or hot dogs, a sign appeared on his door: "No vegons Aloud!"
My sense is that if I pushed hard, he was going to push back--I might win some battles, but I would lose the war--he would go off to college and celebrate freedom by eating pizza and steak for the next four years--and who wants to spend meals arguing? Ugh. So he may order what he wants when we dine out and I am not the cook (but not dairy, because he reacts to it). He gets choices at meals... if he doesn't want to eat lentils with the grownups, he is offered plain chick peas on couscous, peanut butter on crackers, or something like that--but he does not get to *order* his meal. The chef decides the menu, if she has to cook two separate dishes, one of the dishes is going to be super simple, because this chef is lazy. He is not forced to eat anything he does not want... (I read that this is unhealthy, because it can teach kids to ignore their personal "you are full stop eating" signal). But he must try one bite.
At home, we take advantage of the fact that as a very lean child he can use more calorie-dense food than an adult; so he can have pasta, peanut butter, tofu (which he loves), nuts, and some of the "so delicious" products made with coconut milk such as "ice cream" (fortified with B12, which is good, because I haven't found a decent kid's B12 supplement). I also sometimes, rarely, as a treat, give him things made with Daya cheese (I know, it is TERRIBLE stuff) or Tofurkey. He also can have juice as an occasional treat, with no sugar added. He can have some dressing on his salad. He can have sandwiches.
The cookbook "The Happy Herbivore" has some nice recipes--easy--baked "french fries," banana bread, mushroom "gravy" and so on that are good and although not *strict* McDougall are on the right track (low in added fats, sugar, and processed ingredients).
One may also make a good case with a child who is tenderhearted, and loves animals. A little dose of ethical veganism, for the peace of the dinner table. Though one would not want a child to feel manipulated or deliberately create distress in a dependent; it does not set a good example of fairness, to upset someone with graphic descriptions who is, essentially, a captive audience. But the occasional gentle reminder that meat does come from a living creature not so different from our pets is helpful.
It also helps to have him help prepare the meal... choose the vegetable, make the salad, etc.
That's all I can think of. Good luck!