Raising Vegetarian Children : A Guide to Good Health and Family Harmony

by Joanne Stepaniak

When parents choose a vegetarian lifestyle for their child, it can set family fingers wagging in dietary disapproval. It's no easier on steak-loving parents when Junior announces he's sworn off meat. With the strategies in Raising Vegetarian Children , parents can ease family tensions and learn to accommodate the nutritional and emotional needs of their vegetarian offspring. It includes a detailed explanation of the Vegetarian Food Pyramid and its vitamin- and protein-rich foods, allays concerns over dietary gaps, and is packed with recipes that will please any growing vegetarian, from infant to teenager.

Genres: Food, Parenting, Cookbooks, Vegetarian, Nonfiction, Nutrition, Health

300 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2002

About the author

Joanne Stepaniak, M.S.Ed., is a writer, an educator, a cooking instructor, and the author of several cookbooks.

Reviews

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is geared toward vegans more than vegetarians. I found it very useful in my quest to feeding my kids as vegans. I highly recommend this book to any parent that's on the same journey.

[Devon Trevarrow Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

While still reading it I gave this update: it's written a little pretentiously, and there is a lot of advice that I'd rather not be receiving from a diet and nutrition book about how to raise my kids in other arenas. However, it does breeze over a lot of info on health and nutrition, which I'm sure is especially helpful for those who may not be committed to a more in-depth study. Her scope is broad, the depth a little less so. Also, I threw a (healthy) recipe for Fruit-Butter Bars in the oven (made with the help of my 2-yr-old daughter) while reading Vegetarian Children one afternoon, and the aroma just made reading that much more enjoyable on an already lovely day. The bars got thumbs up from the whole family.

Once I finished it: Alright, I had to up my rating from 3 stars to 4, b/c although I didn't love the book in its entirety (and would have liked more thorough, less meandering info), I bought it mostly as a recipe book, looking for healthy things to cook that my 2-yr-old would eat. So far, I have been really impressed with the recipes that I have made. Every time, I am skeptical of the strange innovations, but end up happy with the results. And who wouldn't like a "healthy" excuse to make German Chocolate Cake (with squash... see what I mean)?

So far, we have made:
Fruit Butter Bars
Vegan French Toast with Fruit-Maple Topping
Nutti Whip (on Cinnamon Raisin Bagels)
Hero Subs (duh, though.)
French Bread Pizza (with no cheese!)
and Tacos (another duh.)

Looking forward to:
Liquid Gold Dressing
Beet Dressing (!?!)
Lemon Teasecake
Chocolate Mint Nut Bars
Cheez-A-Roni (again, no cheese?!?)
Warm Sesame Noodles
etc.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this book (library copy) since my nine-year old child decided to be a vegetarian approximately 3 months ago. While a lot of this book seems to be directed at parents who are making the vegetarian decision for their children, and there is a lot more parenting advice in here than I want, overall, I found the information very helpful in my particular situation of wanting to make sure I know how to feed my child who no longer will eat meat. Also, some kid-friendly recipes in the back.

[Waterfallwanderer]

American society makes being ethical hard

[Marie E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little heavy on the emphasis of traditional reasons to be vegetarian but once you get past that there are some great tips on nutrition, conflict resolution, how to view food, and our relationships with food. Also good information for parents who are not vegetarian but whose children have decided to be and how to make sure they are well nourished. Includes a bunch or recipes.

[Pamela Falla]

Very informative and well writen. I highly recommend it.

[Cristy]

So far, the book has taught me how to deal with scrutinizing family members that are having trouble accepting my recent change toward vegetarianism

[Cacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will be a great resource to me in the future.

[Noël · Rating 3 out of 5]

way interesting...

[GoldenLemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful.