Can you help? Child Not Thriving on Vegetarian Diet

[VeganD]

This is a tricky one and not something I like to admit first of all I am not blaming this onto him being vegetarian or anything like that as you guys know I am vegan

anyhow my friends kid is vegetarian and he’s 5 since going vegetarian he has lost a fair amount of weight I guess because he’s a fussy eater as it stands he doesn’t eat very good he use to eat meat and was at the correct weight for his age but since going vegetarian he has lost a lot of weight so my friend is considering giving him meat again he has tried him on other foods but he just doesn’t like them I guess kids are just to fussy so it seems like the only way to get his weight back up is give him some meat back in his diet

Whats your input

[Bowwowmeow]

I guess TVT knows more about feeding kids than the rest of us. I wish I had some advice. If the child is vegetarian and not vegan, I don't see why increasing dairy products wouldn't maintain weight, or even make him overweight.
Do you know exactly what the child dislikes, and what he prefers? That might help us advise your friend a little better.

[my3labs]

Are his parents vegetarian/vegan?

[Oracl]

This thread needs TVT's words of wisdom I think! :professor:

[thevegantwins]

:o Aww, thanks all for the confidence.

It sounds like your friend's son needs up up his calories/fat which can easily be done on a vegan diet. Since he used to eat meat, one thing I would try are some of the fake meats like Redwoods foods. They tend to be high in fat.

On the healthier side, here are some suggestions:

*Smoothies made w/ nut milks (almond, cashew etc), frozen banana, any other frozen or fresh fruit, nut butters and flax oil

*Sandwiches made w/ nut butters drizzled w/ flax oil

*Tofu, especially fried

*Avocado (I just saw a recipe online yesterday for a pudding made w/ pureed avocado, a little vanilla extract, some sugar and cocoa powder-an easy vegan chocolate pudding). Avocado can be mashed w/ some olive oil and spread on toast or eaten from a spoon, my kids' favorite method.

*Beans drizzled w/ flax or olive oil

*Nuts and nut butters (they all taste different but are all high in fat. my kids do not particulary care for peanut butter but they eat cashew butter straight from the jar daily)

*Kids like to dip so chop up fruit and veggies and make a sauce out of soy yogurt thinned w/ a little soymilk or fruit juice or a sauce made from nut butter thinned w/ non-dairy beverage)

Since the child does need to gain weight, certainly foods like fried chips or crisps would be fine as an occasional snack and will help get some calories in to him but I'd avoid them as a regular food. You don't want him relying on unhealthy foods.

[Gliondrach]

Whatever the reason for his weight loss it's not because of a lack of meat. As you said, he's a picky eater. And the suggestions already given are excellent.

[dreamer]

All the other posts make sense to me:uhuh: I also wonder though if maybe he's got "issues" with some of the foods that they've switched him to. I've read of cases where a child was given wheat, peanuts, soy, etc., but were allergic to or had other health issues with the food, which caused them to lose weight. Of course, if he's just super picky and trying to "guilt" his parents into giving him meat again, I think he'll eventually cave and eat what he's given--especially if they do what TVT suggested (like giving him meat analogues for a bit).

[VeganD]

Thanks for the replies

Well as far as I know he has tried him on lots of foods but doesn’t seem to like much tried beans potatoes all kinds of greens, carrots my friends said he use to eat chips but recently has also gone off them doesn’t like jackets either

Likes tofu, pizza, pasta, jam sandwiches but not much more fussy? yes


doesn’t like much of the redwoods range either but will sure pass along what you said to my friend Thanks

Yes parents are vegetarian not vegan

[thevegantwins]

If he likes pasta, it's very easy to puree carrots, spinach, kale etc.. right into the marinara sauce. They can also add a little tahini, flax oil or olive oil into the sauce. Increases the nutritional content of the meal very easily. The modified sauce can also be used on pizza.