Sneaking Veggies Into Meals
Hi Everyone, We have been on the diet for almost a year. While I'm getting the hang of it, I am very worried that my kids aren't getting enough vitamins and minerals. The only veggies they will eat are tomatoes. Definitely NOTHING green. They get very upset if I even put veggies on their plate. One of my sons will not eat meat either except hot dogs and hamburgers. They do eat a few different fruits usually apples, bananas, cantaloupe and sometimes grapes. Mostly I am worried they do not get enough calcium. We do use Vance's Dairy Free and I think that has calcium. Also, they will drink the fortified orange juice. Is that enough? Any ideas for getting healthy foods in them? Casseroles are out! They won't eat anything mixed like that except lasagna. Should I get a food processor and just puree everything beyond recognition and then try to add it to spaghetti sauce? Any ideas are welcome. I thought once we were on the diet for a while they would expand their tastes but that hasn't happened at all. They seem to eat more junk food than ever. I will also need to use the same tactics on my husband who is completely fruit and veggie free. Unfortunately not a good example for eating healthy. He survives solely on gluten and casein. :) Thanks in Advance, Cinthia, Mom to Cameron and Zachary, twins, 6yrs old, ASD
Cinthia, I think you answered your own question.." they eat more junk food than ever". It easy to refuse food when you are not hungry. My answer is may not be the one you want to hear but, "get rid of all junk food in your house". When it's not there the temptation to consume it magically dissapears. (plus you will not be tempted to use it as a reward with your children). The other question that I ask myself when I am tempted to let junk food take over is (pardon me while I jump up on my soap box) how will I feel when my daughter is 20 years old and obese and most likely a diabetic in danger of loosing vision or a limb on top of all her other issues. Was the candy and sweets I gave her to make their life "better for the moment" worth the price she will pay in the long run? This thought helps me greatly to keep my family nutritionally on the right track. Hope this helps with your dillema ,. marian
* Purreed veggies can be added to meatloaves and hamburgers. Also you can thicken gravy with purreed veggies. I also make a purree veggie sauce and use it as my taco sauce when I make tacos for LJ. Cauliflower can be mashed into mashed potatoes. Denise (LJs mom) in New York * On Mon, 12 Nov 2001 16:58:58 EST ajcjcjzj@... writes: Hi Everyone, We have been on the diet for almost a year. While I'm getting the hang of it, I am very worried that my kids aren't getting enough vitamins and minerals. The only veggies they will eat are tomatoes. Definitely NOTHING green. They get very upset if I even put veggies on their plate.
I make a roasted vegetable sauce, puree it down and add it to meatballs, as a sauce in my version of lasagne, in chilli con carne. Mash parsnip and carrots in to potato, or make potato and veggie rosti. The most important thing that we did as a family was to all sit down and eat the same meal - husband included. I found that it was important to not make my child feel alienated. We all eat a healthy diet and keep very little junk food in the house. We snack on fruit, little boxes of raisins and cereal bars. Sweets are for treats only. Best of luck