Mamas! I'm taking suggestions for my next book!
Posted by quintess on Apr 25, 2010 · Member since Feb 2007 · 1036 posts
Hey lovely vegweb mamas (and dads and others caring for children!)...
Although I'm just finishing up my latest book ("The Two-Week Wellness Solution"), I'm SO excited to begin my next project...a vegan kid's book! It's partly a thank-you to my daughter for putting up with all my incessant work on the other books - I think we'll have a blast working on it together!
So my question to you is...what would YOU like to see in a book about healthy kids??
So far I plan to include healthy recipes, nutrition for vegan kids, and tips on getting them to love veggies. But you guys always inspire me, so I'd love to hear from you if you have a minute.
Thanks so much! :)>>>
What good news! I'll vote for lunchbox ideas, some recipes that sneak veggies in, healthy recipes for foods that mimic omni kid favorites (rather than just buying the processed junk imitations), and maybe some advice on coping with family and friends who are critical of a vegan diet. Some book recommendations that go beyond specific vegan topics, but still promote compassion, animals as creatures vs. food, and healthy eating? For example, I just picked up the cutest pop-up book called CHICK by Ed Vere that simply shows that chicks come from eggs, chicks have mommies, chicks poop, etc. but doesn't say anything about them being farm animals, food, or givers-of-eggs for or plates (refreshing!). Good luck with the book! Can't wait to hear others' ideas and updates!
What would I do w/o the vegwebbers? Such smarties.
Those are GREAT ideas, thank you!!
I agree, can't wait to hear more. I will use several of your ideas - I'm going to try to cover ALL the bases for healthy, happy kids in this one - and I'll bet I learn a ton in the process myself! :)
The sneaking healthy food in part would be great. i have one kid (noah) who will eat anything that we put in front of him, and always has, and the other, well, he uses his food and us for target practice! he won't really eat veggies, so I am always looking for ways to get the nutrients in him without him knowing!
Is that going to be a book geared for the kids or a cookbook for families with kids? Both would be nice or maybe even a combination of both.
If its a cookbook full of kid-friendly recipes, a section that kids could prepare themselves would be nice. Caitlin will eat most foods. As far as recipes go I'd like to see some calorically dense ones, as well as things that are portable, and don't require refrigeration beyond an insulated bag and ice pack for lunchs, picknicks, campouts, etc. Foods that somewhat resemble other kids foods would be nice as well for those times when your kid wants to blend in. Caitlin wants more mushroom recipes, but I don't know how many other kids are obsessed with them like she is.
From what I have read here, some transitional recipes would be nice for kids who weren't raised vegan and who parents are making the switch. Maybe also so information for the omni parent whose teen comes home and claims to be vegan. Those parents have no idea what to feed their kids, and most have a lot of bad information in their heads about veganism.
Like the others said, most parents will want recipes to sneak veggies into foods. I don't have that problem, but often sneak nuts into things for her.
Lastly, some advice for dealing with family, teachers, DCFS, daycare, and other naysayers would be appreciated.
Oh. One other thing. Where we live people have decadant desserts with both lunch and dinner every day. (No joke. One of her friend's parents was BRAGGING that her daughter ate a half pan of brownies in 2 hours.) I think this is a terrible habit and would never have that in my home; however, some healthy desserts would be nice. It would be nice to have some that were even healthy enough to eat regularly. I have books full of wonderful vegan deserts, but they are just for special occasions. I'm more interested in seeing things that appeal to her sweet tooth without encouraging obesity and diabetes.
WOW! :D
Great ideas, thanks so much! Keep em coming - this is going to be a bigger book than I thought, seems like...
I'd love some travel recipes, for lunches, car trips, and the like. Especially breakfast on the go type stuff?
picky eaters, toddler nutrition and weight gain in vegan babies.
Maybe even a chapter on baby food?
Maybe even a chapter on baby food?
I agree!! Our baby is due in July, and although we plan to breastfeed, you can't breastfeed forever. I am really concered about buy store bought crap, so a chapter on making baby food would be AWSOME. Thanks tess
Sounds like I should have a "stages of life" recipe categorization! Foods for babies, toddlers, and kiddies.
Love all the great ideas, thank you!! :)
The sneaking healthy food in part would be great. i have one kid (noah) who will eat anything that we put in front of him, and always has, and the other, well, he uses his food and us for target practice! he won't really eat veggies, so I am always looking for ways to get the nutrients in him without him knowing!
Vegan lunchbox had a pretty good idea, and I use it when I have kale on hand.
Blend steamed kale up with spaghetti sauce and serve it with pasta works with my son.
healthy homeade toddler snacks-vegetable crackers, etc.....
Do you have any recipes for seasoning your own nori? Following you advise, I bought her some, and she loves it. She likes the seasoned ones better but the only one I can find locally is in a store across town I don't usually shop it and has MSG.
Side note: We were at the grocery store tonight after church. Caitlin asked for a treat, and I was getting ready to tell her no candy, especially this late at night. Turns out the treat she wanted was a package of nori. I have no problem giving into that craving.
LBarte, that's great!! My daughter also considers those nori packages as a serious treat. She says the kids at school beg her for them too!
That's a great idea - thank you! I will definitely put seasoned nori on my list - can't wait to tell Alethea, she'll be thrilled to create a recipe for them!! :D
Ok, I have one more thing. (I promise to stop eventually.) Anyway, every kid seems to have different vegetables that they like/dislike/love/hate, and it is not always predictable. For example, my daughter will eat mushrooms and avocados by the pound but won't touch anything that has bell pepper or sweet potatoes in it. I find myself substituting veggies out all the time with mixed success. Maybe for the recipes with obvious (not hidden) veggies, you could list good substitutions or say something like "1 cup each of 2 of the following . . ." and have a list of appropriate veggies.
Thank you, lbarte! And please....don't stop! I welcome all suggestions, and yours are great! :)