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

Joanne Stepaniak (Author), Vesanto Melina (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2002

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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Responsible, compassionate guidance and sound nutritional advice for parents of vegetarian kids

"A must-have for anyone who understands that how we feed our children says a lot about who they will become."
--John Robbins, author of the bestsellers Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution

"Ultimate guide for fit, healthy families . . . required reading for every parent--whether vegetarian or not!"
--Jay Gordon, M.D., FAAP, pediatrician and author of Good Food Today, Great Kids Tomorrow

Vegetarianism is more than just a dietary decision; it's a lifestyle choice. But establishing that lifestyle within the bounds of ever-changing family dynamics can be a challenge. Perhaps you're a new parent concerned about imposing your vegetarian lifestyle on your baby, or you may be the head of a meat-eating family confused by your child's recent decision to become a vegetarian. With the compassionate, authoritative advice in Raising Vegetarian Children, every parent--regardless of his or her dietary preference--will discover how to achieve healthy harmony in a vegetarian household.

With nutrient-rich recipes for everything from breads to spreads, enticing entrées to delectable desserts, you'll meet and even exceed your child's dietary requirements. These veggie meals will smooth an infant's transition to solid foods or soothe the most finicky teen palate. In addition to nutritional needs, you'll learn to address the social and emotional aspects of vegetarianism, including:

• Helping your child cope with pressure to conform to a standard diet
• Ensuring that school officials, caregivers, and relatives abide by your child's dietary wishes
• Dining out in nonvegetarian restaurants and celebrating traditional, meat-eating holidays

About the Author

Joanne Stepaniak, M.S. Ed., is the author of The Vegan Sourcebook, Being Vegan, and nine other vegetarian cookbooks.

Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D., is a registered dietitian and the coauthor of Becoming Vegetarian, Cooking Vegetarian, and Becoming Vegan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0658021559
• ISBN-13: 978-0658021558
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.9 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive guide to raising vegetarian and vegan kids May 26, 2003

By Melanie

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Joanne Stepaniak and Vesanto Melina have created a much needed resource to serve parents and families, caregivers, and medical practitioners alike. After a thorough introduction discussing all aspects of vegetarian food and life choices (emotional, community, and psychological), the authors give a sound nutritional introduction. They then offer advice chronologically, beginning with nutrition for breastfeeding moms and continuing through introducing solids and feeding picky teens. The authors take a very down-to-earth approach, offering advice for parents of kids who are feeling alienated, or who want to eat meat away from home.

Each stage of life has different nutritional concerns. Stepaniak and Melina address the stages with age-specific menu plans using recipes from Part 3 of the book. The authors begin Part 3 by giving some helpful cooking recommendations for new or aspiring "healthy" cooks. There are many easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly recipes, replicating non-vegetarian favorites. Not all recipes have a 100% whole foods approach, and some include ingredients like "veggie dogs" or "veggie meats." The recipes range from beverages and breakfasts to snacks and entrees. All of the recipes include nutritional information, even the desserts. The book also has a very well organized index that makes it easy to pick up and find a piece of useful information. Raising Vegetarian Children ends with a large resource guide and bibliography, so those who want to dig deeper also know where to go.-- Reviewed by Amy O'Neill Houck

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vegetarian Bible February 18, 2003

By Mimi G. Clark

Format:Paperback

Raising Vegetarian Children, A Guide to Good Health and Family Harmony, by Joanne Stepaniak and Vesanto Melina, is a comprehensive guidebook that provides a practical plan for making sure your child's diet is nutritionally adequate. The first two hundred pages are devoted to the basics: ethics, family and relatives, being different, eating out; Vegetarian Nutrition 101 addresses the Total Vegetarian Food Guide, which is a vegetarian's answer to the tired meat and dairy-laden food pyramid. Nutritional needs for all age groups from birth to teens are addressed in precise detail, from nursing moms, supplements, picky eaters, and finger foods, to "the unique needs of teens," including nutrition for athletes, healthy skin, body image and eating disorders. Over one hundred pages are devoted to kid-friendly recipes such as Fabulous French Toast, Cheez-A-Roni, Crispy Tofu Fingers, French Bread Pizza, Fajitas, Tacos, Oven Fries, German Chocolate Cake, Fruit Popsoycles, over 20 sandwich spreads/fillings, and my 13-year old vegan daughter's favorite, The Very Best Chocolate Chip Cookies. The vegetarian community has long awaited this primer, and like all other books by Stepaniak and Melina, this one does not disappoint.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I use it every day! July 7, 2004

By Fred's Mom

Format:Paperback

As a vegan, and a mom, it's important to me to pay careful attention to my children's nutritional needs. This book is FULL of great information and meal ideas. I have learned TONS from reading it, and it has earned a place on my kitchen counter! :c)

A must-have for all vegetarian parents or parents of vegetarian kiddos.

P.S. You MUST try the FlaxJacks- they are to *die* for! :c)