Omni to move into Veggie Household (Whole Foods, dinners, junk food, fast)

[crazyme4878]

It looks like my niece will with us. We are a young, vegetarian family and meals are an important part of our life. I try to make as much as possible using whole foods and from scratch. My niece eats meat and a lot of her food is fast food and junk food and they don't eat dinner together. She is turning 14 soon. Any advice that would help me help her adjust? I'm a firm believer in making kids eat at least a little of everything, but I also want to make her feel welcomed. She isn't coming to us under her own free will, either.

I was thinking of buying lunch meats or have her eat the school lunches and then maybe keeping some regular hot dogs in the freezer for cookouts. I also want her to help me make dinners when possible, so that she is more invested in the meals (plus preparing her for the future). Maybe she can plan one meal a week?

Any ideas or advice would be appreciated!

[Lilybeans]

Good luck to you.

[cr1039]

I do not think you need to adjust to her lifestyle in bringing in hot dogs and lunch meats.

There are so many yummy meals you can make her for lunch and family dinners (we all know that)



As being a firm believer in making kids try everything...well she is not a kid and you certainly can't make her eat anything at the age of 13/14.

All you can do is set a nice example and perhaps treat her like a young lady. Perhaps a sweet dialoge like this: "Oh, this chick pea salad came out delish! I am so glad I gave the recipe a try. "Mary", have you tried the chick pea salad yet?"

When she is out to the movies or at school and perhaps wants to purchase a meal or fast food, she can feel free to do so.

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by crazyme4878

...but I also want to make her feel welcomed. She isn't coming to us under her own free will, either. (oh dear...)

I also want her to help me make dinners when possible, so that she is more invested in the meals (plus preparing her for the future). Maybe she can plan one meal a week?

There are so many meat 'substitutes', etc. that you can mix in with other meals so that the difference between them is hardly noticeable. Or keeping snacks like meatless corndogs (enough grease to pass for whatever is in hot dogs), and other junk food. There is some amazingly good vegan junk food out there ()!

That her family does not sit down to dinner will be harder to overcome than a burger or two. Or maybe rather than bringing meat into the house, you could let her choose a place to go to dinner every week and eat whatever she wants. Make it a very special outing just for her that the whole family engages in.

You know, having her help make and plan meals is probably the best thing you can do. Integrating her into your lives and day-to-day routines will make her feel welcome, not necessarily stocking up on meat.

I don't know, just some thoughts.... Yes, good luck.

[crazyme4878]

Thanks for the tips and ideas. Another issue is that we are moving to a very isolated area. The nearest restuarant, grocery store, convenience store, movie theater, or any store is two hours away... on a dirt road... over a mountain. She refuses to eat meat substitutes as well. I appreciate the heads up on not being able to make her eat dinner. I'm too use meal time with little kids!