Raising child vegetarian?

Hiya, Your daughter is adorable!

As you know my daughter was born prem and only 4 lbs. I have fed her pretty much vegetarian (my husband eats meet so she has had an occasional bit of chicken, but very rarely and I do feed her fish sometimes) and she is now so healthy and huge!

One thing I have found with feeding my baby vegitarean is that I do worry about her getting all of the nutrients so do feed her mashed food and did not do the baby led weaning.

Also, we tend to eat spicy food and she can not eat cows milk or cheese so some meals we do not always feed her our food, although she loves veg korma!

I always make food in bulk and put a load in the freezer to pull out when we are having something she cant eat.

They say that you should not feed lentils or beans until 12 months but my daughter has eaten pulses from 7 months and is fine.

To start weaning, veg purees is great. Also when she has got the hang of that lentils and carrots with a squeeze of orange juice is yummy and nutritous.

Hummus on rice cakes is a good snack.

My child does not have cow protein because of intolerance but loves soya cream and gound up cashew nuts with a bit of water to make a nut `cream´. I love that too!

lots of pulses, barley, quinoa, millet, beans and vegs and fruit is more than enough.

I found some great recipes on here;

http://www.organix.com/recipes?filter0[237]=237&sl...

http://www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/babies-6-9-mo...

I have crushed a brewers yeast tablet on a mashed advocado before when i feel that she needs an extra boost.

Flax/Linseed gound up and put in yogurt is a good source of EFA´s. Also, I have heard that coconut oil and olive oil is a good source. When your child gets older nuts are a good source.

You don't need 'vegetarian baby food recipes' any more than you just need recipes -- babies don't need special meals separate from the rest of the family's; that's just a wives' tale, perpetuated by people who want to sell baby food (and baby food recipe books).

The DHA supplements are really not necessary; DHA is a bit of a fad nutrient, and some studies of it in formula have shown negative effects.

Totally no need to overthink this -- lots of beans and dark green veg, egg and dairy, and you have nothing to worry about (speaking as a lifelong vegetarian, now with a vegetarian 3.5yo). Spinach omelette with a side of beans is a nice baby/toddler meal. My daughter has been willing to stuff in great gobs of plain, cold cooked grains -- brown rice, quinoa, barley etc -- since infancy; that's nice, simple, nutritious.

Of interest: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9646449/ns/health-kids... and http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/blw... -- as for the latter, Google 'baby-led weaning' for some good discussion on simply skipping spoon-feeding and purees; we went straight to self-feeding here. Do nurse as long as possible; you will notice in toddlerhood that your breastfed tot is healthier than the average toddler, and that will keep going for years. "Breastfeeding Older Children" and "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler" are worth getting out of the library.

Hummus. (Both the standard chick-pea variety, and other bean purees.)

If you eat dairy and eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, egg salad, cut up omelets and scrambled eggs, paneer, etc.

Your baby can eat spicy foods. If you really think that what you're eating is TOO spicy, take out a small amount for baby before you add the bulk of the seasoning.

Your baby can't survive on your milk alone after 6 months as they need the iron and other protein from food. You don't need recipes - just make sure you add dairy, eggs, beans when your child is old enough. Eggs have to be well cooked. Plain purees are recommended because sometimes your child doesn't do well on a particular type eg broccolli. Get Annabel Karmel for a start. She has Jewish recipes which are partially vegan anyway. Fish at some point is good - even if you don't like it. Don't do a vegan diet as this isn't adequate for a small child.

I like fruits over vegetables because I feel that fruits just feel "fresher" somehow.

Is actually a vegetable when you buy it and a fruit when you eat it.

great here are some sites for you.

I am not a vegetarian but rarely eat meat if any. I get most of my protein from lentils, beans, eggs, and peanut butter.

http://www.vrg.org/family/

http://www.vegfamily.com/babies-and-toddlers/index...

http://www.llli.org/nb/nbmayjun99p86.html

You are already not feeding her vegetarian. Breast milk is an animal product! EEEEWWW!

Just kidding.

Yes, you can feed a kid vegetarian. Yes, if you have a supportive doctor to ask questions to, go ahead.

Good luck.

homemade-baby-food-recipes.com have some good ones

wholesomebabyfoods.com

vegansociety.com