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Good article, but where is the mother's email addy so we can send her some good info?

By no means do I have my 6 year old son on a "diet" to speak of. While my wife may consider this way of eating a diet, I continue to stress it's a lifestyle. Why should I get my son comfortable eating poorly now and try to introduce the plant-based lifestyle later on? I think my wife and I are at disagreement on this. This was spurred some some sort of faux-fruit roll up snack he was given as "dessert" last night. I looked at the nutritional data and three of the first four ingredients were sugar! Needless to say the conversation didn't go very far but it should have.

I am having a very difficult time finding "kid friendly" or maybe that is "son approved" vittles for my 6 year to eat. Thankfully the list isn't getting shorter. He likes potatoes, rice and some legumes (pinto, black and kidney). I have been feeding him corn like there is no tomorrow. Can't say the yellow/green veggies are all that plentiful right now. He does get some of those in the blended smoothies my wife makes in the morning.

Still the battle that I wage is not with him eating, but with my wife. If my wife can embrace this lifestyle, being compliant about 80-85% of the time why would we want to feed out kid crap? Especially with all the problems we read about with child obesity, diabetes, etc? How do I convince her what I am doing is not only good for him, but good for his health? I have been told by a few parents, "he is only a kid, let him eat what he wants." I probably should have spoke up and turned that into an issue, but I didn't. Nor won't I allow him to eat whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

I have been to a few sites with "kid friendly" recipes, but very few of them have been successful. For those with kids, what's your secret? Also, did the spouse contradict your attempts? Any help would be appreciated.

I am still failing at this WOE for my daughter. She will eat some veggies and starches but it seems she will just go hungry rather than eat it sometimes. I do get more success with a few shreds of vegan cheese. It isn't enough to really add much or anything to the meal but she thinks it does. Seriously like a pinch. Kid friendly recipes fail here. She hates tomatoes and so many recipes are centered around them.

I just made myself some tapioca pudding. I said to my husband "this will be a good recipe for our future kids". It's so tasty and healthy. i think it is a McDougall recipe.

4 very ripe bananas
14-16oz of ripe strawberries (i think you could use other fruit as well, but i haven't tried it. If you use frozen berries, pour the liquid into the recipe as well)
2 tsp vanilla
1.5 Tbsp lemon juice
2 cups water
1/2 cup instant tapioca granules (i buy Reese's)

1) Puree bananas, strawberries, vanilla, and lemon juice in food processor or blender until very smooth.
2) Mix water, tapioca, and fruit puree in a large pot thoroughly and then allow to sit for 5 minutes.
3) Slowly heat the mixture, stirring frequently, until it just starts to boil/bubble.
4) Remove from heat and allow to sit for 20 minutes.
5) Pour into container or individual dessert cups, and place in refrigerator. I find it takes close to 4 hours to really set. Eat it once it's really firm and gelatinous. Yum!!

Hi all,

I certainly can sympathise with you. I have a 9 yr old son and a 21 month old daughter. I must say my son is really good and eats most of what I make and likes it. My daughter eats everything still, so I am really lucky. The recipes that I find work wonders are from Chef AJ in "The Chef and the dietician." My kids love the dissapearing lasagna, her nutritious smoothie which is basically putting loads of dark greens in the vita mix with fruit and some cocoa poweder, but the trick is using blueberries or blackberries because they give it the chocolate colour and a wonderful flavour. The green smoothie gone brown is a winner with my son. I also have made the carrot loaf from dr mcd.'s cookbook with carrot, rice and tahini and my kids eat like there is no tomorrow. I also have found many of Dr Fuhrman's recipes like his "betta burgers" a winner. I also use frozen kale (as in Germany we don't get it fresh now) and make a cashew nut cream sauce and my daughter eats it all up. Frozen banana icecream is loved too. Let me know if you need more ideas and I'll note other recipes that I do that they all love (oh yes don't forget the hummus - we all love it and eat it with potatoes, rice - anything.) Best, Julia

Wonderful, thank you for the reply Julia. I am looking up some of those now.