Food/Groceries help and suggestions - vegetarian/pescatarian child

[FiguringItOut]

Hi.  I need help.  My 11 year old decided that she wants to be a pescatarian.  She's been complaining about the taste of meat (it started with chicken few years ago) for a while now and earlier this year she decided she's done with meat.  She does eat some fish (mostly salmon, but sometimes I cook up bass or some other white mostly flavorless fish) and shrimp.  She doesn't eat any other sea food.

She's also a  carb addict, will eat bread and pasta and sweets non stop. There are health issues associated with this and doctor said she actually need lower carb diet to keep her insulin levels below pre-diabetic levels. She eats some beans and just recently started eating few new vegetables.  Most of the vegetables have also been on her "yuck" list for a long time.  But just in the last couple weeks we added green beans and asparagus to her repertoire.  Eggplant, zucchini, cauliflower, mushrooms, broccoli, etc are still on the "yuck" list, though I do add those to some cooked dishes.  I don't hide veggies, but I do cut them small and try to bland the taste with the rest of the meal, for example fried rice with small dice zicchini, very small chuncks of broccoli, and peas and corn to sweeten the deal.  Substitute rice for couscous or small pasta and sub out some of the veggies.  We also started making refried beans, hummus, bean chili for the winter, she makes beans with buffalo sauce, etc.  All kinds of vegetable dishes that can be coked the night before and left for leftovers will not be touched for snack or dinner later.  She'll claim that she had it for snack and will not touch it for dinner. 

What I'm lacking is snack ideas for her and I'm hopping for some help.  She comes home from school around 2:30.  I don't get home till around 6.  She's hungry and basically goes through the fridge eating up things that can be just grabbed like cheese, bread, etc. I'm at a point where I can't buy cheese for the house because any amount of cheese bought disapears the next day.   No veggies are touched.  Or if I have some beans and rice that I plan for dinner she takes that and then doesn't want it again for dinner.  She doesn't eat yogurts or cottage cheese or oatmeal unless it is in though flavored oatmeal packets loaded with sugar.  My please of making regular oatmeal and adding things to it for taste fall on a deaf ear.  She'll eat sugary cereal.  I've been able to get her to cut sugary cereal with plain corn flakes.  But still cost is high and carbs are high.

I need snack ideas.  I need more meal ideas that are not all cabrs.  I am also having major grocery budget issues because of all this, but that is the next problem I will be solving.  I need to figure out how to feed my kids first.  My other daughter, 13, will eat pretty much anything, including meat.  She actually complains that we don't have enough meat since this whole vegetarian insanity started.  I come from a long line of carnivorous and meat and salad are a standard meal.  Hard to implement when you have a child who doesn't eat meat or salad for the most part. 

I can't move all of us to a fish diet.  I'll go broke fast.  Fish is very expensive, and though I provide fish, I need more ideas or at least a direction to look towards to.  I'd appreciate low cost options, but they will be mostly carbs which I need to avoid.  So right now I just need options.  I'll work on low cost later. Honestly, I feel completely lost.  It creates a lot of tension at home and complaints from hungry kids and guilt from frustrated mom (me).

[ooeei]

Snap peas and hummus is pretty solid.  Ranch makes lots of fresh veggies eatable for picky eaters.  When I first started trying out vegetables (at age 22...) putting them on pizza was a good move.  After quite a few pizzas the veggies actually started tasting good themselves.  The next step was stuff like caesar salads and other super savory dishes with veggies.  Fried rice with some of those small chopped frozen veggie mixes would probably be good as well.  Using brown instead of white rice will help some with the blood sugar spikes too.

Also I'm not a parent so maybe this is crazy talk, but shouldn't you be deciding what she eats, not her?  A bit of hunger might make some of those things she doesn't like taste pretty good. 

Edit:  If she likes cheese so much, how about broccoli with cheese?  My sister went crazy for that growing up. 

[Gin1984]

Snap peas and hummus is pretty solid.  Ranch makes lots of fresh veggies eatable for picky eaters.  When I first started trying out vegetables (at age 22...) putting them on pizza was a good move.  After quite a few pizzas the veggies actually started tasting good themselves.  The next step was stuff like caesar salads and other super savory dishes with veggies.  Fried rice with some of those small chopped frozen veggie mixes would probably be good as well.  Using brown instead of white rice will help some with the blood sugar spikes too.

Also I'm not a parent so maybe this is crazy talk, but shouldn't you be deciding what she eats, not her?  A bit of hunger might make some of those things she doesn't like taste pretty good. 

Edit:  If she likes cheese so much, how about broccoli with cheese?  My sister went crazy for that growing up.

My mom tried that on me, as a child.  She demanded I eat soup.  I still think soup is gross.  That stalemate lasted three days, until I passed out at school.  And in these days that would have caused CPS to be called on the parent.

[FiguringItOut]

Snap peas and hummus is pretty solid.  Ranch makes lots of fresh veggies eatable for picky eaters.  When I first started trying out vegetables (at age 22...) putting them on pizza was a good move.  After quite a few pizzas the veggies actually started tasting good themselves.  The next step was stuff like caesar salads and other super savory dishes with veggies.  Fried rice with some of those small chopped frozen veggie mixes would probably be good as well.  Using brown instead of white rice will help some with the blood sugar spikes too.

Also I'm not a parent so maybe this is crazy talk, but shouldn't you be deciding what she eats, not her?  A bit of hunger might make some of those things she doesn't like taste pretty good. 

Edit:  If she likes cheese so much, how about broccoli with cheese?  My sister went crazy for that growing up.

My mom tried that on me, as a child.  She demanded I eat soup.  I still think soup is gross.  That stalemate lasted three days, until I passed out at school.  And in these days that would have caused CPS to be called on the parent.

Yep. This would totally happen.  She'll mop around starving and crying and complaining.

She eats veggie pizza, but I can't be making pizzas every day.  I will try though to have leftover pizza in the fridge and see if that will work.  Adding this suggestion to my list.  Broccoli with cheese will not work, already tried; she just eats the cheese leaving broccoli behind.

[ooeei]

Snap peas and hummus is pretty solid.  Ranch makes lots of fresh veggies eatable for picky eaters.  When I first started trying out vegetables (at age 22...) putting them on pizza was a good move.  After quite a few pizzas the veggies actually started tasting good themselves.  The next step was stuff like caesar salads and other super savory dishes with veggies.  Fried rice with some of those small chopped frozen veggie mixes would probably be good as well.  Using brown instead of white rice will help some with the blood sugar spikes too.

Also I'm not a parent so maybe this is crazy talk, but shouldn't you be deciding what she eats, not her?  A bit of hunger might make some of those things she doesn't like taste pretty good. 

Edit:  If she likes cheese so much, how about broccoli with cheese?  My sister went crazy for that growing up.

My mom tried that on me, as a child.  She demanded I eat soup.  I still think soup is gross.  That stalemate lasted three days, until I passed out at school.  And in these days that would have caused CPS to be called on the parent.

Damn, that's pretty hardcore.  I was super picky as a kid and could see myself doing something similar, I guess maybe there's a point of no return with that kind of stuff.  I just find it hard to believe kids who are ACTUALLY hungry would turn down something because they don't like the taste.

An idea on the oatmeal is to not buy the prepared packets, but to make a big batch on the weekend and put it in the fridge in individual containers.  This way you control the flavor and can make it taste pretty darn good (raisins and a bit of brown sugar do wonders).


p.s.  You really don't like soup?  Any soup?  That's such a broad category of things it seems crazy.  Almost like saying you don't like things that are roasted.

[ooeei]

Snap peas and hummus is pretty solid.  Ranch makes lots of fresh veggies eatable for picky eaters.  When I first started trying out vegetables (at age 22...) putting them on pizza was a good move.  After quite a few pizzas the veggies actually started tasting good themselves.  The next step was stuff like caesar salads and other super savory dishes with veggies.  Fried rice with some of those small chopped frozen veggie mixes would probably be good as well.  Using brown instead of white rice will help some with the blood sugar spikes too.

Also I'm not a parent so maybe this is crazy talk, but shouldn't you be deciding what she eats, not her?  A bit of hunger might make some of those things she doesn't like taste pretty good. 

Edit:  If she likes cheese so much, how about broccoli with cheese?  My sister went crazy for that growing up.

My mom tried that on me, as a child.  She demanded I eat soup.  I still think soup is gross.  That stalemate lasted three days, until I passed out at school.  And in these days that would have caused CPS to be called on the parent.

Yep. This would totally happen.  She'll mop around starving and crying and complaining.

She eats veggie pizza, but I can't be making pizzas every day.  I will try though to have leftover pizza in the fridge and see if that will work.  Adding this suggestion to my list.  Broccoli with cheese will not work, already tried; she just eats the cheese leaving broccoli behind.

If she likes veggie pizza then you have a pretty good opportunity to add some of those things under the cheese and make them really a pain to get out.  Can't you cut the broccoli in the broccoli and cheese up small enough that picking it out is a non-option?  Granted, I had a friend pick diced onions out of a pasta sauce one by one once, I guess anything is doable.

[Gin1984]

Snap peas and hummus is pretty solid.  Ranch makes lots of fresh veggies eatable for picky eaters.  When I first started trying out vegetables (at age 22...) putting them on pizza was a good move.  After quite a few pizzas the veggies actually started tasting good themselves.  The next step was stuff like caesar salads and other super savory dishes with veggies.  Fried rice with some of those small chopped frozen veggie mixes would probably be good as well.  Using brown instead of white rice will help some with the blood sugar spikes too.

Also I'm not a parent so maybe this is crazy talk, but shouldn't you be deciding what she eats, not her?  A bit of hunger might make some of those things she doesn't like taste pretty good. 

Edit:  If she likes cheese so much, how about broccoli with cheese?  My sister went crazy for that growing up.

My mom tried that on me, as a child.  She demanded I eat soup.  I still think soup is gross.  That stalemate lasted three days, until I passed out at school.  And in these days that would have caused CPS to be called on the parent.

Damn, that's pretty hardcore.  I was super picky as a kid and could see myself doing something similar, I guess maybe there's a point of no return with that kind of stuff.  I just find it hard to believe kids who are ACTUALLY hungry would turn down something because they don't like the taste.

An idea on the oatmeal is to not buy the prepared packets, but to make a big batch on the weekend and put it in the fridge in individual containers.  This way you control the flavor and can make it taste pretty darn good (raisins and a bit of brown sugar do wonders).


p.s.  You really don't like soup?  Any soup?  That's such a broad category of things it seems crazy.  Almost like saying you don't like things that are roasted.

LOL.  I don't like liquid with crap in it.  So no pulp in OJ etc too, it is a texture thing.  I use thick soups like a dip with sourdough (like broccoli and cheese or potato cheese) and eat the chunks of clam chowder (and then eat the rest as a dip), but yea.  I know I am weird.  :P

[FiguringItOut]

Snap peas and hummus is pretty solid.  Ranch makes lots of fresh veggies eatable for picky eaters.  When I first started trying out vegetables (at age 22...) putting them on pizza was a good move.  After quite a few pizzas the veggies actually started tasting good themselves.  The next step was stuff like caesar salads and other super savory dishes with veggies.  Fried rice with some of those small chopped frozen veggie mixes would probably be good as well.  Using brown instead of white rice will help some with the blood sugar spikes too.

Also I'm not a parent so maybe this is crazy talk, but shouldn't you be deciding what she eats, not her?  A bit of hunger might make some of those things she doesn't like taste pretty good. 

Edit:  If she likes cheese so much, how about broccoli with cheese?  My sister went crazy for that growing up.

My mom tried that on me, as a child.  She demanded I eat soup.  I still think soup is gross.  That stalemate lasted three days, until I passed out at school.  And in these days that would have caused CPS to be called on the parent.

Yep. This would totally happen.  She'll mop around starving and crying and complaining.

She eats veggie pizza, but I can't be making pizzas every day.  I will try though to have leftover pizza in the fridge and see if that will work.  Adding this suggestion to my list.  Broccoli with cheese will not work, already tried; she just eats the cheese leaving broccoli behind.

If she likes veggie pizza then you have a pretty good opportunity to add some of those things under the cheese and make them really a pain to get out.  Can't you cut the broccoli in the broccoli and cheese up small enough that picking it out is a non-option?  Granted, I had a friend pick diced onions out of a pasta sauce one by one once, I guess anything is doable.

LOL my older one will pick out chunks of tomatoes from tomato sauce.  So yes, anything is doable as you say.   I'll try the broccoli and cheese and see what happens.

[Gin1984]

Another thing that might help is if she like spaghetti, shred up carrots and zucchini and it will pretty much disintegrate in the sauce as you cook it.  At least get some nutrition.

[FiguringItOut]

Another thing that might help is if she like spaghetti, shred up carrots and zucchini and it will pretty much disintegrate in the sauce as you cook it.  At least get some nutrition.

I don't hide veggies, but I can add more veggies to carby base like pasta or rice.

But what about after school snacks?  That's my main issue.

[Gin1984]

Another thing that might help is if she like spaghetti, shred up carrots and zucchini and it will pretty much disintegrate in the sauce as you cook it.  At least get some nutrition.

I don't hide veggies, but I can add more veggies to carby base like pasta or rice.

But what about after school snacks?  That's my main issue.

I understand you don't.  Maybe you should.  The snacks are important as part of her diet but if you can improve other parts that can help as well.  You have less control over the snacks (have her try different types of fruit?) but can add veggies to dinner. 

[Frs1661]

I recommend making falafel, its delicious, vegetarian, low glycemic index, and dirt cheap. It does require a food processor though. We make huge batches and freeze it, they reheat fast and well in the microwave. They could definitely be eaten as a snack.

Here's the recipe I use: http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2011/01/falafel/

I like the green version with added cilantro and parsley!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[FiguringItOut]

I recommend making falafel, its delicious, vegetarian, low glycemic index, and dirt cheap. It does require a food processor though. We make huge batches and freeze it, they reheat fast and well in the microwave. They could definitely be eaten as a snack.

Here's the recipe I use: http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2011/01/falafel/

I like the green version with added cilantro and parsley!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

This is perfect. Thank you.  She'll eat these.  Can you please tell me if you freeze them before or after you fry them.  Do they get soft/soggy in the microwave when reheated?

[moneybunny]

Your daughter is exactly how I was at her age.  At 10 I announced to my family that I would be a vegetarian.  I come from a VERY meat and potatoes family, so it didn't go over very well with them either.  My parents handled it by telling me that it was my decision and perfectly fine with them but that they would not be changing their eating habits at all.  If I wanted to eat vegetarian I would have to research how to do it healthfully and learn how to cook my own meals.  If I couldn't do those things, I couldn't be a vegetarian.  I think they thought that would stop me or that it was just a phase, but I was very stubborn. So, I learned how to research a basic healthful diet for myself and my mom started teaching me how to cook.  I think it worked out really well because that's when I developed my passion for cooking and am now a dietitian.  I'm also 30 now and still a vegetarian.  But you know your daughter better and whether or not she's up for that kind of responsibility....

[FiguringItOut]

Your daughter is exactly how I was at her age.  At 10 I announced to my family that I would be a vegetarian.  I come from a VERY meat and potatoes family, so it didn't go over very well with them either.  My parents handled it by telling me that it was my decision and perfectly fine with them but that they would not be changing their eating habits at all.  If I wanted to eat vegetarian I would have to research how to do it healthfully and learn how to cook my own meals.  If I couldn't do those things, I couldn't be a vegetarian.  I think they thought that would stop me or that it was just a phase, but I was very stubborn. So, I learned how to research a basic healthful diet for myself and my mom started teaching me how to cook.  I think it worked out really well because that's when I developed my passion for cooking and am now a dietitian.  I'm also 30 now and still a vegetarian.  But you know your daughter better and whether or not she's up for that kind of responsibility....

I've tried something like this.  She likes tinkering in the kitchen and can cook basics.  But when left to her own devices she'll just grab bread and cheese and then complain that there is no food at home.  I am still working with her on this.  She is good at making omelettes for her self with onions/pepers/tomatoes.  I need to encourage that more. 

[Noodle]

Hmmm...tough one. As a grown person who had to cut back on the carbs, I sympathize.

Will she eat fruit if it is cut up or otherwise made easy for her? (Unless her dr. specifically said to limit fruit, of course). Refined carbs tend to be the problem for most people in the early stages of carb management and fruit less of a worry.

There are carbs and carbs--in some areas you may be able to substitute whole grain items for refined. There are many different kinds of pastas, tortillas, etc available. For cheese, does she decimate shredded cheese as fast as block or sliced? In our house that hung around longer because it was less fun to eat.

For protein, hard-boiled eggs, nut butters on fruit, veggies, or something whole grain; you can also puree silken tofu or cottage cheese and use as the base for dips.

One piece of advice I remember from a "get your kids to eat" book was to not worry too much about fat and salt when introducing veggies to kids.  A lot of veggies have a little bitterness or strong flavor to them that is eased with using some fat in cooking (I'm not talking about deep-frying everything, of course, just not insisting on plain steamed). Being willing to eat veggies is very healthful and you can worry about cooking more healthfully once the habit is attached. Modern grocery store veggies, since they have to sit around awhile, and are often bred for sturdiness over taste, often need some help in the flavor dept.

[MsPeacock]

Another thing that might help is if she like spaghetti, shred up carrots and zucchini and it will pretty much disintegrate in the sauce as you cook it.  At least get some nutrition.

I don't hide veggies, but I can add more veggies to carby base like pasta or rice.

But what about after school snacks?  That's my main issue.

I have a 12 year-old son who comes home after school and sometimes fills up on things that I would prefer he not eat (e.g. cereal). Really the only thing I've been able to do to encourage better "snacking" is to not have the worst offenders available in the house (e.g. no sugar cereal, no instant oatmeal, no chips). He can't eat what isn't there.

What about fruit - like cut-up watermelon, cantaloupe, etc. - which sometimes can be found at reasonable prices.

You mention "pre diabetes" - is this a concern from the doctor regarding your daughter's health, or a general concern of yours from her eating? I'm not sure what the term means (apologies - I understand diabetes but not pre-diabetes).

Will she eat eggs? I found that my kids are both eager and willing to cook eggs. They like them, they are quick, tasty, and w/in the kids abilities. Even the 8 y/o can whip up a plate of scrambled eggs. I'd much rather they ate eggs as a snack then just about anything else.

[FiguringItOut]

Another thing that might help is if she like spaghetti, shred up carrots and zucchini and it will pretty much disintegrate in the sauce as you cook it.  At least get some nutrition.

I don't hide veggies, but I can add more veggies to carby base like pasta or rice.

But what about after school snacks?  That's my main issue.

I have a 12 year-old son who comes home after school and sometimes fills up on things that I would prefer he not eat (e.g. cereal). Really the only thing I've been able to do to encourage better "snacking" is to not have the worst offenders available in the house (e.g. no sugar cereal, no instant oatmeal, no chips). He can't eat what isn't there.

What about fruit - like cut-up watermelon, cantaloupe, etc. - which sometimes can be found at reasonable prices.

You mention "pre diabetes" - is this a concern from the doctor regarding your daughter's health, or a general concern of yours from her eating? I'm not sure what the term means (apologies - I understand diabetes but not pre-diabetes).

Will she eat eggs? I found that my kids are both eager and willing to cook eggs. They like them, they are quick, tasty, and w/in the kids abilities. Even the 8 y/o can whip up a plate of scrambled eggs. I'd much rather they ate eggs as a snack then just about anything else.

I can try cut up fruit.  Usually not a  go-to item, but worth a try.  Thank you.

Pre-diabetic means that her sugar levels are high, she gained a lot of weight recently, and her doctor is concerned.  Nothing that can't be managed, but can be made a lot worth with carb/sugar diet.

She's good in the kitchen and actually whips up an omlet with onions, peppers, tomatoes.  I should encourage it more.  She wont like hard boiled eggs though. 

We've tried homemade veggie burgers.  They were good.  I should make more and freeze them. 

I can't completely get rid of 'offenders' from the house since I have second daughter and don't want to 'punish' her.  But I am trying to limit this stuff.

[seemsright]

At 11 she is old enough to make the choice on how she eats then she has to put in the effort to figure out what and how she has to eat to be healthy.

Eating a vegetarian diet takes some effort to get all of the nutrients she would need. Not hard but she cannot just be eating bread and cheese.

it might be worth pushing the issue and making her truly understand what the diet she is saying she is eating. She is putting a label on herself and she needs to fully understand what that means. Not eating meat for the sake of animals is a honorable thing. But how is she going to get all of the amino acids she needs. This will take her learning food combining. Think a peanut butter sandwich on bread is a complete protein, rice and beans are a complete protein that type of thing.

She is just going to have suck it up and eat way more fruit and veggies than she is now. Then add high blood sugar to the mix and it is doable but it is going to be tricky without meat.

My daughter is only 5. But if she decided that she was going to do this...I would do the following. Make her really understand what she was doing, how to food combine and once that was done, I would give her $50 to buy a weeks worth of food and all of the staples she would need. Think a bag of rice, a jar of olive oil, soy beans,  veggies, fruits, etc then the following week I would give her  $40.

I also would make her learn how to make things like tofu, soy milk, tempeh, almond milk, hummus, tahini and different cheeses from scratch. She would know how to make a pot of beans, brown rice everything. I would not make it easy for her. I would also not go out of my way to make it hard. But if she wants to eat this way, then she has to learn how to do it and do it by herself. I would also have her grow sprouts in the kitchen to add to sandwiches, and soups.

If this is a choice she has made, it should not require you to do the work. Work to understand the ins and outs of it, but the act of making the food, buying the food, etc should be on her. Help her learn but if she is not going to put the effort into it. Then she cannot eat the way she wants.

I know some would say but she is only 11...she cannot do all of that. and my response is. If it is important to her she will.

[shelivesthedream]

Former picky child here...

You can try to starve her out to add foods to her repertoire, and I would kind of recommend it, but you have to have "going to bed with no dinner" as a serious option. If she doesn't eat whatever food you have prepared, you have to be 100% OK with her "going hungry". It never worked for my parents because they always caved (I was also chronically underweight...) so I knew it wasn't a serious ultimatum. Worth a try, I think.

Also, with sudden child vegetarianism...

If you're a meat-and-two-veg kind of house, that doesn't need to change too much. My parents relied heavily on freezer cooking individual portions of things like lentil stew, and also on buying ready-made falafel and tofu sausages. They would cook their meat, heat up a thing for me, and cook the two veg for all of us. Yes, I had a repetitive diet. Yes, I am a functional and well-nourished adult.

But I get that snacks are the problem. Dips are your friend here, I think, bought or made. Any pulse can be who see up with some oil and flavourings (garlic, herbs) to make a dip for all kinds of vegetables (carrot, cucumber) or bready thing (I know you're limiting, but some oatcakes once in a while might make a nice change).

I also understand not wanting to "punish" your other daughter by restricting the availability of "fun foods" but I wonder if there's a way to do this without it being a punishment. For example, buy very small quantities of biscuits or whatever it is and give them straight to her. Even individual serving cereals and only putting one out a day! Or taking "treats" away completely as an after-school snack but making them available somewhere else, like taken to school as a snack or had as pudding.

[calimom]

Some good suggestions here, also agree on the hummus and veggie ideas.  As it can take awhile to wean off carbs and cheese, limiting it rather than eliminating it altogether is probably a good idea.  My eldest daughter became mostly a vegetarian at around the same age as your DD, although she does eat some salmon.  It's really improved our overall family diet, my DS is a carnivore, but will eat veggie dinners.

Both of my DDs have been wildly into edamame, which I mostly buy in the pods at Trader Joes.  Would that be an option?

[Frs1661]

I recommend making falafel, its delicious, vegetarian, low glycemic index, and dirt cheap. It does require a food processor though. We make huge batches and freeze it, they reheat fast and well in the microwave. They could definitely be eaten as a snack.

Here's the recipe I use: http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2011/01/falafel/

I like the green version with added cilantro and parsley!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

This is perfect. Thank you.  She'll eat these.  Can you please tell me if you freeze them before or after you fry them.  Do they get soft/soggy in the microwave when reheated?

Freeze it after you fry. No problem with sogginess!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[The_path_less_taken]

Agree that the daughter eats what's available, or goes to bed hungry. With the caveat that "there's a wonderful veggie salad in the crisper: want it?" as a reminder that there actually is food in the house. I'd also get in FRONT of this with the school officials: so when she whines at school that you're starving her, they don't call CPS. I'd do it in writing, possibly return receipt. That way you have a legally dated document.

For snacks, I think if you pre-made some kits for her, with her name on them?

So, carrot sticks with a little hummus.

Apple slices with a nut butter.

Grapes with tiny slices of cheese (which will be her fave with the sweetness and her cheese). Costco sells these now but they've added pretzels to the little container....only 150 calories but I know you want to cut down on carbs so I'd make your own without the pretzels.

Melons cut up with the spoon in the container....easy grab and go items.

Good luck.

[Gin1984]

Agree that the daughter eats what's available, or goes to bed hungry. With the caveat that "there's a wonderful veggie salad in the crisper: want it?" as a reminder that there actually is food in the house. I'd also get in FRONT of this with the school officials: so when she whines at school that you're starving her, they don't call CPS. I'd do it in writing, possibly return receipt. That way you have a legally dated document.

For snacks, I think if you pre-made some kits for her, with her name on them?

So, carrot sticks with a little hummus.

Apple slices with a nut butter.

Grapes with tiny slices of cheese (which will be her fave with the sweetness and her cheese). Costco sells these now but they've added pretzels to the little container....only 150 calories but I know you want to cut down on carbs so I'd make your own without the pretzels.

Melons cut up with the spoon in the container....easy grab and go items.

Good luck.

If she passes out, that won't help.  And even if she does not, the teachers are mandated reporters.  They may not believe your statement over your child's especially if it looks like the kid does not have access or she is showing signs of lack of food.

[The_path_less_taken]

Most people don't refuse food to the point of passing out.

If there are a variety of food choices available to her, and a calm discussion about it is maintained at  home and school, it almost always works out.

Not sure how big her school is, but there are often vegetarian clubs? If not, online support might help as well.

Even a blog like this one, only for teen veggie peeps.

[runnerbee17]

So "cut carbs" is another way of saying "needs more fat and protein". So why not let her have as much cheese as she wants? It is a good snack, and if she's not eating meat, she's going to need protein from somewhere. Better than mowing through a box of crackers anyway. Speaking as a cheese addict here, though. Also, freeze what you don't want her to get at right away. You can't thaw it quickly without melting it and frozen cheese is no fun to eat since there's no flavor or creamy texture when it's that cold.

And as a former picky eater child and slowly recovering picky eater as an adult.... have you asked her why she refuses to eat certain foods? I would eat things I didn't like, eggs, for example. But there were other things I refused to eat because my brain had convinced me I was going to die if I put them in my mouth. I refused to eat butter for the longest time because I was completely convinced something tragic would happen if it passed my lips. (Yeah... butter...) Same with many vegetables and seafood. It wasn't anorexia, just a weirdly focused anxiety. But if she's really as severely picky as you say, maybe there's something else going on?

[AllChoptUp]

I can try cut up fruit.  Usually not a  go-to item, but worth a try.  Thank you.

Pre-diabetic means that her sugar levels are high, she gained a lot of weight recently, and her doctor is concerned.  Nothing that can't be managed, but can be made a lot worth with carb/sugar diet.

She's good in the kitchen and actually whips up an omlet with onions, peppers, tomatoes.  I should encourage it more.  She wont like hard boiled eggs though. 

We've tried homemade veggie burgers.  They were good.  I should make more and freeze them. 

I can't completely get rid of 'offenders' from the house since I have second daughter and don't want to 'punish' her.  But I am trying to limit this stuff.

If your child is pre-diabetic, has elected to drop most protein from her diet, and will not eat most vegetables, you have a real problem.  Simple carbs are not good here and fruit will make it worse (if she starts eating a lot). Please look into getting rid of most of your cereals (certainly the sugary ones) and limiting most simple carbs in your kitchen.

It's not going to be easy but if she continues this way diabetes is a real possibility. :(  Eggs, cheese, potatoes, veggies, low-glycemic bean dishes (many aren't!) and, frankly, meats can be key to controlling blood sugar.  Eating protein with or before carbs will help keep her blood sugar from spiking. 

(Note: I do not have diabetes but it runs in my family...so we try to educate ourselves in the spirit of avoidance.)

[FrugalWad]

http://www.superhealthykids.com/black-bean-brownies-and-dye-free-green-frosting/

These things are delicious, and taste so like regular brownies that I tried them on a friend that hates both black beans and avocados, but still liked these. With the frosting, they work out to about 300 calories each. That's practically a meal in itself.

Making quiche and freezing slices can make for quick, easy, low-carb snacks. Candied carrots, pickles, cut up apple with peanut butter, paleo cookies, strawberries with a couple pieces of chocolate, trail mix, egg salad, edamame in the shell so she has to take time to eat it, peanuts, almonds, walnuts.

If weight gain is becoming an issue, it may be worthwhile to invest in a digital kitchen scale, and learning about proper portion sizes from the nutritional labels on foods. That way she can have some sense of oversight on the level of her consumption even when you're not home.

[pbkmaine]

Roasted chickpeas. Black bean burgers from Theprudenthomemaker.com. White bean dip from her as well. Does your medical plan cover the services of a nutritionist? Having one work with your daughter to come up with an eating plan might be the answer here.

[former player]

I wonder whether part of the problem here is something that hasn't been mentioned yet: an eleven year old child spending 3 and a half hours without adult supervision up to 5 days a week.   I don't see how her diet can be effectively supervised in that situation, short of putting a lock on the fridge and food cupboards.

Also, what exercise is she doing?  If she is getting daily out of breath exercise she will do better, whatever her diet.

[dbanta]

There is a lot you could do with cauliflower and other veggies to substitute some carbs.  We love cauliflower rice and a friend recommended a cauliflower pizza crust that we haven't tried yet.

Cauliflower Rice (we love a lot of her recipes)
http://theclothesmakethegirl.com/2014/03/25/roasted-cauliflower-rice/

Cauliflower Crust
You Won't Believe it's Cauliflower Pizza Crust

1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower*
1 egg
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2tsp fennel
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley

pizza or alfredo sauce
toppings (make sure meats are cooked)
mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees farenheit.

Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.

In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Press evenly on the pan. Sprinkle evenly with fennel, oregano and parsley.

Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes (15-20 minutes if you double the recipe).

Remove the pan from the oven. To the crust, add sauce, then toppings and cheese.

Place under a broiler (grill for the Europeans) at high heat just until cheese is melted **.

Notes:

*I use frozen cauliflower prepared according to package directions. After cooked and slightly cooled, I shred cauliflower with a cheese grater, and then measure for the recipe. (Don't pack down the cup with cauliflower. Just fill it with a spoon or the cup itself.)

** You can try re-baking the pizza at 450 once you add toppings if desired, but the crust is not quite as crusty. There is a minimal difference, so see what works best for you.

(To get this size pizza, which for the two of us, we ate half, we tripled the recipe. The recipe as written would be enough for a personal size pizza.)

[Better Change]

homemade granola bars?  You can cut waaaaay down on the sugar so that they don't look like those Quaker frankenfood bars, and basic oatmeal is certainly better than processed white flour.  and if you make them with good fats (peanut butter, almond butter), they're very satiating.

really fibrous crackers with cheese and sliced apples?  peanut butter and sliced apples on said crackers?

those baked egg cup things?  (basically an omelet baked in muffin tins)

tuna salad on cucumber slices?  cucumbers have basically no flavor and are crunchy!

there are lots of hummus variations these days with all sorts of beans and flavorings, too.

[GreenSheep]

When I was your daughter's age, or maybe a little older, I was very concerned about eating healthy foods, and I went about it all wrong because I didn't know enough about nutrition. Probably didn't help that there was no Internet then. Over the past two years (I'm now 36), I have gradually changed my diet to a nearly vegan one. I've found that I enjoy food more (no need to pick out the gross parts of the meat or consider where it came from), and I feel better and have more energy. I owe most of my new knowledge to the Internet and many, many hours of my own reading.

Although this is a rather drastic example, it might help to read about Kristina of fullyraw.com. She decided in high school that she wanted to eat only raw foods, and her family completely flipped out. However, it's now been almost 10 years and they have all come around -- even her 92 year old grandfather drinks some of her juices and smoothies. She learned what/how to eat without any help from her family and is now a well-adjusted adult who has made a career out of this decision.

I completely agree with two bits of advice given above: 1. Your daughter is still young enough that you should be deciding what she eats, though she should have some choices within a range that is acceptable to both of you. You should not force her to eat meat, and she should not try to force you to let her eat refined sugar all day. 2. Your daughter is old enough to learn about nutrition and do some food preparation herself. Whether kids or adults, people who prepare their own food tend to appreciate it more.

Here are some websites with awesome vegetarian/vegan recipes that have become staples in my house. Maybe your daughter will enjoy looking through them, deciding on something to make, and eating her own creations. Also, if she can see this as a collaboration with you (Hey, let's spend some time together in the kitchen!) rather than a battle with you, it will be easier for both of you. After all, you both have the same big-picture goal: you both want her to be happy and healthy.

ohsheglows.com (Self-taught vegan cook who used to have an eating disorder and is now quite healthy and happy.)

mynewroots.org (Lives in Denmark -- might be some not-so-common ingredients, but many recipes are very doable.)

detoxinista.com (Recently had a child, so there are lots of kid-friendly suggestions and things that are quick/easy for parents to throw together.)

beardandbonnet.com (not all vegetarian, but there is an awesome vegan section under Recipes)

halfbakedharvest.com (might hit home a bit more because the blogger is very young -- I think 19 when she started! -- also not all vegetarian)

rebootwithjoe.com (His films, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" I and II, on Netflix, would be excellent for your daughter and the whole family to watch. I'm not saying that juicing is the answer, especially for an 11 year old who would probably need to speak with her doctor first, but the idea of rebooting your diet to make it healthier, and understanding that it's a lifestyle rather than a diet, and seeing the amazing changes in people who have done it, is very inspiring.)

richroll.com (A vegan ultra-athlete and father of four (one of whom is, I think, 11!) whose podcast is full of wonderful conversations with all sorts of amazing people, including many who have improved their lives through plant-based eating. His "cookbook and lifestyle guide," The Plant Power Way, is also a great resource. And finally, his article on the "protein myth" is excellent: http://www.richroll.com/blog/slaying-the-protein-myth/ )

Also, for what it's worth, I was often alone (with my younger brother) in the house after school for a few hours before my parents got home, and we did just fine. We knew that there would be consequences if, for example, an entire box of cookies was gone when Mom got home.

Please keep us posted on how you and your daughter are doing. This could be a great opportunity to improve her health, help her learn the value of researching her own information, and tightening your bond with her over time spent making tasty and nutritious things together.

[Noodle]

If your child is pre-diabetic, has elected to drop most protein from her diet, and will not eat most vegetables, you have a real problem.  Simple carbs are not good here and fruit will make it worse (if she starts eating a lot). Please look into getting rid of most of your cereals (certainly the sugary ones) and limiting most simple carbs in your kitchen.

It's not going to be easy but if she continues this way diabetes is a real possibility. :(  Eggs, cheese, potatoes, veggies, low-glycemic bean dishes (many aren't!) and, frankly, meats can be key to controlling blood sugar.  Eating protein with or before carbs will help keep her blood sugar from spiking. 

(Note: I do not have diabetes but it runs in my family...so we try to educate ourselves in the spirit of avoidance.)

Given this complicated situation, I wonder if it would be worth talking to a nutrition specialist to figure out what exactly needs to be done to manage your daughter's diet (what exactly should you be aiming for in terms of carb reduction?) and what some options might be for her.

[Sibley]

It would probably be a good thing for your daughter to sit down now with her doctor (not you) and have a chat about these health concerns and healthy diets. There are some real, serious concerns here, and she needs to understand that. She also needs a good, solid education into what makes a healthy, balanced diet. Take the whole family on the journey if you can, it never hurts anyone to learn!

She's also more than old enough to help in the kitchen. Teach her (all kids really) how to cook! You're much more willing to eat what you've prepared.

If she won't eat the meal you provide, then she doesn't eat. It will not hurt her to miss a meal or 2, and it is healthier in the long run to eat full meals rather than living on snacks. For after school, find alternatives so that there's adult supervision if you can. Fruits and veggies are the new snack, and if you don't want those then I guess you're not hungry.

Some tough love now will save her a world of problems later. Doesn't make it easier for you of course, but you can do it!

[tardis]

I've been a vegetarian my whole life, as is my family, and since moving out have gotten away from the more carb based diet of my parents.  I understand the easy grab feel, and having things already made is the key.  Have pre-cut veggies around.  Roasted veggies are also great, but have to be cooked at 400F+ to avoid mushiness.  Beans are also favourite.  Dips are yummy and can be used on on sandwiches, crockpot chillis, and bean based salads are great because it's a filling dish with a more complex flavour so it actually feels like a "meal" without any cooking and can be scooped;

tex mex style = salsa+black beans+corn+shredded carrot+shredded cheese
medeterranian = chick peas + pesto or italian dressing + fetta + cucumber +onion +tomato

Most indian curries are vegetarian and are easily made once you get the hang of it.

I would also second learning more about nutrition, not just for your daughter, but for everyone in the family.  Chances are everyone could do with a better diet, but it will also help her not feel like she's being punished/being scrutinized all the time for trying to take control of her own health/diet, or if her goal is attention, you mitigate that.  Learning more about cooking can be part of this.

[Moonwaves]

At 11 she is old enough to talk to about the reasons behind and consequences of her choice of diet as well as the health issues brought up by your doctor. So try to make sure that she understands why bread and cheese might not always be the right choice when it comes to snacks. When it comes to snacks in general though, and this can be just as applicable to your other daughter, too, how many snacks do they need? Ideally, they should be having three meals a day and perhaps one snack between lunch and dinner if they're really hungry after school and/or there is a long break between lunch and dinner. Over-snacking is a huge problem for a lot of people. It seems like a lot of people these days think that the very first hint of a feeling of hunger means immeidately having to eat something and if you do that you'll never be properly hungry for a good meal.

There is a blog written by a woman whose son refused to eat most vegetables so she decided to start an eat the alphabet challenge. He (and his older sister) got very into it in the end and it was really interesting to read. Nothing has been added to the blog for a long time but it might be interesting to read through what's there and see how someone else dealt with a problem veggie eater. Personally, I hated vegetables when I was a kid and wouldn't eat any of them (meat and potatoes for me. Soup was okay but it absolutely had to be pureed, there couldn't be bits in it). I was perfectly healthy though and it wasn't a problem until after my dad remarried and my stepmother insisted I eat veg - I was 12 at the time and that, along with a few other choice moves on her part were the major contributors to me developing an eating disorder. It wasn't until I was well away from her and in my twenties that I realised there were actually other vegetables than those on offer when I was a kid and that I actually liked some of them. And that it was okay to not like some of them, too. And it turned out that I didn't hate salad, I just dislike butterhead and iceberg lettuce, which was the only way that salad came in Ireland in those days. Anyway, obviously I have issues with this topic, but just thought I'd add a vote for perhaps trying lots of different veg with her buy-in in the hopes of perhaps finding some that she actually does like. Good luck.

Edited to add: Ooops, forgot link to blog - it's at Great Big Veg Challenge

[Gin1984]

At 11 she is old enough to talk to about the reasons behind and consequences of her choice of diet as well as the health issues brought up by your doctor. So try to make sure that she understands why bread and cheese might not always be the right choice when it comes to snacks. When it comes to snacks in general though, and this can be just as applicable to your other daughter, too, how many snacks do they need? Ideally, they should be having three meals a day and perhaps one snack between lunch and dinner if they're really hungry after school and/or there is a long break between lunch and dinner. Over-snacking is a huge problem for a lot of people. It seems like a lot of people these days think that the very first hint of a feeling of hunger means immeidately having to eat something and if you do that you'll never be properly hungry for a good meal.

There is a blog written by a woman whose son refused to eat most vegetables so she decided to start an eat the alphabet challenge. He (and his older sister) got very into it in the end and it was really interesting to read. Nothing has been added to the blog for a long time but it might be interesting to read through what's there and see how someone else dealt with a problem veggie eater. Personally, I hated vegetables when I was a kid and wouldn't eat any of them (meat and potatoes for me. Soup was okay but it absolutely had to be pureed, there couldn't be bits in it). I was perfectly healthy though and it wasn't a problem until after my dad remarried and my stepmother insisted I eat veg - I was 12 at the time and that, along with a few other choice moves on her part were the major contributors to me developing an eating disorder. It wasn't until I was well away from her and in my twenties that I realised there were actually other vegetables than those on offer when I was a kid and that I actually liked some of them. And that it was okay to not like some of them, too. And it turned out that I didn't hate salad, I just dislike butterhead and iceberg lettuce, which was the only way that salad came in Ireland in those days. Anyway, obviously I have issues with this topic, but just thought I'd add a vote for perhaps trying lots of different veg with her buy-in in the hopes of perhaps finding some that she actually does like. Good luck.

Edited to add: Ooops, forgot link to blog - it's at Great Big Veg Challenge

That is not always true.  For some people (like diabetics) multiple small meals can be ideal.

[Moonwaves]

At 11 she is old enough to talk to about the reasons behind and consequences of her choice of diet as well as the health issues brought up by your doctor. So try to make sure that she understands why bread and cheese might not always be the right choice when it comes to snacks. When it comes to snacks in general though, and this can be just as applicable to your other daughter, too, how many snacks do they need? Ideally, they should be having three meals a day and perhaps one snack between lunch and dinner if they're really hungry after school and/or there is a long break between lunch and dinner. Over-snacking is a huge problem for a lot of people. It seems like a lot of people these days think that the very first hint of a feeling of hunger means immeidately having to eat something and if you do that you'll never be properly hungry for a good meal.

There is a blog written by a woman whose son refused to eat most vegetables so she decided to start an eat the alphabet challenge. He (and his older sister) got very into it in the end and it was really interesting to read. Nothing has been added to the blog for a long time but it might be interesting to read through what's there and see how someone else dealt with a problem veggie eater. Personally, I hated vegetables when I was a kid and wouldn't eat any of them (meat and potatoes for me. Soup was okay but it absolutely had to be pureed, there couldn't be bits in it). I was perfectly healthy though and it wasn't a problem until after my dad remarried and my stepmother insisted I eat veg - I was 12 at the time and that, along with a few other choice moves on her part were the major contributors to me developing an eating disorder. It wasn't until I was well away from her and in my twenties that I realised there were actually other vegetables than those on offer when I was a kid and that I actually liked some of them. And that it was okay to not like some of them, too. And it turned out that I didn't hate salad, I just dislike butterhead and iceberg lettuce, which was the only way that salad came in Ireland in those days. Anyway, obviously I have issues with this topic, but just thought I'd add a vote for perhaps trying lots of different veg with her buy-in in the hopes of perhaps finding some that she actually does like. Good luck.

Edited to add: Ooops, forgot link to blog - it's at Great Big Veg Challenge

That is not always true.  For some people (like diabetics) multiple small meals can be ideal.

Agreed. But oversnacking is very common and the OP specifically asked about snacks, which is why I felt it appropriate to make the point.

[MrsPete]

Oh, I can relate to your post! 

One of my children became a vegetarian when she was a senior in high school.  She'd never really liked meat, and she made this choice as a consequence of some medical issues.  Though it's not what I would've chosen, I was -- and am -- supportive of her choice, but I laid down two rules: 

- She had to do some research and learn to eat HEALTHY as a vegetarian. I've known a bunch of high school girls who "became vegetarian" and essentially ate nothing but potato chips.  In my limited experience, this tends to last about three days ... less if Dad cooks steaks on the grill or if the family goes out to the Italian restaurant that serves fantastic chicken parm.
- She could not become one of those annoying vegetarians who lectures everyone else on the evils of eating meat. 

She listened.  Without even telling me, she went to the book store and spent her birthday money on several books, and she developed a plan for healthy eating.  Like your daughter, she leans towards carbs too heavily -- but she doesn't like to hear that from me. 

I tried to talk her into becoming a during-the-week vegetarian and eating meat on the weekends (is that a flexitarian?).  I was concerned about her getting enough protein.  She wouldn't go for it. 

Things that're working for her /us:

- Freezing individual meals for her.  SHE is responsible for this, not me.  I did help her initially with putting together some things like vegetarian chili and vegetable soup -- but now she's a pro at freezing things in flat bags on a cookie sheet.  She also freezes things like mac-and-cheese in muffin tins.  When we're having something like a chicken casserole, I mention it to her ahead of time, and she thaws a one-serving meal.
- I have individual casserole dishes that work well for us:  Say I'm making baked ziti.  I used to use a large casserole dish -- half ziti, a layer of cottage cheese and meat, then another layer of ziti.  Now I make everyone else's that way ... but her dish only contains the pasta.  This works for lots of meals. 
- Fruit salad.  When I buy fruit, it just sits.  When I cut up fruit and have an attractive bowl of brightly colored fruit in the 'fridge, it's gone in two days.  I vary the fruit -- if it's the same old, same old, they quit eating it. 
- When we go out to eat, she frequently orders an appetizer and a small salad or a bowl of soup. 
- She makes up salads once a week in mason jars (top each with 1/2 a napkin, and it'll stay good longer).  She likes to go to Harris Teeter and pick up all the crunchy-crunchies from the self-serve salad bar ... but NO lettuce ... then we buy lettuce separately ... and divide everything up into mason jars. 
- Another vote for homemade veggie burgers.
- Toast is a trendy food right now.  Yes, toast.  I love a ripe avacado mashed and spread over toast.  Add in a chopped roma tomato, a bit of purple onion, and some parmesan cheese ... and you have a light dinner.  Serve it with a soup, and it's a full-fledged dinner.
- Wraps and quesidillas are vegetarian friendly.  Go with whole-wheat, low-carb wraps.  Fill them with hummas and leftover vegetables. 
- Scope out Pinterest together.  You'll find lots of recipes -- but don't take on the responsibility of becoming her personal short-order cook.  This is her choice, and she should provide some of the extra labor that it'll require.  Bonus:  I always tried to be supportive of my girls' projects, and I helped them with resources, advice, etc.  I can count on one hand the number of teen-rebellion problems we had.  Why would you fight with a mom who helps put legs on your healthy, positive ideas?
- Get her a pack of note cards on a ring or a small notebook, and have her start to keep quick-and-easy recipes that appeal to her.  Again, this should be HER responsibility. 
- Since carbs and blood sugar are a concern, be sure she knows that potatoes -- especially white potatoes, but all other types too -- should not be a staple.  NOTHING makes blood sugar skyrocket like a potato.  Who says?  My whole diabetic family. 
- Google the overpriced Starbucks snack-y boxes.  I'm not recommending you buy them, but you can easily copy them at home.  The breakfast box with apples, grapes and peanut butter is actually a lot of food!  My college daughter loves to make a week's worth at a time for breakfast; she uses clear plastic nacho trays that we bought from ebay. 
- Put 1" of hummus or peanut butter in the bottom of a small jelly jar.  Fill the container with celery and carrot sticks.  Very cute and healthy. 
- A good school lunch: Core an apple and fill the apple with peanut butter and raisins. 
- I don't think anyone mentioned nuts as a good snack.  Buy a big container and have her divide them into snack-sized ziplocks. 
- Have her make granola bars or Lara bars with protein powder.  Protein powder is only sold in GIANT containers, and it is expensive, but it lasts forever.
- We also have to be careful about cheese.  My daughter will over-eat it, and it is a heavy fat item.  If you have Aldi's in your area, they have a great selection of cheese for good prices.

[wenchsenior]

Someone might have mentioned this already, but one thing I would try to do is consistently introduce her to veggies/fruit prepared different ways, with the stipulation that she just has to try it (maybe 5 bites), but not finish it. Even if she decides she doesn't like something, try it again a few months later, maybe prepared slightly differently. I grew to like a lot of things over time, more than when I first tried them.

Another idea: I was never particularly picky as a kid, but my palate was greatly expanded by certain positive experiences being related to food. For example, I hated avocados and goat cheese as a kid. When I started trying guacamole as part of the fun experience of an occasional trip to a Mexican restaurant, I started to rethink it. Then I graduated to avocados on salads or sprinkled with salsa a lime. Now as an adult, I love avocados under any conditions. With goat cheese, which is definitely an acquired taste, I began associating it with family picnics before going to Spring Green, Wisconsin's, famous outdoor classical theater. Picnics, bats, occasional thunderstorms all associated with fun and Shakespeare, etc. Before you knew it, I was liking the goat cheese. Etc. So you could try introducing foods in a fun, low pressure context.

You face a real challenge, and the prediabetes would send up massive warning flags of alarm for me. Unfortunately, this will most likely have to be a big mental focus for you and your family for while...a patient approach to food exposure, educating your daughter about her health, learning to cook appropriate foods, thinking up healthy options and making them available, etc.

I don't envy the situation. Picky eaters make me crazy...I would have to get truly creative in my approach if I was parenting one.

ETA (as someone who has to eat low glycemic because of diabetes risk and hypoglycemia): The carb thing can be tackled at home (in a way that will benefit everyone's health) by just dropping the white-carbs. No more sugary cereal, white bread, white rice, potatoes, white pasta, etc. Switch to whole grain carbs...brown rice, barley, oats, whole-grain pasta, etc. You can still use them as the meal base, but you need to lower the glycemic index of the food. Also, no sugary drinks: no fruit juice, no soda, etc. Man that stuff is evil.

[1967mama]

I have a daughter who stopped eating anymeat at about age 12. It started to seriously affect her health at around age 19. She had debilitating back pain and was on myriad drugs to cope. Multiple specialists at many levels were seen.  Now at almost 24 she is fully eating meat again (of all types) and her back pain has completely resolved with nothing changing in her life except eating meat again. So I would totally add a +1 to the comments upthread about adding lots of protein to her diet and not allowing her to be a "carbatarian."

[lauren214]

Perhaps a slightly different perspective here... 11 is about the age where a lot of girls start having body image issues. I know that when I was that age, I would have been mortified if my parents had some talk with me about weight gain (to me, it would have come across as them calling me fat). I would suggest framing it as having the whole family trying to eat healthier. From this perspective, you can then focus on things to add (eg. Veggies, whole grains) rather than things that are restricted.  As far as identifying healthy foods/ snacks, I would enlist her help - have her help make the shopping list or find recipes. Frame it as a fun thing, and that you are trying to support her choice to go veg.

[calimom]

It would probably be a good thing for your daughter to sit down now with her doctor (not you) and have a chat about these health concerns and healthy diets. There are some real, serious concerns here, and she needs to understand that. She also needs a good, solid education into what makes a healthy, balanced diet. Take the whole family on the journey if you can, it never hurts anyone to learn!

She's also more than old enough to help in the kitchen. Teach her (all kids really) how to cook! You're much more willing to eat what you've prepared.

If she won't eat the meal you provide, then she doesn't eat. It will not hurt her to miss a meal or 2, and it is healthier in the long run to eat full meals rather than living on snacks. For after school, find alternatives so that there's adult supervision if you can. Fruits and veggies are the new snack, and if you don't want those then I guess you're not hungry.

Some tough love now will save her a world of problems later. Doesn't make it easier for you of course, but you can do it!
[/quote

Yes, this

[Frs1661]

... I would suggest framing it as having the whole family trying to eat healthier.

This! Lead by example.




Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Get her involved in meal and snack planning.

Blood sugar is a problem that ultimately she will need to manage on her own. So sit down with her and explain the problem: Both health and budget constraints. Ask HER what she wants that fits those criteria. You make suggestions, she makes suggestions, no one is allowed to veto anything until you start narrowing down options at the end. I'm thinking a brainstorming problem-solving session a la How To Talk So Kids Will Listen.

Good luck!

[Anatidae V]

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-Broccoli-Lifetime/dp/0399164189

This is a very good book about how to help kids eat better. I would keep an eye on anything odd about her habits as well, as it's not uncommon for eating disorders to turn up around her age - and no, they aren't all about "being thin".

[gt7152b]

+1 on the nuts for snacking. Peanuts are cheap, healthy, and tasty. If she doesn't like them stand alone, make some natural peanut butter for crackers, sandwiches, or tortilla wraps. I also like to make trail mix with peanuts, raisins or dates, and a few chocolate chips.

[FiguringItOut]

Thank you.  A lot of great ideas here.  I am still sifting through them, but will definitely implement some of them that seem like they will fit in with my daughter.

There are few things I need to work on:
Portioning cooked dishes in the fridge.  Instead of having a large container with whatever, I need to have several small portion size containers. 
Freeze things that are easy to nuke and eat, also in single portions.  Falafels sound great.  We used to make them, but then forgot all about them.  Plus I didn't know they could be frozen. So this will work well.
Get some of the meal prep responsibility on the kids.  Both of them, vegetarian as well as carnivore. 
And I am looking for a nutritionist to work with my daughter, but I may have to push that to January, unless I find a way to cover the costs before then.

[MrsPete]

Another idea: I was never particularly picky as a kid, but my palate was greatly expanded by certain positive experiences being related to food. For example, I hated avocados and goat cheese as a kid. When I started trying guacamole as part of the fun experience of an occasional trip to a Mexican restaurant, I started to rethink it. Then I graduated to avocados on salads or sprinkled with salsa a lime. Now as an adult, I love avocados under any conditions. With goat cheese, which is definitely an acquired taste, I began associating it with family picnics before going to Spring Green, Wisconsin's, famous outdoor classical theater. Picnics, bats, occasional thunderstorms all associated with fun and Shakespeare, etc. Before you knew it, I was liking the goat cheese. Etc. So you could try introducing foods in a fun, low pressure context.\

That's perfect -- and I tried to encourage my kids in that type of way.  Sometimes I succeeded, but other times life with kids and a job "won out" and food just ended up being what we could manage.  It became easier once they were teens and were doing much of the housework without supervision ... that freed up more of my time to provide cool food experiences. 

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-Broccoli-Lifetime/dp/0399164189

This is a very good book about how to help kids eat better. I would keep an eye on anything odd about her habits as well, as it's not uncommon for eating disorders to turn up around her age - and no, they aren't all about "being thin".

True, but always keep the "being thin" thing in the back of your mind.  Especially with girls, it's almost always in the back of their minds!  They may say, "I want to be a vegetarian because I think it's wrong to eat animals", but OFTEN a part of their reasoning is, "And also I think it'll help me be thin."  It's so strongly engrained! 

And I am looking for a nutritionist to work with my daughter, but I may have to push that to January, unless I find a way to cover the costs before then.

Will your insurance cover a visit to a nutritionist? 

If not, a book would be cheaper -- though I'd still push for the nutritionist visit too.