Vegan Kids Learn to Love Food
Helping children develop good eating habits is an important goal towards their ultimate good health and nutrition. With childhood diabetes on the rise, very young is a good time to instill healthy habits in those children around us. Keeping meals appetizing and colorful can attract the most rigid palate. A few tricks can really help kids learn to appreciate new food, vegan food, and healthy food.
First of all, include them in the process. If you are trying out a new recipe, set things up so the younger children can help out. If they invest in the creation, they are more likely to want to try it out and feel a part of it. For the very young, call it something intriguing to garner their interest. Peanut butter toast with brown sugar on it (cut into the right shapes each slice becomes eight or ten) is called “Dirty Toes” at our house – and may even include some “toenails” (banana slices) if we are feeling particularly wicked. The little ones think it is so much fun to hear what we are eating. (Tofu was called “toe food” at our house for a long time, so eating “Dirty Toes” was not that big of a stretch.) We have some small red bowls which are used for snacks such as raisins and celery, or apple slices with peanut butter. (Be sure the children are old enough for bits of food before trying this one.) Those little bowls usually mean something good is about to be served and they are now considered the harbinger of “treats.”
Secondly, make changes gradually. When I first transitioned to veganism, I utilized the many substitute soy products that mimic familiar meat products. Soy nuggets were not all that different from chicken nuggets, especially if the dipping sauce was similar. Vegan cookies were always popular and so were banana cake and gingerbread. Seitan was introduced with Vegan Teriyaki Sauce which overcame all obstacles and objections. Favorites of the kids, such as pizza, spaghetti, and tacos, are easily made vegan with the help of so many new vegan products to make things seem familiar: soy cheese shreds, veggie or soy crumbles, soy deli slices, and so on. When I try out a new recipe, often I only give a serving to myself; before long little voices are requesting their own serving!
Third, answer children’s questions as honestly as you can. Let them know why you are a vegan, but let them find their own voice, too. Sometimes using a book, such as That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals by Ruby Roth, can be helpful in letting children explore their world and understand why people make different choices regarding eating habits. Let your response be age-appropriate, and remember to answer questions asked rather than volunteering too much information. Children learn best by observation, rather than indoctrination. Providing them with delicious healthy foods and introducing them to compassion for other living things is sure to help. We are currently saving all found nickels and dimes in a jar that will be donated to help the animals at the end of the year. This project was readily embraced by the children and together we are deciding where to donate our small sum.
Your positive attitude towards food, the earth, and other living creatures is the best teaching tool of all. Enjoy your children and let them learn to enjoy meal times!
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