[.ca] Raising Vegetarian Children (ISBN 0658021559)

A Vegetarian Bible:
Raising Vegetarian Children, A Guide to Good Health and Family Harmony, by Joanne Stepaniak and Vesanto Melina, is a comprehensive guidebook that provides a practical plan for making sure your child's diet is nutritionally adequate. The first two hundred pages are devoted to the basics: ethics, family and relatives, being different, eating out; Vegetarian Nutrition 101 addresses the Total Vegetarian Food Guide, which is a vegetarian's answer to the tired meat and dairy-laden food pyramid. Nutritional needs for all age groups from birth to teens are addressed in precise detail, from nursing moms, supplements, picky eaters, and finger foods, to "the unique needs of teens," including nutrition for athletes, healthy skin, body image and eating disorders. Over one hundred pages are devoted to kid-friendly recipes such as Fabulous French Toast, Cheez-A-Roni, Crispy Tofu Fingers, French Bread Pizza, Fajitas, Tacos, Oven Fries, German Chocolate Cake, Fruit Popsoycles, over 20 sandwich spreads/fillings, and my 13-year old vegan daughter's favorite, The Very Best Chocolate Chip Cookies. The vegetarian community has long awaited this primer, and like all other books by Stepaniak and Melina, this one does not disappoint.

The definitive guide to raising vegetarian and vegan kids:
Joanne Stepaniak and Vesanto Melina have created a much needed resource to serve parents and families, caregivers, and medical practitioners alike. After a thorough introduction discussing all aspects of vegetarian food and life choices (emotional, community, and psychological), the authors give a sound nutritional introduction. They then offer advice chronologically, beginning with nutrition for breastfeeding moms and continuing through introducing solids and feeding picky teens. The authors take a very down-to-earth approach, offering advice for parents of kids who are feeling alienated, or who want to eat meat away from home. Each stage of life has different nutritional concerns. Stepaniak and Melina address the stages with age-specific menu plans using recipes from Part 3 of the book. The authors begin Part 3 by giving some helpful cooking recommendations for new or aspiring "healthy" cooks. There are many easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly recipes, replicating non-vegetarian favorites. Not all recipes have a 100% whole foods approach, and some include ingredients like "veggie dogs" or "veggie meats." The recipes range from beverages and breakfasts to snacks and entrees. All of the recipes include nutritional information, even the desserts. The book also has a very well organized index that makes it easy to pick up and find a piece of useful information. Raising Vegetarian Children ends with a large resource guide and bibliography, so those who want to dig deeper also know where to go.-- Reviewed by Amy O'Neill Houck

Raising Vegetarian Children by Stepaniak:
This book teaches implementation of the vegetarian ideal in meal preparation for children and families. It encourages a meat-free diet or a lean meat diet. It names specific vegetables which belong in the diet; namely, alfalfa, artichokes, asparagus, beans, broccoli, eggplant, escarole, onions, scalions, spinach, sweet potato, apples, bananas, nuts, spices, olive oil, sesame oil and many others. The author cautions against buying thawed or re-frozen foods. She warns of major foodbourne diseases; such as, bacillus cereus and botulism which are derived from soil contaminants. Many sample meal plans are presented. In addition, an extensive vitamin regimen is explained in great detail. The book is a good purchase. It will help you plan the family diet and minimize avoidable diseases and disease processes.

I use it every day!:
As a vegan, and a mom, it's important to me to pay careful attention to my children's nutritional needs. This book is FULL of great information and meal ideas. I have learned TONS from reading it, and it has earned a place on my kitchen counter! :c) A must-have for all vegetarian parents or parents of vegetarian kiddos. P.S. You MUST try the FlaxJacks- they are to *die* for! :c)

An excellent, much needed resource!:
Joanne Stepaniak and Vesanto Melina have created a much needed resource to serve parents and families, caregivers, and medical practitioners alike. After a thorough introduction discussing all aspects of vegetarian food and life choices (emotional, community, and psychological), the authors give a sound nutritional introduction. They then offer advice chronologically, beginning with nutrition for breastfeeding moms and continuing through introducing solids and feeding picky teens. The authors take a very down-to-earth approach, offering advice for parents of kids who are feeling alienated, or who want to eat meat away from home. Each stage of life has different nutritional concerns. Stepaniak and Melina address the stages with age-specific menu plans using recipes from Part 3 of the book. The authors begin Part 3 by giving some helpful cooking recommendations for new or aspiring _healthy_ cooks. There are many easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly recipes, replicating non-vegetarian favorites. Not all recipes have a 100% whole foods approach, and some include ingredients like "veggie dogs" or "veggie meats." The recipes range from beverages and breakfasts to snacks and entrees. All of the recipes include nutritional information, even the desserts. The book also has a very well organized index that makes it easy to pick up and find a piece of useful information. Raising Vegetarian Children ends with a large resource guide and bibliography, so those who want to dig deeper also know where to go.--Reviewed by Amy O'Neill Houck