RAISING VEGETARIAN CHILDREN, A Guide to Good Health and Family Harmony
By Joanne Stepaniak, M.S Ed., and Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D.
Contemporary Books
2003, 384 pages, $18.95
Available from NAVS
Joanne Stepaniak, author of The Vegan Sourcebook, Being Vegan and nine other vegetarian cookbooks, brings to Raising Vegetarian Children her years of experience and wisdom as a teacher, counselor and mediator. And Vesanto Melina, a registered dietitian and co-author of Becoming Vegetarian, Cooking Vegetarian, and Becoming Vegan, provides the expert nutritional guidance. Together, Stepaniak and Melina have succeeded in creating the ultimate guide for vegetarian families. The melding together of their talents and expertise has yielded an invaluable resource that is actually two books in one.
The first half of the book addresses the social and emotional aspects of the vegetarian lifestyle. Whether you’re a new parent learning how to raise your child on a plant-based diet, a parent transitioning resistant carnivores, or a non-vegetarian parent suddenly faced with a vegetarian child, this book can provide valuable help to you.
The authors really take their time to address a wide range of family conflicts in a fair and compassionate manner, and from all angles. I was so impressed with their ability to illustrate the wide range of perspectives that one might encounter within a family. Only by understanding each persons’ viewpoints can you get to the heart of what causes the friction in the first place. They also discuss how to cope with the many dilemmas common to vegetarians such as peer pressure, school lunches, dining out and the always stressful family holidays.
The second half of the book is loaded with nutritional information, taking the guesswork out of meeting dietary guidelines, with advice on food choices, plant-based substitutes for mainstream meat-based ingredients, and menu planning. The sections on nutrition are well thought out and presented in a logical format, starting with the breastfeeding infant on through the teenage years. Each chapter breaks down nutrition for infants, toddlers, children up to twelve years, and teenagers – recognizing that all stages have unique requirements.
The infant section contains invaluable information for nursing mothers, including sample menus to ensure they are meeting and exceeding their own daily requirements, as well as addressing breastfeeding concerns and questions. Time is taken to thoroughly explain the need for an adequate diet during lactation. Included are valuable tips on introducing solids and how to handle fussy eaters.
Beyond that you will find sample menus and nutritional summaries for children two to twelve and teenagers. They also cover growth spurts, nutrition for athletes, weight management, body image and eating disorders, and a myriad of important issues relevant to growth and maturity in a careful and responsible way.
This book’s nutritional information is complimented with a full range of recipes from beverages and breakfasts to sandwich spreads, breads, and satisfying entrees. Nutritious, delicious and easy to prepare, they are a godsend to busy parents. Dishes such as “Fabulous French Toast”, “Flaxjacks” and “Sneaky Dad’s Pudding” are already a big hit with my three-year-old son.
Raising Vegetarian Children is a complete, comprehensive guide to raising healthy children, both emotionally and physically. Read it cover-to-cover or use it as a reference guide; either way, it’s well worth owning. It is a reliable, well-researched, and documented handbook based on research published in leading nutritional and medical journals.
As the title promises, it is guidance for creating family harmony. I have a vegetarian friend who is struggling to raise her baby with her non-vegetarian husband. This book is perfect for her. My husband and I are a first-time parents raising our vegan toddler. This book is great for us. I have a caring, concerned family that doesn’t understand our lifestyle. This book will help to reassure them. Raising Vegetarian Children is a gift for all families who value health, harmony, and most of all, our children.
— Reviewed by Rosalynn Ostler