Any ideas?

[livefit2012]

Hello, i am new to the vegan lifestyle. Ive watched some youtube vids, documentrys on netflix, and read a few books (Engine2, Thrive, Skinny Bitch). I have 3 kids and we have a baby on the way. Im the only one who seems to see the benifit of going vegan 100%. My wife is vegitarian, but the kids eat whatever.

The proof that a vegan diet is so much better for our health is just amazing. I have my days that i slip a little, but i try very hard to stick to it. For those of you with familys, how in the world do you do it????? Im not looking to convert them overnight, i know that wont work at all. My best guess is ill just lead by example and hope they follow?

Any ideas on how to get family more interested?

[Hiking Fox]

I recommend you change the title of this thread to "Any ideas on getting the kids interested in vegan food?" as loads of parents post on here and you could well get some good responses.

Personally, I'm not a parent, but I've lived in shared households with kids and I find they tend to eat vegan food with enthusiasm if they can be involved in the shopping and cooking. Things like assembling their own vegan pizzas using flatbreads as bases and heaping on whatever toppings they want etc.

Making dips with things like peanut butter (the wholefood shop style one that is just ground up, roasted peanuts, not the American style one that contains loads of sugar), orange juice and soy sauce also works well, as the kids will dip things like carrots and bread sticks into it for a healthy snack.

[soniczip]

i think knowledge is the best way. has your wife read those books you mentioned?

[Konstantin]

More of the above. Make it interesting and take the initiative in doing so. If they have a soft spot for a product, find the vegan version, or make it.

Strangely, my kids really took to a couple of Thrive recipies, I thought they were quite adult. Insist that your kids try things, don't insist that they eat it all or have to enjoy it. On occasions you could have tester meals where they have several new things in small portions so you know what to give them in full portions next time.

[livefit2012]

Good ideas, and yeah wife read engine2, i think she may try "skinny bitch" next hopefully.

My personal problems with the vegan/or meatless substitutions is that the ones ive seen have a list of chemicals on back that read like a coke can. I dont see that being healthy at all. Ill keep looking for good stuff and have them at least try it.

Anyone know of a video that is kid friendly about eating vegan? Kids seem to respond to things they watch. Most of the stuff ive found is pretty hardcore and too much for a kid.

I got them to try some fresh made hummas and they liked it, said it tasted just like bean dip. Its a start...

[Catt Queen]

My personal problems with the vegan/or meatless substitutions is that the ones ive seen have a list of chemicals on back that read like a coke can. I dont see that being healthy at all.

Gotta agree with you there. If the ingredient list is massive I tend to steer clear, especially if it contains words I cannot even pronounce!


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[loveliberate]

We bred our lil' vegans that way from the start!

[xrodolfox]

We bred our lil' vegans that way from the start!

Same here.

OP; welcome!
Second: how old are your kids? This all makes big differences.

My kids eat vegan because that's what we have. Rarely, but rarely, the slip up at friends houses or with relatives. A bit more than my wife and I, since we don't trust our relatives nor our kid's friend's parents, but our kids do.

Each of our kids eats differently, so their approach to vegan food is different. My daughter eats greens and veggies without abandon, and she eats plenty. Her older brother likes processed foods and candy and doesn't like eating except for drinks. Obviously, we have to address them each differently.

What do your kids like? What have you tried? How old are your kids? Do they know why you went vegan?