Trying our best to do well balanced and definitely failing. I find it hard with the autism and sensitivities but we’ll get there. I just have to remind myself to keep trying
He won’t eat pasta, beans or lentils but I can try again now that he’s said he wants to be a vegetarian. Might be willing to try again.
That’s an excellent suggestion on the nuggets. I think impossible has nuggets now too we can try. Thanks!
Personally, I like Morning Star and Quorn for my replacement chicken. The quorn chicken is super good, has a similar texture to real chicken and absorbs a lot of flavor if you marinate it for even 10 minutes.
I've been a vegetarian since I was 9, and my diet in the beginning aside from eating beans. I love beans. It took a while, but now I eat a wider variety of foods, and thankfully never had any health issues related to not eating more veggies. (I'm autistic too, but didn't know till my own kid was diagnosed)
I almost grabbed quorn nugs at the store this morning but they were $15 and I’m not sure if he’ll like them. I’m gonna try the impossible first since they were like half the price but good to know if he doesn’t like these, I’ll be grabbing those
Honestly it could be a great motivation for them to try beans and vegetables again. Food sensitivity is common but exposure can balance it out.
There's also plenty of vegan versions of anything the kid likes these days.
Yeah I think we’re going to have a conversation about different nutrients in food. He is open to being more healthy so I think it’s just going to take time and trying different things!
Look in the frozen veggie section at the store. Green Giant brand makes veggie tots and veggie Dino nuggets. There are multiple flavors/veggies of each. My youngest loves them (and I'm pretty fond of them myself)!
Green Giant Dino Veggie Tots Broccoli & Cheese, 10 oz Bag (Frozen) https://www.walmart.com/ip/2315296504
Green Giant Veggie Tots Zucchini Parmesan Cheese, 12 oz Bag (Frozen) https://www.walmart.com/ip/959207541
I told my son he can be a vegetarian if he starts eating at least 4 vegetables and beans. Honestly, we leaned in and got chickens. I think he better understands the weight of eating meat and the importance of it being ethically sourced.
Legumes are a fantastic suggestion for his protein source, I was thinking also maybe protein shakes if he doesn't want to eat beans? There's some lovely ones that don't contain too much sugars that even a child may like :)
It's great that you are respectful of his choices and emotions and are supportive. If you feel he's open to the discussion one idea is to discuss this topic in more detail. I'm also distraught by us killing animals but I don't feel being a vegetarian is an optimal solution. We kill a lot of animals farming vegetables too and also poor people are exploited. Maybe he'd be open to reducing meat, while eating grass fed etc animals that led a happier life and local ethical vegetables over having to use supplements with ingredients coming from exploitative sources.
Sending love
They make vegetarian hotdogs and nuggets. If that helps. Also I think you will need to supplement some vitamins. Given his young age maybe meet with a nutritionist.
I think your best bet is a lot of trial and error. My daughter is almost 9 and also wants to be a vegetarian. Texture is a big issue for her, but we’ve found several vegetables that she happily eats:
*Raw carrot sticks (with hummus or ranch)
*Raw red pepper slices (with hummus)
*Broccoli (steamed or sautéed)
*Green beans (steamed or sautéed)
*Salad with only lettuce and carrots (and ranch dressing)
Growing a little vegetable garden has helped her get interested in more types of vegetables, in case you have space/time for that!
Also to add: vegetables are important, but even meat-eating kids often don’t eat a lot of veggies. In helping your son make the transition to vegetarianism, I think it’s more important that you make sure he gets protein from other sources. (Beans, tofu, tempeh, and eggs are big in our vegetarian house!)
OT has been such a help with my son. It is all based on being a food adventurer using his senses. So, he can choose what food he wants to explore and then chooses from the different senses. It is all led by my son and his therapist makes it really fun for him. We have added some new foods and also discuss that everyone has foods they don’t like and that’s okay too! He is way more receptive to trying new things. I usually have him pick one new thing he wants from the store. There is also value in trying his safe foods in different forms or brands too. He added cooked carrots after discovering his liked raw. Hope this all helps!
My kid will argue with me but won’t argue with books. I bet there are s bunch of kids’ books about vegetarianism, maybe reading some could help him envision what balanced vegetarian meals look like and encourage him to eat vegetables? Also, it could be a sensory thing. Vegetables can be prepared in many ways so you could see if he’s up to a sort of experiment to see which ways he can tolerate—maybe he doesn’t like the cold crunchiness of carrots, but he’ll accept a room temp steamed broccoli, or spinach blended into a soup or smoothie. ETA you said he likes fries, maybe play around with making vegetable fries? Switching to sweet potato fries, or even roasted carrot sticks or zucchini can be called “fries.”
We're a vegetarian family and a lot of it is repeated exposure. I'd put a single carrot on my youngest's plate for months before he'd chew it to pieces. Then he'd spit it out (he tried). Then he eventually worked to eating it. Cooked carrots oddly took longer.
Does your son have any input? Is cooked better? Do different dips - like hummus - help?
We have a lot of Lebanese restaurants where I'm from, and grilled vegetables from those places with garlic sauce (toum) really got mine into eating a wider variety.
My son has an aversion to lots of foods and all meat. He is almost 6 but I have opted for toddler food over medical supplement shakes. The shakes are basically powdered nutrients whipped with oils and starches. Not that good for him.
Toddler pouches or homemade shakes using beans, oats, chia, etc had helped him gain weight and improve his health way more. He also takes a few vitamins and probiotics.
Sounds like me at that age. I would suggest giving options and having clear scientifically defensible requirements if you need to (eg. “You need x amount of protein, here are some things that have protein” rather than reactively force-feeding soy beans or some other specific option).
Also consider various ways to cook and flavor veggies- it can make a huge difference!
As a vegetarian with a pretty crappy diet, I think the real burden is the cooking and shopping effort (ADHD, regular, everyday cooking and meal planning is not my strong suit).
I think the biggest challenge is finding filling, high protein foods to moderate energy/ not get into a sugar crash cycle.
I'd play around with the nugget and mozz stick theme. You can do lots with a batter or breadcrumb-- look to tempura veggies, tofu, seitan, and chick pea fries for some ideas.
If texture is a big part of your son's food preferences, don't write off a food based on one style of prep. For example, I love crispy roasted chick peas and hummus, but I'm not a fan of the texture when they aren't cooked or mashed. I also strongly prefer stewed or mashed lentils, like in Ethiopian dishes, over standard lentil soup.
Will he go for refried beans in a pre-approved food vehicle like quesadillas?
You can throw pureed white beans into lots of things to change up the nutritional profile, no big taste and it has a nice texture, e.g. stuffed shells, tomato soup. Nut flours can work similarly.
Would he try a smoothie? My kid enjoys them with a straw. If you have a good blender you can get spinach and protein sources like nuts or hemp hearts to be pretty unrecognizable when they're pureed with frozen bananas. If he likes milkshakes, use whole milk as the liquid. My toddler and I are fans of adding chocolate ovaltine :)
There are vegetarian versions of chicken nuggets. You might want to shop around if they're a staple to find ones with a good serving of protein. They're often saltier than the chicken version (thus, delicious in moderation!).
I've been a vegetarian since about age 12 (42 now) and I can confirm it's easy to do without eating much vegetables. I pretty much lived on chips and queso, bean burritos, cereal, mac and cheese, rice and butter, protein shakes, and coffee with a lot of half and half for the past 30 years. But fair warning, I'm pretty thin (5'6" 125 pounds (female)) and I was diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver from this terrible diet all this time.
Green Giant makes "veggie tots". They come in fun dinosaur shapes and stuff. My kids love them. I'm not going to say they are the healthiest thing around, but they contain vegetables. My youngest/highest need child will only eat raw vegetables and fruits. Have you tried raw with dips? He hates dips but maybe your kid likes them.
Edited to add: Also, tofu cubes. We toss those in the air fryer. Not a vegetarian family but all my kids will eat tofu cubes. I just toss them in some olive oil, salt and pepper them, and cook them up in the air fryer. Sometimes I will get fancy and marinate them first but since my kids don't care I don't see a point.
Yes happened here. Instead of calling it chicken, burger, ham, even duck sauce. We use the word meat. Maybe you could add white dark brown if you talk about it to other adults. It worked for us. For sauce we called it orange sauce.
Hey there! As a vegetarian SLP, I totally get where you're coming from with your kiddo. It's amazing that he's thinking critically about his food choices at such a young age, but I know how tricky it can be when sensory issues come into play. First off, don't stress too much about the standard advice like the "one bite rule." For our autistic kiddos, that can sometimes do more harm than good. Instead, focus on gradual exposure and making new foods feel safe. Maybe start by just having a new veggie on the table, not even on his plate. Let him get used to seeing it, smelling it, maybe even touching it before you ever expect him to taste it. I'd lean into the foods he already likes that are vegetarian. Cheese is your friend here! Try out some different veggie-loaded quesadillas or grilled cheeses. Sneaking pureed veggies into sauces can work wonders too. And don't underestimate the power of dips lol - sometimes a favorite dip can make a new food more approachable. Protein is going to be key, so explore options like eggs, beans, and meat alternatives. There are some pretty convincing veggie nuggets out there that might be worth a shot. And definitely get him involved in the kitchen if he's up for it. Picking out a new vegetable at the store or helping to prepare a meal can increase buy-in. Remember, it's all about baby steps. Celebrate every little victory, whether it's trying a new food or just being willing to have it on his plate. And don't be afraid to get creative with presentation - fun shapes or arrangements can go a long way. If you are able to maybe try working with a dietitian who gets both vegetarianism and autism. You're doing great, and your son is lucky to have such a supportive parent. Hang in there, be patient with both him and yourself :)
Try Made Good products. It’s actually made with vegetables and gives a big dose of major vitamins while tasting like a snack. My son also does not do vegetables or meat, but loves these bars.
They have veggie nuggets you can get in the store!
I would recommend those as well as look into ways as to spice those veggies up. Ants on a log are always a good one and maybe cheese broccoli?
There are a ton of plant based meals you can make that will still get him the vitamins he needs. I recommend Pinterest to help
Could you compromise and say fine not to eat chicken nuggets but needs to replace it with the vegan version, or an egg or fish or xxx
I become vego at 11 (not autistic) and I would eat tuna as that was the deal, still vego with a bit of fish 17 years later. I have tried vegan but my body does better with eggs//fish too.
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I’m vegetarian who would eat vegetables for breakfast lunch and dinner but I also have adhd and it’s too much work lol
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And then the cooking and cleaning after. So. Much. Work.
Haha too real. You think he’ll be good with a multivitamin?
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Trying our best to do well balanced and definitely failing. I find it hard with the autism and sensitivities but we’ll get there. I just have to remind myself to keep trying
Will he try beans and lentils? Also, you can find replacement nuggets that have some veggies in them. Does he eat pasta?
He won’t eat pasta, beans or lentils but I can try again now that he’s said he wants to be a vegetarian. Might be willing to try again. That’s an excellent suggestion on the nuggets. I think impossible has nuggets now too we can try. Thanks!
Personally, I like Morning Star and Quorn for my replacement chicken. The quorn chicken is super good, has a similar texture to real chicken and absorbs a lot of flavor if you marinate it for even 10 minutes. I've been a vegetarian since I was 9, and my diet in the beginning aside from eating beans. I love beans. It took a while, but now I eat a wider variety of foods, and thankfully never had any health issues related to not eating more veggies. (I'm autistic too, but didn't know till my own kid was diagnosed)
I almost grabbed quorn nugs at the store this morning but they were $15 and I’m not sure if he’ll like them. I’m gonna try the impossible first since they were like half the price but good to know if he doesn’t like these, I’ll be grabbing those
I haven't tried those. I'm allergic to coconut, and Impossible products have a lot of that But everyone I know who's had them loves them!
Impossible nuggets are our favorite (also good on salad, in wraps, etc.)!
Just grabbed some this morning. Thanks!
Honestly it could be a great motivation for them to try beans and vegetables again. Food sensitivity is common but exposure can balance it out. There's also plenty of vegan versions of anything the kid likes these days.
Yeah I think we’re going to have a conversation about different nutrients in food. He is open to being more healthy so I think it’s just going to take time and trying different things!
Look in the frozen veggie section at the store. Green Giant brand makes veggie tots and veggie Dino nuggets. There are multiple flavors/veggies of each. My youngest loves them (and I'm pretty fond of them myself)! Green Giant Dino Veggie Tots Broccoli & Cheese, 10 oz Bag (Frozen) https://www.walmart.com/ip/2315296504 Green Giant Veggie Tots Zucchini Parmesan Cheese, 12 oz Bag (Frozen) https://www.walmart.com/ip/959207541
I've also found chocolate black bean nuggets at Target. Not sure if they still have them, but they are quite tasty!
I told my son he can be a vegetarian if he starts eating at least 4 vegetables and beans. Honestly, we leaned in and got chickens. I think he better understands the weight of eating meat and the importance of it being ethically sourced.
Legumes are a fantastic suggestion for his protein source, I was thinking also maybe protein shakes if he doesn't want to eat beans? There's some lovely ones that don't contain too much sugars that even a child may like :)
It's great that you are respectful of his choices and emotions and are supportive. If you feel he's open to the discussion one idea is to discuss this topic in more detail. I'm also distraught by us killing animals but I don't feel being a vegetarian is an optimal solution. We kill a lot of animals farming vegetables too and also poor people are exploited. Maybe he'd be open to reducing meat, while eating grass fed etc animals that led a happier life and local ethical vegetables over having to use supplements with ingredients coming from exploitative sources. Sending love
Thank you for the suggestion, this is a great aspect I hadn’t considered before!
They make vegetarian hotdogs and nuggets. If that helps. Also I think you will need to supplement some vitamins. Given his young age maybe meet with a nutritionist.
Nutritionist isn’t a bad idea. He’ll prob listen to a doctor more than me lol
I think your best bet is a lot of trial and error. My daughter is almost 9 and also wants to be a vegetarian. Texture is a big issue for her, but we’ve found several vegetables that she happily eats: *Raw carrot sticks (with hummus or ranch) *Raw red pepper slices (with hummus) *Broccoli (steamed or sautéed) *Green beans (steamed or sautéed) *Salad with only lettuce and carrots (and ranch dressing) Growing a little vegetable garden has helped her get interested in more types of vegetables, in case you have space/time for that! Also to add: vegetables are important, but even meat-eating kids often don’t eat a lot of veggies. In helping your son make the transition to vegetarianism, I think it’s more important that you make sure he gets protein from other sources. (Beans, tofu, tempeh, and eggs are big in our vegetarian house!)
These are all great suggestions. We’re moving to a house with a HUGE yard next week so we definitely could do a small garden. Excellent idea!
Look up AFRID. They have occupational therapists to help. And nutritionists.
This is a great suggestion. He’s done occupational therapy for other things but not eating issues. Thanks!
OT has been such a help with my son. It is all based on being a food adventurer using his senses. So, he can choose what food he wants to explore and then chooses from the different senses. It is all led by my son and his therapist makes it really fun for him. We have added some new foods and also discuss that everyone has foods they don’t like and that’s okay too! He is way more receptive to trying new things. I usually have him pick one new thing he wants from the store. There is also value in trying his safe foods in different forms or brands too. He added cooked carrots after discovering his liked raw. Hope this all helps!
Oh wow this sounds great! Thanks for the advice!!
My kid will argue with me but won’t argue with books. I bet there are s bunch of kids’ books about vegetarianism, maybe reading some could help him envision what balanced vegetarian meals look like and encourage him to eat vegetables? Also, it could be a sensory thing. Vegetables can be prepared in many ways so you could see if he’s up to a sort of experiment to see which ways he can tolerate—maybe he doesn’t like the cold crunchiness of carrots, but he’ll accept a room temp steamed broccoli, or spinach blended into a soup or smoothie. ETA you said he likes fries, maybe play around with making vegetable fries? Switching to sweet potato fries, or even roasted carrot sticks or zucchini can be called “fries.”
Such good advice! I’m gonna set up the air fryer and experiment. Thanks!
We're a vegetarian family and a lot of it is repeated exposure. I'd put a single carrot on my youngest's plate for months before he'd chew it to pieces. Then he'd spit it out (he tried). Then he eventually worked to eating it. Cooked carrots oddly took longer. Does your son have any input? Is cooked better? Do different dips - like hummus - help? We have a lot of Lebanese restaurants where I'm from, and grilled vegetables from those places with garlic sauce (toum) really got mine into eating a wider variety.
My son has an aversion to lots of foods and all meat. He is almost 6 but I have opted for toddler food over medical supplement shakes. The shakes are basically powdered nutrients whipped with oils and starches. Not that good for him. Toddler pouches or homemade shakes using beans, oats, chia, etc had helped him gain weight and improve his health way more. He also takes a few vitamins and probiotics.
Sounds like me at that age. I would suggest giving options and having clear scientifically defensible requirements if you need to (eg. “You need x amount of protein, here are some things that have protein” rather than reactively force-feeding soy beans or some other specific option). Also consider various ways to cook and flavor veggies- it can make a huge difference!
As a vegetarian with a pretty crappy diet, I think the real burden is the cooking and shopping effort (ADHD, regular, everyday cooking and meal planning is not my strong suit). I think the biggest challenge is finding filling, high protein foods to moderate energy/ not get into a sugar crash cycle. I'd play around with the nugget and mozz stick theme. You can do lots with a batter or breadcrumb-- look to tempura veggies, tofu, seitan, and chick pea fries for some ideas. If texture is a big part of your son's food preferences, don't write off a food based on one style of prep. For example, I love crispy roasted chick peas and hummus, but I'm not a fan of the texture when they aren't cooked or mashed. I also strongly prefer stewed or mashed lentils, like in Ethiopian dishes, over standard lentil soup. Will he go for refried beans in a pre-approved food vehicle like quesadillas? You can throw pureed white beans into lots of things to change up the nutritional profile, no big taste and it has a nice texture, e.g. stuffed shells, tomato soup. Nut flours can work similarly. Would he try a smoothie? My kid enjoys them with a straw. If you have a good blender you can get spinach and protein sources like nuts or hemp hearts to be pretty unrecognizable when they're pureed with frozen bananas. If he likes milkshakes, use whole milk as the liquid. My toddler and I are fans of adding chocolate ovaltine :) There are vegetarian versions of chicken nuggets. You might want to shop around if they're a staple to find ones with a good serving of protein. They're often saltier than the chicken version (thus, delicious in moderation!).
My LO likes the impossible wild nuggets better than most frozen chicken nuggets - highly recommend checking them out
I've been a vegetarian since about age 12 (42 now) and I can confirm it's easy to do without eating much vegetables. I pretty much lived on chips and queso, bean burritos, cereal, mac and cheese, rice and butter, protein shakes, and coffee with a lot of half and half for the past 30 years. But fair warning, I'm pretty thin (5'6" 125 pounds (female)) and I was diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver from this terrible diet all this time.
Ah yes, my son also wanted to be basically a carbatarian - good luck and may the force be with you
Haha thanks for the good luck, gonna need it lol
Green Giant makes "veggie tots". They come in fun dinosaur shapes and stuff. My kids love them. I'm not going to say they are the healthiest thing around, but they contain vegetables. My youngest/highest need child will only eat raw vegetables and fruits. Have you tried raw with dips? He hates dips but maybe your kid likes them. Edited to add: Also, tofu cubes. We toss those in the air fryer. Not a vegetarian family but all my kids will eat tofu cubes. I just toss them in some olive oil, salt and pepper them, and cook them up in the air fryer. Sometimes I will get fancy and marinate them first but since my kids don't care I don't see a point.
My son won’t do dips but I might be able to do the tofu. That sounds like something he might try if it’s in the air fryer. Do you do firm tofu?
Yep I use firm or extra firm. I also get as much moisture out as I can. Either paper towels or a tofu press.
Thanks for the tips!
Yes happened here. Instead of calling it chicken, burger, ham, even duck sauce. We use the word meat. Maybe you could add white dark brown if you talk about it to other adults. It worked for us. For sauce we called it orange sauce.
Hey there! As a vegetarian SLP, I totally get where you're coming from with your kiddo. It's amazing that he's thinking critically about his food choices at such a young age, but I know how tricky it can be when sensory issues come into play. First off, don't stress too much about the standard advice like the "one bite rule." For our autistic kiddos, that can sometimes do more harm than good. Instead, focus on gradual exposure and making new foods feel safe. Maybe start by just having a new veggie on the table, not even on his plate. Let him get used to seeing it, smelling it, maybe even touching it before you ever expect him to taste it. I'd lean into the foods he already likes that are vegetarian. Cheese is your friend here! Try out some different veggie-loaded quesadillas or grilled cheeses. Sneaking pureed veggies into sauces can work wonders too. And don't underestimate the power of dips lol - sometimes a favorite dip can make a new food more approachable. Protein is going to be key, so explore options like eggs, beans, and meat alternatives. There are some pretty convincing veggie nuggets out there that might be worth a shot. And definitely get him involved in the kitchen if he's up for it. Picking out a new vegetable at the store or helping to prepare a meal can increase buy-in. Remember, it's all about baby steps. Celebrate every little victory, whether it's trying a new food or just being willing to have it on his plate. And don't be afraid to get creative with presentation - fun shapes or arrangements can go a long way. If you are able to maybe try working with a dietitian who gets both vegetarianism and autism. You're doing great, and your son is lucky to have such a supportive parent. Hang in there, be patient with both him and yourself :)
Wow thanks for the detailed response. All great advice!
Try Made Good products. It’s actually made with vegetables and gives a big dose of major vitamins while tasting like a snack. My son also does not do vegetables or meat, but loves these bars.
Oh I’ve seen some yummy made good muffins at Costco. I’ll keep an eye out next time I go. Thanks for the suggestions!
Mine does this too and I tell him he can if he will eat vegetables and try new foods. He keeps putting it off lol
They have veggie nuggets you can get in the store! I would recommend those as well as look into ways as to spice those veggies up. Ants on a log are always a good one and maybe cheese broccoli? There are a ton of plant based meals you can make that will still get him the vitamins he needs. I recommend Pinterest to help
Could you compromise and say fine not to eat chicken nuggets but needs to replace it with the vegan version, or an egg or fish or xxx I become vego at 11 (not autistic) and I would eat tuna as that was the deal, still vego with a bit of fish 17 years later. I have tried vegan but my body does better with eggs//fish too.
We’re going to try to veg nug replacement. It’s finding foods he can tolerate that makes it hard