Vegetarian Baby Help

[cupcake22]

I may have a new baby starting later this year (8mths). She is a vegetarian. Can anyone help me as regards to what meals I can give her. I know I might seem a bit thick but we are a meat & veg family & all the children I have minded in the past have been the same. I am stuck for ideas and don’t know where to start.

Thank you

Cupcake22

[sarah707]

We use the same potato / pasta / couscous / rice / mixed vegetable etc base and then add quorn style chicken, veggie sausages, veggie mince (though he's not keen on the texture) any anything else from Tesco vegetarian freezer selection.

We are careful not to mix up food and thoroughly clean chopping boards / use different utensils to ensure we don't have any cross contamination.

For lunch lo likes hummus or Dalfour jam is pure fruit.

Check with mum about what to look for on labels... ours is allergic to milk as well which makes it a bit challenging sometimes.

We also bought a veggie cook book for some initial ideas and the chef makes double of bigger things like veggie lasagne and bolognese and freezes

[Toothfairy]

One of the little ones I look after is a vegitarian.
He brings a packed lunch with him and in it he has had in the past;

Vegimite sandwiches
Humous sandwiches
Pot of grated cheese
pot of Homous with maize chips or veg to dip in it.
Vegitarian mini scotch eggs
Quiche
Polenta
cous cous
Mini scotch pancakes
Pasta
fruit
yogurts

Hope that has given you a few ideas.

[lauren1979]

As a vegetarian family we have a lot of :

Pasta with tomato/veg sauces
Macaroni cheese
Omelette
Scrambled eggs
Bean salads
Tarts
Homemade pizza
Homemade tarts/quiches
risotto
mild curry with veg/lentils/quorn
cous cous with veg
veg alternatives (grills/sausages etc) and mash
vegetable bakes - load of layered veg either with cheese or tomato sauce

I think they don't recommend quorn for under ones, also check salt content as some can be high.

Sure the Mum has told you this but also look out as a lot of mousses/jellies/sweets have pork or beef gelatine in, and cheeses aren't always vegie - need to check

[candlequeen]

You need to rotate the following for protein:
Cheese (think cream cheese, mozzarella, feta as well as the usual cheddar)
Eggs
Lentils
Chickpeas
Beans
Nuts (at appropriate age and presuming no allergies)
Tofu

All of these can be cooked simply and mashed into whatever carbs and veg you are already preparing.

Tinned lentils, chickpeas and beans are cheap and easy to prepare as they are already cooked, so you can add them into food right at the end just to reheat.

Lentils and chickpeas are great for mashing as baby food, baked beans (low salt and sugar) are brilliant to add protein into some mash or whatever else you are preparing.

I would avoid commercial meat substitutes (Quorn etc) for a baby, and even after 12 months, not give more than once a week.

You can find a sample vegetarian menu and detailed nutritional guidance in this document: http://www.cwt.org.uk/pdfs/Under5s.pdf

Good luck, wish I had a veggie baby to look after!

[onceinabluemoon]

Be aware that most cheese is NOT vegetarian, look on the label to ensure it hasn't been made with rennet (It'll have a big green V on it if its ok.)

You may find THIS website useful. (Vegetarian baby)

[Greengrass74]

Be aware that most cheese is NOT vegetarian, look on the label to ensure it hasn't been made with rennet (It'll have a big green V on it if its ok.)

You may find THIS website useful. (Vegetarian baby)

What a good site, just had a look as we have a 9 month vegetarian, some great ideas thanks for link.

[cupcake22]

Thank you all so much for your help. I knew I would get all I need from you great lot on here. What a great bunch you all are. Right time to print all your info & off to the shops. This is a whole new ball game for me ha ha

Thank you

Cupcake22

[lauren1979]

Just remembered marshmallows are another thing meat is hidden in...

[candlequeen]

Actually these days the majority of cheese you'd buy in a supermarket is vegetarian - which was not the case even 10 years ago. It's mainly specialist hard cheeses, particularly from Europe, that are still made with animal rennet - Parmesan for example. But of course worth checking.

[Twinkles]

Actually these days the majority of cheese you'd buy in a supermarket is vegetarian - which was not the case even 10 years ago. It's mainly specialist hard cheeses, particularly from Europe, that are still made with animal rennet - Parmesan for example. But of course worth checking.

Oh phew !

I have a veggie baby and her mum said most cheeses are ok these days and not to worry.
After reading OIBM's pst I panicked.

I try to keep her food as similar to what the others are having as poss.

They have fish fingers - she has veggie fingers
They have spag bol - she has a veggie version
They have shepherds pie - she has one made with quorn

I often batch cook a veggie dish as my daughter and I also prefer vegetarian a lot of the time ( although we're not vegetarians ) and use it in different ways.

Peppers - lots of
Sweet potato
Mushrooms
Courgettes
Onions
a tin of lentils
jar of pasta sauce

chop and mix all and put in oven until all veggies are soft.
This can be used with spaghetti or in a pasta bake or with mash on top and is yummy.