If your tween suddenly decides that he wants to be a vegetarian, there are few things you need to know. You can support his decision, but also need to stay informed.
Tweens a lot of times tend to do things based on what their peers are doing. That is no surprise to parents. How many times have you heard something like, "Well, Billy gets to stay up until 10:00 at night," when you stand firm on a 9:00 p.m. bedtime? So, when your pre-teen comes home one day and suddenly wants to be a vegetarian, it shouldn't come as a surprise either. In fact, being a vegetarian is a very popular expression of independence in this age group these days.
Whether you plan to support his decision is a family matter. But, if you do want to let him try it out, here are some things that you should know about being a vegetarian, especially where it concerns your tweens growing body and nutritional health.
Short-lived. Keep in mind that your child's decision to become a vegetarian may just be a simple fad that will pass. Unless your child is raised in a vegetarian home, chances are he is just trying out his independence, and will lose interest.
Tolerate. When your child starts out this vegetarian journey, be mindful that he will probably be nervous about comments he will receive from the family. It is best to encourage other family members to support his decision and not tease him about trying something new.
No offense. You may cook a favorite family meal one day, and your child may pass on it. Don't let this bother you. He is not doing this to annoy you. He is actually showing a great characteristic of being steadfast in his decision to be a vegetarian. To see that he can pass on something he used to love because he feels secure in his decision is a great attribute.
Health. Being a vegetarian can actually be quite a healthy lifestyle. Eating more fruits and vegetables is a great way to ensure that your child is getting the necessary vitamins that he needs to stay healthy. If you are concerned about whether or not your child is lacking essential minerals, make sure you are giving him a multivitamin every morning, and possibly one rich in calcium and iron. Also, be aware of the junk food binges. Make sure that if your child is skipping the burgers, that he is not just living off of the French fries. Of course, you can always consult your pediatrician for advice in this area. Here are some super easy vegetarian recipes that kids can make themselves. They are packed with vitamins and minerals.
Sanity. Preparing two kinds of meals every night can be hard. Here are ways to overcome this dilemma:
- Have your child plan his menu on a weekly basis. Check behind him to make sure it is nutritious enough.
- Tell your child that he needs to help you in the kitchen when preparing dinner.
- Make good use of the vegetables that you are buying for your child. For instance, if he is having a salad for dinner, make enough for the whole family to accompany the spaghetti dinner you are preparing.
Enjoy. Take pride in the fact that your child is willing to try something new. As stated above, this may not last very long, but it does mean that he may be willing to try other new things in the future as well. It shows signs of being assertive and able to stand by a decision. He's not ready to leave the nest yet, but it is another step forward in his flight to total independence.
译文:
提供一份无肉的食谱
如果你上小学的孩子突然决定要作一个素食者，有一些事情你需要先了解。你可以支持他的决定，但也必须掌握足够信息。
很多时候孩子们都会效仿小伙伴的行为。这对父母来说并不奇怪。想想你听过多少次类似的事情了：“好吧，比利晚上10点才睡觉呢。”而你却坚持要孩子9点钟上床？所以当你的小孩哪天回家，突然说要做素食者的时候，也不要大惊小怪吧。事实上，如今在这个年龄层，成为素食者是一个非常流行的独立的表现。
不管你是否打算支持他的决定，这都是一个家庭问题。但如果你想让他试试看，你要了解一些有关成为素食者的事情，尤其是当这关系到孩子正在发育身体以及营养健康的时候。
短期行为。请记住，孩子决定作素食者可能只是一时兴起，过后就放弃。除非孩子在吃素的家庭中长大，否则他多半是在尝试独立，随后将失去兴趣。
容忍。当孩子开始他们的素食之旅的时候，你要留意，他可能会紧张家人对此有何意见。最好鼓励其他家庭成员支持他的决定，且不要嘲笑他尝试新事物。
切勿冒犯。某一天你可能做了家人最爱吃的饭菜，而孩子却把它递给了其他人。不必为此事心烦。他做这件事并非是要惹你烦恼。他这么做是要展示他有坚定的决心成为素食者。看到他因坚持自己的决定，而能够放弃曾经最爱的东西，这可是件好事。
健康。成为素食者事实上可以是一种非常健康的生活方式。多吃水果和蔬菜是确保孩子摄取了保持健康所需的维生素的好方法。如果你关心孩子是否缺失了某些主要的矿物质，请确保给孩子每天早上吃复合维生素，或者富含钙和铁的营养品。还要留意他是否吃太多垃圾食品。如果孩子放弃了汉堡，你要了解他是否靠炸薯条为生。当然，有关于这方面你可以咨询儿科医师。有一些超级简单的素食处方，孩子们都可以自己动手做。而且这些都富含维生素和矿物质。
明智。每天晚上准备两种饭菜可能有些困难。以下一些方法可以克服这个难题：
让孩子每周安排自己的食谱。帮他检查，看看是否足够营养。
告诉孩子他必须在准备晚饭的时候到厨房帮忙。
好好利用你给孩子买的蔬菜。比如，如果他打算晚饭吃色拉，准备足够全家人的分量，搭配你准备的意大利面吃掉。
享受。你该对孩子乐于尝试新鲜事物感到骄傲。综上所述，这可能不会坚持太久，但它确实意味着孩子以后也愿意尝试新鲜事物。这也显示出孩子坚持己见，并能够坚守自己的决定。雏儿还没做好离巢的准备，但这对孩子来说，却是向完全独立迈出了一步。