Feeding Oodles of Vegan Kids, and A Thrift Store Score
November 21, 2009 by Sheri
Filed under Family Fun, Feature, Feeding Vegan Kids, In A Vegan House, featured post
Last week, on our way home from a busy day of homeschool classes at the rec center, I dragged my children to the thrift store with me. (I say ‘dragged’ because only my older daughter likes going to the thrift store — I get nothing but grumbles from the rest of my brood, every last one of them). It was going to be a quick stop there — we’ve been busy decluttering lately and I had a trunk full of items to drop off for donation. I was planning to just donate my unwanted goodies and leave, but I could not resist the lure of the thrift store and it’s promise of dusty treasures within…so I unloaded all my little ducklings from the van, and in we all went to the tune of grumble, grumble, grumble.
The Thrift Store Gods were smiling down on me that day!
Look what I found:
No, not the baby, silly. The SECTION PLATE! The toddler-sized section plate!
I saw it, snapped it up, and did a jaunty little Happy Dance up and down the aisle, oh yes I did.
A mere 39 cents and it was mine mine MINE!
It’s the perfect size for my baby — it’s a smaller version of our beloved gigantic section plates that we use daily:
And it looks like a Peace Sign, which makes for some groovy meals, don’t you think?
My babe could not stop hugging her groovy new plate. She’s a fan of the Section Plates just like her mama:
hug hug hug
Eventually I did pry it from her sweet little fingers, and I promptly tested that shiny new plate out by filling it with a little feast. This little gal is a high-raw whole foods vegan, just like her many siblings. We skip the processed baby foods and packaged toddler meals and feed her homemade whole foods instead. We keep it simple and we don’t make special meals for her (I haven’t got time to do that anyhow!); quite simply, she eats what we eat. For her portions, we tone down the spices and chop her food up in tiny bites, but for the most part, her meals are mini-versions of our meals:
vegan toddler feast on groovy peace sign plate
So, what do I feed my vegan one year old?
Clockwise from the top (all ingredients are organic):
- in the small bowl is a mixture of green peas, onions, fresh garlic and ginger, wild brown rice, and brussell sprouts. This was a quick dish to prepare: I sauteed fresh garlic, onion, and ginger in some organic extra virgin olive oil, and then added seasonings (curry, rosemary, chili powder, onion powder) , cooked brown rice (cooked it earlier that day), green peas,and (pre-steamed) brussel sprouts. Gave it all a good mixing, and served it hot, with a drizzle of flax oil atop. This was simple, nourishing, and flavorful. All the kids loved it.
- a little scoop of raw pine nuts
- several sliced black olives
- two fresh strawberries
- a few chunks of fresh orange
I was a busy mama as I prepped five vegan section plates for five hungry hungry kiddos:
Here’s what I feed my bigger kiddos — a close-up of section-plate yummies:
Clockwise from the top (all ingredients are organic):
- fresh pink grapefruit (so juicy and sweet!)
- raw pine nuts
- a few slices of fresh orange
- veggies and rice dish that I described in detail in my baby’s meal above — here is what I wrote about it: “in the small bowl is a mixture of green peas, onions, fresh garlic and ginger, wild brown rice, and brussell sprouts. This was a quick dish to prepare: I sauteed fresh garlic, onion, and ginger in some organic extra virgin olive oil, and then added seasonings (curry, rosemary, chili powder, onion powder) , cooked brown rice (cooked it earlier that day), green peas,and (pre-steamed) brussel sprouts. Gave it all a good mixing, and served it hot, with a drizzle of flax oil atop. This was simple, nourishing, and flavorful. All the kids loved it.”
- black olives
- fresh strawberries
I had a kitchen full of happy little diners and yummy sounds galore:
When they were done, I sent them out to burn off all their amazing energy by raking the 5 million leaves that were sprinkled on our front yard.
While some of my sons tackled the leaves with the rakes, my baby preferred to rake the yard with a dustpan.
It took her a REALLY long time.
I’m heading out for a walk with all my darlings this afternoon — the weather is so gorgeous today!
Hope your Saturday is leaf-filled and lovely,
Sheri
That groovy section plate was definately meant for you! I just love how your little one is hugging her new plate, she is just so cute! Oh and that rice dish looks so good and sounds so simple, I’m going to try it, thanks for telling us what you put in it.
Have a great weekend!
Steph
Love it! Hey, here’s a random question for you: Is there anything you frequently prepare (or that most of your kids like), but that one of the kids just HATES? They seem to happily eat everything you give them (well, because it’s delicious!!) but does any member of the family absolutely hate certain things?
Jenny asked the same question about my kids, here’s what I replied to her:
Foods my kids won’t eat…well, not ONE of them will eat zucchini. And one or two don’t like acorn squash. One hates papaya. One hates figs. They hate my kelpy smoothies! (but drank them down anyhow, complaining all the way)
They don’t eat everything, but they do pretty good. Wish they’d eat zucchini though, because I love to spiralize it into ‘pasta’ and top it with sauce…but only hubby will eat it with me…
How funny.
I am 31, and only JUST started loving (and I mean *absolutely loving*) zucchini. I guess it takes awhile to appreciate. I used to HAAAAAAAAATE it. Now I could eat it all day long!
Hi Sheri!
I just wanted to let you know that I actually “squeak” of joy whenever my feed tells me there is a new post from you! I simply love seeing your section plates, smoothies and everything else! Everything so beautiful, surely tasty and very inspiring!
Oh, and your kids are adorable! But this baby eating alone with the fork and all… oh, my heart! =))
Big hugs!
Tatiana, you telling me that you squeak of joy when I post here, that makes me smile! Thank you for the sweet comment all the way from Germany.
Sheri
That rice looks so yummy! We mostly skipped the baby food and toddler foods as well. I made all my daughters pureed foods and she pretty much loved everything. She is getting a little pickier now, but is still a great eater!
What a great find! And what good use you put it to!
Your garden looks great! Everything over here is covered in rain at the moment and some places are badly flooded…
I need to get to a thrift store ASAP! I want some section plates!! And a peace sign one? AWESOME!
Anything “hippie” and I am there! I just love your little one, she always makes me smile!
I can’t believe you found that at a thrift store. I can’t find them at regular stores. (But ones online are on my Christmas list!) I also want to know if there are foods your kids will not eat. I have 1 kid who will happily eat anything I put in front of him – and 2 who will eat many great things but definitely not everything. That rice does look good.
Well, the little plate was dusty and grimy when I saw it on the thrift store shelf, but I knew there was a shiny section plate under all that grime!
Foods my kids won’t eat…well, not ONE of them will eat zucchini. And one or two don’t like acorn squash. One hates papaya. One hates figs. They hate my kelpy smoothies! (but drank them down anyhow, complaining all the way)
Your kiddos sound like great eaters!
I never find anything that great at the thrift store. Lucky you!! I would love some sectioned plates like that. Where did you find the big ones?
Hi Bonnie! The section plates come from a tiny little local shop here in town. No website
GREAT FINDS at the T-Store. When ever I go to donate stuff, all I see is other people’s trash. Never eerrr, any, Treasures! like you just found!!!
Thanks for your great compliments, as usual, Sherri on my blog, recipes, and just your all around lovely commenting presence on my bloggie is totally appreciated. And I am sooo glad we got your glorious PB Cups in the Tribute post. Gorgeous work, so I’m so glad they were in!
I hope you have a great Sunday. BTW, random off the wall comment you can feel free to ignore…but how do you ever find a moment to your self with your brood and homeschooling. I have 1 and although I Want to homeschool, for my own sanity, I just dont think it’s gonna happen long term. Early years yes, long term no. Anyway just wanted to tell you, You’re SuperWoman/Wife/Mom
xoxo
We have some decent thrift stores here with treasures within, but you’ve gotta dig for them
It is a pleasure to visit and comment on your fabulous blog! I get so many great ideas there, most of them chocolatey
A moment to myself? Huh? What is that you speak of?
Hee hee, just kidding…we usually get the homeschooling done earlier in the day so that we have lots of time left to do the things we want to do with the rest of our day. The kids all have crafts and hobbies they enjoy, play outside a lot, play with friends, play inside, etc., and when they’re occupied (or in bed for the night) is when I steal moments to myself, rare as they are…plus we’re plugged into a terrific homeschooling community, so that is a nice ’sanity saver’ too!
This blog has made me a section plate fiend too- it goes hand in hand with love for all things bento. It does seem some days I spend it all chopping things up! Loved your fridge post too- I wish I could buy a special vegan fridge with extra crisping drawers. Except for the condiments its stuffed to the gills with all veggies too.
Yes! Bento, section plates, tiffins….they’re all tied together!
I also went to the thrift store today! I just love all my thrifty finds =D
Just curious, why did you not give the baby any grapefruit?
Well, her plate was already too full and I knew she wouldn’t eat all that food
oh, haha, I thought maybe she didn’t like it
but your kids are obviously great eaters, hehe.
hahaha baby with a dustpan, she looks so cute with her beanie and pinky plump and sooo huggable
I know the feeling… I just love it when I go somewhere & didn’t expect to find a particular thing, but found something that I’ve been looking for instead….the best thing is it doesn’t cost much hahaha…. I just love the feeling…. that makes all the grumble grumble grumble sounds like a happy soundtrack.
I should learn the happy dance down the aisle too
Ann
Wow! I love your pictures of food plates, it always gives me good ideas. You are so creative and good food always looks soooo pretty!
I’m with Tatiana, always especially happy to see a new post from you in my feed reader:-)
That section plate was meant to be!
Check out this uplifting and inspiring video on why people choose vegan: http://veganvideo.org/
Also see Gary Yourofsky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bagt5L9wXGo
Okay, forget about the awesome eats… What I want to know is, can I have some of those eyelashes? Pleeeeeeeze?
she got her own plate!!! hurray!!
Awww, that’s so cute! It’s wonderful to see someone with healthy children feeding vegan fare. It’s too often that we see crazy vegans in the media feeding their babies soy milk and apple juice.
I KNOW! The media totally feeds off of the crazy vegans. Gives us typical vegans a bad reputation
I get this comment a lot when I say that we’re vegans:
“You’re VEGAN? Really? ALL of you?”
Then they stare at me and my kids for a few moments, checking us all out…then:
“Wow! You don’t even look sickly!”
great find (section plate)! I can’t wait until my lil one is old enough so I can start making up section plates for her. She’s just about 7 months now. We are not doing jarred baby food either. I’ve been making all my own organic foods for her. We’ve just started solids around 6 months so we got a while to go. BTW I made the vegan almond cups and they were awesome. I didn’t have the chia seeds but will get some for next time. Keep up the great postings. I really enjoy your blog.
Stewphanie, that is AWESOME that you are making your baby organic baby food! Good for you, and what a lucky baby!
It’s not too time consuming and the cost is minimal to make your own baby food, so satisfying to make your own too, isn’t it? Then you know exactly what your babe is eating.
Thanks for the comment…
Stephanie, that is AWESOME that you are making your baby organic baby food! Good for you, and what a lucky baby!
It’s not too time consuming and the cost is minimal to make your own baby food, so satisfying to make your own too, isn’t it? Then you know exactly what your babe is eating.
Thanks for the comment…
Thanks for the posts. Always looking forward to your posts and the wonderful food.
I’m very impressed that your kids — even the baby — will eat olives! That’s a strong taste for young palates. Heck, I still don’t like olives!
And yet they don’t like zucchini, that most inoffensive of veggies. Go figure.
Yay, baby got her own plate, bless her.
Is that all you got out of the store with that day? Are you sure??
I love shopping thrifts, flea markets and garage sales too. It feels like what the universe is offering me, and the universe has been good to me. What other people don’t want has become my best things, often one of a kind, often antique, sometimes hand made, never seen again elsewhere. It’s like a treasure hunt.
You said: “What other people don’t want has become my best things”.
I totally agree! Some of my very favorite things are thrifted finds.
I left the store with more than that plate
Got the kids some clothes and a new board game…and spent under $5! It was Half Price Day…gotta love that.
oh my gosh..such cute and precious kids you have!!
thrift stores are so much fun.. i love finding the most random and yet sometimes useless things..but they’re fun to stroll through! your snacks all look great…definitely inspiration!
Your kids are all darling and the plates are fabulous!
love the new section plate. i’ll keep my eye out in the thrift store for them.
i saw on one blog a mom who uses half muffin pans for the same thing. i am so tempted by some of those cute looking plastic plates but they really are awful, huh? trying to phase out plastic and get more glass jars at the thrift store.
and your kids eat grapefruit and brussell sprouts? i’m soooo impressed.
i would love to hear more about your older daughter too. but i respect her privacy too.
The muffin tin idea is a good one — I’ve seen that too and what a fun way to eat a meal!
My older daughter — she just does not like to be on “mom’s blog”. Neither do one or two of my sons
I love your blog. I am trying to take my family from their love of all things white to a more nutritious raw diet. Your food plates are inspiring. I just spent an hour trying to find stainless sectional plates. Any chance I could gte the name of the local store where you get them from and see if they would ship to me or give me the name of the manufacturer?
Thanks
Hey Donna, I’ll send you an email.
Thanks for the comment!
Sheri