do you have any easy, kid-friendly, high-protein vegetarian recipes you'd care to share?  I'm always looking for ways to get more protein into her... for dinner tonight she had a huge hunk of meatloaf (about the size of a deck of cards), a pile of greenbeans dipped in ketchup and an apple.  Then popcorn, black olives and raspberry cream pie for a snack afterwards.....this kids appetite amazes me.  She eats as much as I do sometimes. If she eats a lot, with a decent measure of variety, and is getting enough calories, the World Health Organization says it's almost impossible that she's not getting enough protein. I'd say just relax. Serene

If she eats a lot, with a decent measure of variety, and is getting enough calories, the World Health Organization says it's almost impossible that she's not getting enough protein. I'd say just relax. Serene just relax is something I need more practice at when it comes to my kids......I'm always stressing out about whether or not I'm doing it right ......... Take tonight for example......DH picked up KFC on the way home and DD had her very first drumstick (I usually prepare boneless, skinless breast meat and we only get take out chicken about once a year.....she probably didn't have teeth the last time we had KFC!).........she was doing a good job eating.....ate the baked beans, a few fries, ignored the biscuit w/honey butter and was gnawing away at the drumstick........until I realized she'd eaten the end right off the bone!!!!!!  How was she supposed to know she wasn't supposed to eat that part.....Mom handed it to her so she ate it! So, I'm all set to call the pediatrician, freaking out that she's going to get a perforated intestine or something......DH managed to talk me off the ledge and pointed out that she had crunched up the bone and the worst thing would be an unpleasant bathroom experience in the morning. I still can't believe I let that happen.....I pulled the rest of the meat off the bone and she finished it that way.  Next time I'll know better. Sometimes, I just feel like the dumbest, worst mother on the planet.

her very first drumstick (I usually prepare boneless, skinless breast meat and we only get take out chicken about once a year.....she probably didn't have teeth the last time we had KFC!).........she was doing a good job eating.....ate the baked beans, a few fries, ignored the biscuit w/honey butter and was gnawing away at the drumstick........until I realized she'd eaten the end right off the bone!!!!!!  How was she supposed to know she wasn't supposed to eat that part.....Mom handed it to her so she ate it! So, I'm all set to call the pediatrician, freaking out that she's going to get a perforated intestine or something......DH managed to talk me off the ledge and pointed out that she had crunched up the bone and the worst thing would be an unpleasant bathroom experience in the morning. I still can't believe I let that happen.....I pulled the rest of the meat off the bone and she finished it that way.  Next time I'll know better. Sometimes, I just feel like the dumbest, worst mother on the planet. Sometimes, I felt that way, too. I was wrong, and so are you. *hugs* You're obviously a good mom.  And we learn from stuff

I'll have to give Garbanzo beans/hummus a try......I haven't had any since I was a teen and I don't even remember what they tasted like. She'll eat just about any sort of veggie or fruit, including beans and avocados.  (hmmm....must remember to try giving DS some avocado.  He's 8 months old now and still not reliably eating solids.)  I'm not a big grain eater so we don't do much of the rice, barley type of thing. Peanuts/peaunt butter is a big no-no.....I have a mild peanut allergy that is getting worse as I get older. Current AMA guidelines recommend no PB until after the age of 3 to avoid developing  a sensitivity to it. Growing kids with growing brains need fat and protein......I get so frustrated with all the low fat and fat free foods out there....it's about impossible to find food with the natural, normal amount of fat and cholesteral it was created with.  While your average adult may be getting too much protein, most kids today eat a diet heavy in starch and sugar. They're getting fatter, but starving their little brains while their butts are getting bigger. I just set myself a new goal.....I want to start cooking more natural/whole foods and rely less on pre-packaged ingredients.  No excuses now that I'm at home full time.....I have the time to re-learn how to cook again.

thanks.....it's nice to get a little reassurance once in a while.