Transitioning Our Family to a Plant-Based Diet

Real-Life Parenting Wins and Fails: Transitioning Our Family to a Plant-Based Diet

Parenting is full of magical moments, messy ones, and everything in between. One of the biggest journeys we’ve taken as a family has been transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. It’s been filled with small victories, honest-to-goodness fails, and plenty of laughter along the way.

Let’s start with the fails—because they’re real, relatable, and usually hilarious in hindsight.

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The Picky Eater Dilemma

When we made the decision to eat plant-based—for our health and the health of the planet—I knew it wouldn’t be a smooth ride for everyone in the house. My youngest? A classic picky eater. Taste and texture are everything to him. If something feels too squishy, slimy, or “weird,” it’s a hard no.

Every night, I’d ask him to just try one bite of whatever I made. One. Small. Bite. Sometimes he did, sometimes he didn’t. But we kept at it. I didn’t force it, just encouraged a little more exploration each week.

Soup Book Irony

Here’s the kicker—I wrote an entire cookbook with over 30 plant-based soups… and my son refused to try a single one. Why? “I don’t like soup,” he said. “Soup is wet.” Yes. Wet. He doesn’t like wet food. I couldn’t help but laugh (after the frustration passed). Every time I tested a new recipe, there was a polite (and firm) decline from across the table. Parenting win? Not quite. But parenting reality? Absolutely.

The Wins (Yes, They Exist!)

As much as there were challenges, we also had a lot of wins—most of them came from getting the kids involved. When they helped pick out groceries, choose recipes, or stir something on the stove, they were way more likely to eat it. There’s a sense of pride in preparing your own food, even if it’s just adding ingredients to the blender or mashing chickpeas.

We also took time to talk about the why behind our food choices. We explained how eating more plants can help our bodies feel good and protect the planet. Kids understand more than we think, and having those conversations made a real difference in how open they were to change.

Progress, Not Perfection

Not every night is a success. Some days we end up with toast for dinner, and other days my picky eater surprises us all by finishing an entire bowl of veggie stir-fry. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about staying consistent and making the journey a shared one.

If you’re trying to make a similar transition with your family, just know: it’s okay to take it slow, laugh at the soup drama, and celebrate even the smallest wins. You’re doing better than you think.

Have your own parenting wins or hilarious fails when it comes to food? Share them in the comments—I’d love to hear them!

Skip the hassle of running to multiple grocery stores in search of hard-to-find plant-based ingredients—Try Amazon Fresh instead! I was thrilled to find Better Than Bouillon there for a third of the price compared to Walmart. Now, my pantry is fully stocked for all my soup-making needs. If you’re looking to stock up too, Check out Amazon Fresh.

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