meat substitutes Vegetarian Celiac Safe Foods

[Oceana]

My teenager has decided to be a vegetarian and I’m seeking meat alternatives beyond basic beans and nuts which are becoming tiresome for him to eat repeatedly.

Any products that you’ve discovered that are celiac safe would be awesome.

although I was vegetarian for twenty years, I’ve been eating meat since my diagnosis, which is the last twenty years.

 I’m finding that my typical go to meal solutions from back then are not gluten free.

I need the easier to prepare options, as I am busy running two businesses, and he isn’t proactively cooking... and desperately needs to gain weight.

Would love to hear your go to meal ideas, meat substitutes, and things that are simple for a teenager to prepare.

[Corinne D.]

If your son is not vegan and can tolerate dairy, this is a good and versatile protein option. So are eggs, out of which you can make a whole meal, like a veggie frittata. Certified gluten-free grains like quinoa, amaranth and teff are protein-rich. Among vegetables, there are peas, spinach, asparagus, artichokes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale. I would not recommend soy, it has a very bad rep, especially with autoimmune diseases.

Veggies and properly prepared whole grains are not quick and simple options, but with a bit of planning you can make very nutritious meals. You can set aside a few hours at the weekend for batch cooking meals which you can freeze for the next week. Ready-frozen vegetables are easier to prepare, as there is no chopping involved. But you can also ask him to help you out with simple tasks like chopping - not only would work go faster, it would also be a very good opportunity for mother and son bonding ?