My son Michael is a typical 18 year old. He loves hanging out with his friends, playing video games and teasing or taunting me and his sisters. But all of the teasing is quickly forgotten after a loving hug and an adorable smile. He uses his charm to get the people in his life to do favors for him such as make him a sandwich, do his laundry or bring him home some dessert even though he is completely capable of doing these things for himself.
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Meet Michael
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Feeding Michael is a pain in the... I mean, a challenge. He is a picky eater who doesn’t care for most vegetables (yet somehow likes Brussels sprouts) and dislikes any kind of bean. He has no interest in tofu, tempeh or seitan. When we transitioned to this way of eating, it was embraced by our other four children but Michael resisted (he was 14 at the time). At first I would make separate meals for him or add a piece of meat or cheese to whatever we had. Eventually I decided that not only did I want him to eat healthier, I no longer wanted any kind of animal products in my house. Finally I was able to tweak some recipes that he would tolerate and some that he loved. Sometimes he will balk at something I make, but when his sister makes the same recipe, he enjoys it. See the paragraph above about the teasing.
This past summer Michael went off to college across the country. I miss him no doubt, but there is a part of me that feels so liberated about being able to cook whatever I want! :)
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I hope you enjoy some of these “Michael approved” recipes, especially if you are dealing with a picky teenager!
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