Natural-born vegetarian?!
Natural-born vegetarian?
My 17 mo old grandson despises meat. He will occasionally eat a bit of chicken breast or fish, but literally gags at the taste of beef, venison, -- red meat.
He is half East Indian.
Is it possible he is a natural born vegetarian?
His mom (my daughter) is a veggie lover but likes meat as well. I am not much of a meat eater, nor was my maternal grandmother; my maternal great-grandmother was vegetarian by nature.
I've never seen a toddler absolutely shudder at the taste of meat and I'm curious about it. I havent been able to find much online about this trait. Any ideas?
Answers:
Everyone is a naturally born vegetarian, as that is how nature intended us to be. Everything about us indicates that we were measnt to be herbivores. For example, we have appendixes. Do any carnivores have appendixes? No - only herbivores. Do carnivores have very long intestines like we do? No, they have very short intestines so that the meat doesn't rot in their guts and cause illness (like it does in humans...because we have very long intestines like herbivores do!). They have done studie to TRY and give natural carnivores heart disease (the number one killer in humans) but they can't do it because bodies that are designed to eat "good" meat don't get sick from eating "good" meat (I'm not talking about rotting meat here - humans get all kinds of nasty diseases from eating what is considered healthy meat - heart disease, hugih cholesteroal, colon cancer - and so many more are contributed to a diet that includes animal products). Our teeth are not for tearing raw flesh and we have no claws. Our teeth ARE made for biting into hard rinds and chewing fruits, vegetables, and grains, though! And our fingers are dexterious for picking fruits and digging into the earth for roots. What animal in nature is most like us? The ape. Is he a carnivore? No. When you see a fuzzy bunny hop across as field do you salivate? Is your natural instinct to pounce and devour? No, not usually. Most humans' instinct in that situation is to observe and go "awww" because we are naturally inquisitive and compassionate but we are not naturally hunters. We also are not meant to naturally drink the milk from our own mothers for a lifetime, let alone milk from the mothers of other animals. Everything about us, physiologically and logically points to a meat and animal product-free diet as being the most natural and healthy for humans. That is not to say that we cannot eat small amounts of meat if our survival depends on it. I believe we adapted to do just that during times in human history where our ancestors might have perished had it not been for consuming flesh at times. But to subsist as much as we do on animal products - well our health statistics show us what that does for us. Until I attempted a vegan diet I had no idea how many foods contain animal products. It is staggering. But I have never felt better in my life. My own personal experiences and everything I have read in my research has convinced me that EVERYONE is a natural born vegetarian and eating meat must be learned. It does not surprise me that your grandson would gag at the taste of meat. If you haven't found much online you're just not looking up the right search terms. Try looking for arguements for and against whether humans were meant to eat meat. Read up and let logic be your guide.
If he eats chicken or fish, he is not even close to being a vegetarian. Many people do not like meat, it's a preference...just like liking or not liking sports, certain TV shows etc.
I think it's a bit early to be labeling him a vegetarian. It's probably more a taste thing right now.
Being Indian has nothing to do with it, even though many people there don't eat beef. That is a learned or chosen taste having to do with religion. Lots of non-white cultures, however, do have lactose intolerance. Other mammals don't eat milk products after they are weaned, and then it is only mother's milk. I don't have any idea why Euros can handle milk better than other races.
Anyway, when human babies start eating solid food, they have to work into meat eating, and this is a pretty thing to get used to, with its tastes and textures. It's a bigger adjustment than fruits and veggies and cereals. Some children never get past it to enjoy meat, of course these kids could become vegetarian.
I think it's just his preference. Like how some people can't stand the smell and taste of cheese and/or dairy products like milk or yogurt. My friend's toddler despises eggs. He get nauseous just by getting a whiff of raw half boiled eggs or eggs cooked in any way. He doesn't take eggs at all. I'd say your grandson just doesn't like red meat. It's just his preference.
I was like that. My parents, in the 1950s, would stand on their heads to get me to eat a bite of meat. Remember when everyone was convinced you'd die without meat? My daughter would gag when I fed her the baby food beef. She would take the chicken OK. Now, we just gave in and both of us are vegetarian. I usually am vegan but she has a hard time keeping her weight up so she eats some cheese. So the answer is YES.
I could never digest the meat.
Perhaps your family is evolving!
I was a child who despised meat. I still don't really like it, but I live in a meat-centric country where veggie food isn't available, so I eat it.
I too am a Natural Born Veggie, so is my Daughter all 4 of my granddaughters. 3 of the girls are hers but the youngest is my son's & he is a huge meat eater. The youngest 19 months is just like your Grandson. She will put it in her mouth but spits it right back out. When I sit for her I don't even offer it to her. I make her Vegan dishes & share my fresh made juices.
As to WHY? I honestly beleive we are not meant to be flesh eatters, it is an aquired taste. Once there it is addictive.
I cant tell you I know the causes of it, I assume people little or big know what they like or don't like. One of my nieces was the same way, and it wasn't until she was older that she would touch meat. It was never forced on her. But her parents were definetly confused by it. That was the first time I saw it myself. I also have a friend whos daughter will not eat meat either. the mother is not a vegetarian but when she was pregnant with her she didn't eat meat at all, because she herself was revolted by it and couldnt stomache it. I wouldnt say its strange, just something that happens. As long as he is getting his proper nutrition there is nothing to worry about. Probably not much help, just wanted to share in the fact he is not the only toddler to refuse meat. It probably happens more than you think. Makes you wonder if they know something most of the population doesnt. After all, their brains at that age are mainly equipped with their natural instincts and are only begining to be molded by anothers actions and beliefs.