When do you think that your child has the right to decide to be a vegetarian?!
Surprisingly to me, the responses support the kid rather than the parent. Of course the questions were posed in the vegetarian section of YA, so probably not an accurate cross section of responses.
As a parent that buys and shops and cooks the food in the house, I cannot afford the extra time and cost it would take to prepare a special meal every evening. When my child makes decisions that are BACKED UP by HER OWN income and effort then I would consider that a decision that has merit and would support it.
What do other parents do in situations like this?
Answers: I see all these posts about kids wanting to be vegetarians and parents not supporting their decision.
Surprisingly to me, the responses support the kid rather than the parent. Of course the questions were posed in the vegetarian section of YA, so probably not an accurate cross section of responses.
As a parent that buys and shops and cooks the food in the house, I cannot afford the extra time and cost it would take to prepare a special meal every evening. When my child makes decisions that are BACKED UP by HER OWN income and effort then I would consider that a decision that has merit and would support it.
What do other parents do in situations like this?
I happen to agree with you. A parent is responsible by law for the health and well being of children in their care and custody until the age of 18. As far as I am concerned, when you live in my house and I support you, provide your food and cook your meals, then you live by MY rules - not yours.
When my kids were all at home (and I had 7 teens one memorable summer) we followed the "one bite" rule. You must have one bite of everything on the dinner table. Then - and only then - if you do not like what is served for dinner then you may make yourself one (and only one) peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
If she were in my house she would be told that it is not a restaurant and that she will eat what everyone else is eating.
Alternatively when she pays for and cooks her own food and cleans up after herself then you will consider it.
My stepson is currently 11 but if in a couple of years he shows me that he have the level of maturity to eat a wide variety of vegetables (hates them now) and felt very strongly about it then I would support him. It would also give me an opportunity to add more vegetables and healthier options for family meals anyway - so that is a plus. I would insist that he take a multi vitamin as well... but he does that currently.
When I was growing up my dad became a vegetarian - the rest of us were not. It really only changed things a little - plus he would often just eat some pasta with frozen veggies tossed in olive oil - so it was no big deal. I think if a kid wants to eat healthier that it is something that should be supported...
edit: It sounds like you are already offering healthy options and there are a number of ways to get protein into your kid's diet... like spinach, tofu, beans etc... really the only thing you cannot get from meat-free diet is vitamin B12 - all other essential vitamins and minerals can be gained by fruits and vegetables. B12 is easily included in a diet via milk or eggs (many vegetarians will eat these things) or with a supplement. So really, meat is not an essential part of a healthy diet.
Additionally, there is strong nutritional evidence that a meat free diet is actually healthier for you - see link below... granted, I do eat meat - I love a good steak - but I frequently eat vegetarian meals knowing it is better for me.
Children have a right to be a vegetarian... just as soon as they are making their own living and paying rent on their own apartment... until then... they eat what I buy.
let them do what they want its just a phase
You could incorporate vegatarian dishes into the meals. Like an extra veggie dish. Encourage her to find recipes that she likes and to cook it for the family. I have to cook separately for my father who doesn't eat certain foods that other family members do so I know how you feel. Sometimes its possible to just pull a portion aside and change the cooking slightly...like regular spaghetti sauce instead of meat sauce on pasta...or get her to have a variety of foods that you (or she) can easily throw on the stove like marinated tofu.
It doesn't have to cause contention between you, its an opportunity for you both to learn something together. Find recipes that the rest of the family might like. Vegetarian foods like meatless meatballs and tofu hotdogs are quite expensive to buy even for just one person. But together you both can find recipes that are easy to fit into the family budget and easy to cook for you both.
I think this is a phase a lot of kids go thru, especially when they realize where the meat comes from. Let him fix his own plate and or choose from what you already made. Let him know you aren't a short order cook.
If the "phase" last a good while just supplement with some kids vitamins with iron.
When they are teens and go thru this they can get a job and buy their own groceries.
My daughter was 5 when she refused to eat meat. Even the pediatrician could not convince her. She would always trade her burgers for salad in kindergarten. Later she would eat meat at times, but even though she is grown now, she sticks to the vegetarian diet. So long as she got protein, I let her do what she wanted, it just was not worth the fight to get her to eat meat.
If your child refuses to eat meat, you need to provide her or him with necessary vitamins. Why don't you compromise, you could start having a vegetarian night. Also your child can eat what you are having minus the meat. I am assuming that you already prepare healthy balanced meals for your children. A Person really shouldn't have any more than 1 to 2 servings of red meat a week anyways. Also rice and beans is not really expensive or hard, your child can prepare their own if old enough, if it is a big deal. It also is not hard to take the meat out of things like chili, spaghetti, lasagna..surprisingly still pretty good. If your child doesn't consume milk products than i don't know, fake meat and cheese and stuff like that is pricey, unfortunately. But it really shouldn't be that big of a deal, just cereal, oatmeal, fruits, veges, rice, beans, stuff like that, I am sure you already buy most if not all of that. Do you think your child truly wants to do this? Is this phase (are all her/his friends doing so they want to) In junior high I had a friend that wanted to become a vegetarian and she believed us that it was okay for vegetarians to eat turkey. Does meat repulse them, make them ill, or they just can't eat it? (when my sister was young around 5 she wouldn't eat meat or eggs because she said she thought of the animals and the baby chickens that would have been born and it made her sick and sad- she never did until highschool she started eating taco bell meat and mcdonalds cheeseburgers, now that she is out of highschool she has included other meats such as steak and chicken) the point of this is your child may grow out of this but they just can't do it right now. Imagine if you were forced to eat something that you strongly didn't like or thought was morally wrong. Is she/he doing it for a diet or weight loss? If so just provide plenty of fruits, veggies and whole grains for your child, encourage them and tell them it is okay to occasionally have chicken or fish, and then you can just cut out the red meat to a few days a week and on those days the side dishes you provide can be your daughters meals plus she can add a wrap of some kind, I put beans on tortillas with rice and ff sourcream plus cheese flavored veggie shreds but the veggie shreds are a little pricey for what they are. or a pita filled with tuna salad. surely it is not that big of a deal for you to do this, if you are already providing your family with a healthy diet you should have most on hand
My nephew is 6 now, but from the time he was eating solids he refused meat. He would occasionally eat mince in spaghetti bolognaise but that was it. It was not a choice, he just does not like meat. My son who is now 2 was the same, and still does not eat a lot of meat.
For some children it is not a choice just to be a pain, there could be a real dislike and reason for not eating meat.
I do not force meat on my son. I put it on his plate and if he eats it fine, if not then I don't make a fuss as he obviously does not want it. I make sure he eats a variety of other foods to make up for the lack of meat.
I think that children should have some input, but in saying that I also think the parent has to gauge whether it is for a real reason, or just to be difficult.
Basically you can not make anyone eat what they don't want.