Vegeterian/Vegan Parents Only, Did You Raise Your Kids Under Your Lifestyle Choice Or You Let Them Decide?!
Please only answer if you were raised by vegan/vegeterian parents or if you are vegan/vegeterian parents, Thanks
Answers: I'm just curious about this, I hardly know any vegans/vegeterians and I wanted to know if you are in that eating choice, would you raise your kids under the vegeterian menu or will you let them decide what they want to do? Can you handle cooking meat dinners for your children if they want it? Do you find anything wrong with it?
Please only answer if you were raised by vegan/vegeterian parents or if you are vegan/vegeterian parents, Thanks
I have gotta laugh at the people that make their young children watch a peta propaganda film, and probably scare them for life, and say we let them make their own choice. Thats some s*** Dr. Phil wouldn't even touch.
Feeding a child meat is "child abuse"? If that is the case 98% of the US would be incarcerated.
I think it depends on the child's age. My son is 17 and is well enough informed on nutrition to make up his own mind. Since I started as a vegetarian after he was in his late teens, I let him decide and he decided to continue eating meat.
He does his own cooking as does his dad, so no, I don't have to cook it for him.
With small,children they are raised and get use to things. They also want to do things like mummy and daddy and not get left out. So if mummy and daddy are eating a plant based diet they will wnat to as well. There are 1000s of recipes so really you can eat a wide variety of nutrtious meals without compromising on protein. My children eat meat but not often and prefer a range of plant based recipes. Also I fed them soya milk because they were allergic to cows milk it put congestion on their chest. They ate a lot of lentils and beans.
Eventually its their decision...but I will tell them the facts and show them videos and shows about how badly animals are treated before they are killed...and then let them choose wisely after knowing it all!
I've been a vegan since conception, and my kids are thus far, as well.
Well, I have to raise them somehow, and whether it's being an omni or a vegan, in the beginning, I must "decide for them" during the first few years and given all the health benefits of being a vegan, I raised them both vegan because I want what's best for them.
Unless you expose your children to the realities of eating meat- whether it's telling a five year old when he asks that "Yes, meat is dead animals" or showing a twelve year old a PETA video when shes asks why our family is "different"- you can't honestly claim that you're letting your kids decide either way until they have the information necessary to make such a decision. As the whole world is constantly saying that consuming animal products is okay, it's up to my husband and I to show them why it's not, since no one else will do it. After that, it's up to them to make a decision.
My boy and girl have already professed their commitment to a creulty-free lifestyle, and I'm hopeful that their feelings ill continue. The best way I could ensure that my children adhered to our principles is simply to TEACH them about vegan values. Shoving them down someone's throat will make that person rebel, child or not.
Why would I let my kid eat dead animals?
If they want it that bad they can do it at someone else's house.
If veg parents are honest and informative with their kids, they will thank them when they are old enough to like animals.
I don't fit your criteria, but I do know couples where both parents were vegetarian. Initially, they raised their kids as vegetarian, but they let them start eating meat as soon as they were old enough to make the choice.
Like Peggy P, my 3 children were in their teens when my husband and I decided we would not eat any meat. Now that we only share the house with our 4 indoor-only cats, it is very easy to prepare meals. My children do not embrace the vegetarian lifestyle as we do, so we are not included in holiday meal invitations and they don't wish to eat their holiday meals vegetarian style here with us. We do get together and when they come to our home we serve non-meat snack items they and our grandchildren like. We have been vegetarians for about 25 years now and have no regrets. My children and grandchildren have a right to choose, as we feel we do.
My daughter is 4 year old, she is a lifetime vegan. She is not craved to any meat product. In fact know she can preach the adults why the animals are also deserved to live.
My son is 8 years old. Initial 4 years he used to wealthy meat product, KFC, McDonald, you just name it. Therefore he had withdrawal symptom psychologically. But now after seeing the PETA, he even stopped dairy & egg volunteerly.
Me and my wife learned to cook delicious vegan cuisine, explored and discoved many vegetarian restaurants all around. Mock meat, vegan ghee, vegan cakes, vegan chocolate bar & ice-cream are sold everywhere.
Frankly, the ADULTS are the main culprit and become barrior to their kids to consume humane and healthier food.
Feeding kids with meat is a "child Abuse". because the child does not know the lies beneath the cruelty, danger of the meat. No animals like to see their family slaughtered and kid also emphatize to see animal cry, scream and blood.
An Adult is mind-conditioned with craving, religious faith, egoistic & hypocrite. In this stage, their conscience is superceeded by the "conditions".
Many parents do not explain the reason for being vegetarian.
Mostly are religious faith (Ideology-vegetarians), while few are scientifical & philosophical reason (Philosophy-vegetarian).
You should raise the kids with logic, smart decision, educate them from small that they have the power to love and care all beings & nature, and capacity to keep peace..., and choice of diet is a daily affair.
Ideology-vegetarian mostly fails to prolong this practice.
Philosophy-vegetarians usually raise their kids with higher IQ, often become activist, thinker, scientists, philosophers and environmentalist.
That's the reason why the thinkers, scientists and philosophers in the history, and even now choose to be a vegetarian.
And...if a kid is raised in a non-violant environment, and harming an innocent/defenseless being is wrong...this kid will become adult enough less likely to cause harm to other human beings.
people raise thier children under thier own beliefs until they can make up thier own mind. Thats parenting.
Same would be true of religion, language, moral beliefs, attitude, politics, education and even often extending to careers choices.
According to vegan definition of cruelty, not allowing anybody or anything to have a choice is cruel. Letting young kids watch "blood" videos and feeding them biased opinions with regards to diet is simply irresponsible. No different from Nazis showing pro Aryan and anti semetic propoganda news reels to their kids and telling them they are better than everyone else... Can hitler youth type vegans be far behind? Judging from this forum, it seems that some of them have already grown up...
yes you need to feed your kids the best way you know how.. but imposing a single minded opinion because it is the "best way you know how" is irresponsible. Perhaps after the animal cruelty video, you can show them news stories of vegan babies and children who have died of malnutrtion? How about the science that says humans are omnivores not vegetarians? How about any dissenting opinion at all? Afterall, fair is fair, right?
Hi,
I have been a vegetarian since birth, i am 17 years old now and have never eaten meat. My mother was vegetarian, now vegan, and my father eats meat.
It wasn't easy i guess, like at school parties and functions. I'm sure a few times i must have "accidently" had meat but i think its the intention that counts. I don't wonder what meat tastes like, i don't really care about taste. I am sure my attitude is this way because of my upbringing but about four months ago i left home, went really far away, and two months ago i became vegan, so i think it is my choice.
If i had kids i would raise them vegetarian, but once they are at a point where they can understand the whole idea behind meat and the moral responsability i would not stop them if they wanted to eat it, but i would not cook it for them. I don't think in this manner children should have a choice until they are around 12, because before that they don't really understand.
I have never wanted to eat meat. Even though i am vegan i would only raise my children vegetarian.
Thanks,
Bria
Studies & statistics shows that world top critical illness (i.e obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, Rheumatic diseases, Tumor, Hypercholesterinemia, Botulism infection from fish, cancers, etc) have direct link with meat, or their by-product.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseasein...
Most indigenous food borne disease (diarrheal disease, bowel infections, madcow, birdflue, Foot-and-Mouth Disease of Pigs and sheep, Cattle Anthrax) have direct link with meat.
Diseases from animals....
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_7615...
Disease Risks from Foods, England and Wales, 1996–2000, and US shows top10 reason Foodborne infection is a major cause of illness and death worldwide caused by meat.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no03/...
Malnutrition incidence population are more significant in starving countries like Africa, and among majority of meat-eaters. Medical research has shown that on average, a lifelong vegetarian visits the hospital 22 per cent less often than an average meat-eater, a saving to the National Health Service of about ￡45,722.
http://www.vegsoc.org/news/2000/21cv/nut...
In the life insurance industry, the medical and premature death exposure and claim by vegetarians are far more less than a meat-eater.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/jul...
The key to a nutritionally sound vegan diet is variety. A healthy and varied vegan diet includes fruits, vegetables, plenty of leafy greens, whole grain products, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm
A vegetarian/vegan diet doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste or nutrition.
If someone skeptical come to say that all the diseases from meat are caused by contamination and poor handling, he merely did not put a single step or initiative, incapable to improve or bother the meat production quality, but why he continually exposing to the high risk factor.
There are varieties in vegan diet. If you really love your kid, will you give him/her the CHOICE, or FREEDOM.
Let us talk out of the "delusion by societal norm"...
If you really love and care your child, insure him/her with healthy, humane and celestial diet, especially nowadays the risk exposure from meat is high. This will represent the true meaning of "love" and "care". Your kids will appreciate you one day when grown up become more wiser and realized your noble cause.
Very interesting answers to the question you posed. I can tell those that do not have kids and gave their point of view (wait till they are parents!).
I just want to say that we started out as a family to clean up our eating habits (which included Burger King 3 to 4 times a week due to sport activities). We cut out red meats and alot of processed food. Then as a family we made a New Year's resolution to try being vegetarian for a year. I will say that I took over most of the cooking/baking. I started to buy organic produce and for eggs we got our own chickens. The number of colds that the family had for the winter went down to just one time only for the season. We continued being vegetarians for another year, and then we made another family New Year's resolution to just try being vegan for a year. We are now going on three years of being vegan, and all pretty much adhere to it with our food intake. I will say that one son loves to eat cheese stuff, but becomes sick about 3 days after eating it. Same can be said for my husband that will eat a power lunch at work (although vegetarian, loaded with cheese, and definitely not organic) and will have sinus trouble for the weekend. So they can eat whatever they want, but they are now so healthy that when they eat crap their bodies will retaliate! So it is their choice, and they know the consequences of their choices.
It does help when their mom is a really great cook and can whip up something fabulously delicious for any meal.
I am a vegan parent, frankly speaking I only serve vegy to my children. They grow up just like other meat eating children. The different is they are less prone to sickness and their skine is smoother compare to other meat eating children even without taking suppliment. So far they are enjoying and used to vegy meal.
Just only hold on to the principle I eat to live but not live to eat. The same principle should apply to my children.
Was their choice, When in my house eat what is served, Or you can buy your own.
Can't get much simpler than that
We have raised our daughter as a vegan since birth. She is very healthy and happy. She rarely got sick- no ear infections. She is nine years old now.
Recently, I decided to try occasional small amounts of some animal products- an occasional hard-boiled egg or low-fat yogurt. I asked my daughter if she wanted some and she wouldn't eat it. I couldn't get her to eat it if I tried.
As long as the parents are eating a certain way, the child won't want to eat any differently. However, I think my daughter would like to try some candy or other junk food because she has seen my wife eat some. I don't eat any, but my wife occasionally sneaks some chocolate. Otherwise, we don't eat candy or junk food.
But, my daughter has no interest in eating meat, dairy or eggs. She likes her vegan food. We told her that she could eat what she wanted when she is at her friends' house, but I think she is happy to eat her vegan food, except she might want to try some junk food.
And we never showed her gruesome videos or pictures. We are opposed to violence and don't watch violent movies either.
We never indoctrinated her in animal rights stuff either. She naturally has affection for animals and killing them doesn't sound very nice to her. We didn't teach her that- I think it is normal for children to be affectionate towards animals.
In general, parents of all types raise their children with their own lifestyle- their own religion, culture, language, etc. It would be weird to be Jewish and take your children to a Catholic Church for mass. So, meat-eaters raise their children to eat meat and vegetarians raise their children to eat plants.
I don't find anything wrong with it. It is normal.
I don't agree with the idea that children should eat whatever they want. Lots of parents let their children eat lots of junk food, but I think that a parent should watch out for the child's health and that children are too young to make wise choices about their health. I think parents should be responsible- not just give in to what their children want all the time.
We don't let our daughter stay up as late as she wants and we don't let her eat as much junk food as she wants. And she has to take baths whether she wants to or not. She does eat some vegan treats though.
When she is older, she will gradually make more of her own decisions about things. I think most responsible parents do it this way, vegan or not.
I hope this was helpful.
My daughter and I became vegetarian together, but after 8 months she decided she wanted to eat meat again. I tried to discourage her, but her mind was made up (she's almost 13). I let her eat meat, but no, I don't prepare it. Preparing meat sickened me when *I* was eating it, I couldn't stomach it now, and I don't buy it. I will buy her items containing meat products now like soups and microwavable snacks. I'm not happy with her decision, but her happiness means more to me than anything, so I live with it. I think if I had been better at preparing good vegetarian meals she may not have been so tempted to go back to eating meat. I'm hoping some day she'll go vegetarian, but right now she definitely does not have the mentality of a vegetarian.