Should my child eat meat?!
Answers: in response to a question earlier...she suggested that she wanted to feed her baby just veg..no meat then later give them the chance...its that weird as the child will stay veg...as thats all he knows and im sure the parents would say bad things about meat an distort his view....dont you think its better to feed your child both...and let them make their decision overtime? rather than heavily influence them one way or the other...if that happens what ever they decide is not going to be their true feelings as they will either choose one out of ignorance or out of anger that their parents didnt let them eat something thats perfectly fine in moderation? any thoughts?
What a kid will say when ...
2 years old
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Mum, is this that adorable pet I saw just now? Why is it end up my plate?
The same kid when 7 years old
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Mum, human evolved as omnivore. How could you impose vegetarianism in me?
The only reason a vast majority of people eat meat in the first place is because they are brought up thinking that meat is the be all and end all of nutrition + taste, and there is no other option. When now we know very well that we can get all our vitamins and minerals (if not more) from veg*an alternatives. Which, if the child is brought up on especially and forms an emotional bond with, are just as delicious and satisfying!
Meat is not an important addition to a baby's diet, if their veg*an nutrition is approached carefully and dealt with properly :)
EDIT:
It's a parents right and choice to make decisions for their baby. Thats what parenting is.
Christian parents raise their babies christian,
Artistic parents raise their children to be artistic,
Book-loving parents raise their children to love books,
If the choice the parent is making for the baby isn't harming him/her (which a veg*an diet isn't).. that where's the harm in doing so?
Or shall we all raise our children to be completely neutral in everything until they are old enough? Neutral in ethics, in morals, neutral in demenour, neutral in GENDER? Because who knows if that little girl REALLY wants to be dressed in pink?
It's a parents job to make decisions and choices. And if they have no ill-affect on the child, let them do what they want. They are simply trying to pass on their wisdom and morals/ethics to their child. Wheres the harm in that?
SECOND EDIT:
*laughs* I think you're being a little bit silly. As I was saying, parents have a right to make choices for their children that will not be harmful to them. Taking away outside play and toys is something that would obviously cause problems later in life.
I was raised in a family where meat was very important, and where my father put down vegetarians and presented them as stupid. For meals we would have a meat product as the centre of the meal, with a side or two, maybe. I still managed, when the time came, to make my own decisions about my diet.
It would be exactly the same with a veg-raised child, decided, perhaps, later in life they wanted to start eating meat. Exactly the same :)
Many people in the world have never eaten meat. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but I don't believe a child ever "needs" meat. You can ge protein other ways.
One thing you need to worry about if you want your child to grow on vegetarian diet is pay careful attention to vitamins and proteins. It is essential for growing child have enough iron and Vitamin B12. The best source for Vitamin B12 is from animals and red meat is very good iron source.
The children in old Japan didn't get a lot of meat in
their diets. Men tended to top out in height about 5' 5".
Feeding them only veg when they are young without giving them a guilt about eating meat seems fine. Once they grow up, it is very easy to start eating meat - atleast some forms as I think most of my veg friends have found it tasty. On the other hand, starting non-veg for kids at a very early stage can make them detest veg food. As you know, too much non-veg is not good.
not at all; vegetarianism/veganism is surely the healthiest option, besides being the most humane.
i know several vegan couples with born-vegan babies that have absolutely no healt nor growth problems, just make sure you visit a nutrionist ;)
A parents job is really to do what they think is best for there child, and if they dont think eating meat is healthy, then why should/would they have there kids eat meat?
Meat is not necessary to be healthy, not as long as you are feeding them a well rounded diet.
I think a child is kinda a product of there environment, there going to pick up on there parents views no matter how much they try to teach them to think for themselves. And no matter how hard a parent might try, they cant keep there kid vegetarian forever, if they want to eat meat, they will.
i really think it's up to the parents - so long as the baby has sufficient nutrition i wouldnt worry.
im rasing my kids veg when i have them they will be the skinniest hottest kids in their class cause they wont eat meat plus us veggies are hott ;]
No this is not weird, I am 19 and I am 2 months pregnant and I plan to raise my child up vegetarian, so they can be healthy and non greasy and they wont be cruel and when they grow up they will thank me, my mom raised me up as a vegetarian and I thank her soooooo much!
No, you don't understand! Most meat-eaters were heavily influenced by their parents. Don't heavily influence any kid, you should just not feed them meat (cause it's unhealthy for eater and environment and it's extremely cruel) but tell them they can eat meat if they want, just make sure you tell them what the animals go through and about th environment and their own health.
Of course, if they enjoy blowing things up on electronic games then they might be influenced by that. I remember in 6th grade on kid in my class said they'd heard (or was it seen?) all about a cow being chopped into three pieces on a conveyor belt, and when another vegetarian asked if they were glad they ate it, they said "yeah, totally!" They probably thought it was cool and/or had too many video games. oNe said that he didn't eat cow meat--he didn't get it that chickens were treated the same way!
By the way, in the same sixth grade, I was the tallest in my class and I had never eaten meat. I was taller than boy and girls, both. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with being short!
Parents should give their child meat and veggies, and then let them decide what choice they want to make later on in life. I don't really see that happening in a vegan/vegetarian home though, since the parents aren't likely to buy meat, or cook it.
yes it's important for their development in childhood.
Children should have meat in their diets. Unfortunately, some vegetarians/vegans feel the need to shove their ideals on their children before they're able to make a decision for themselves.