When me & my boyfriend have kids he wants them to eat meat but I don't want that because i'm a vegetarian!
Answers: What should I do
I think you should raise them veggie. Anyone who has read The China Study by T. Colin Campbell cannot deny that science has proven beyond doubt that animal protein is bad for your health. Encourage your boyfriend to read this book. You are not "denying" them of meat. You are giving them a clean slate that will last them a lifetime. Many children are unable to fully comprehend the consequences of eating meat--it's long-term health effects and spiritual consequences. Once they are adults they can choose to eat meat but wil have had the benefit of a veggie diet from birth. However, if you do raise them vegetarian read the above book as well as Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine by Gabriel Cousens and Greens for Life by Victoria Boutenko to be sure you are fully educated on vegetarian nutrition. Above all greens are the ultimate vegetarian food and there is no room for junk food in growing children.
Meat is healthy for you. I say let them and if they decide later on, down the road to follow your footsteps, let them then.
Quite honestly, if you are having disagreements on those sorts of things now, I would definitely have them resolved BEFORE you get married and have children! You can not change a person unless they want to change. Many people think getting married or having children will change a person for the better, and yes, in some instances it does. But be careful- talk about as many things now and really get to know him before you make a permanent comittment!
I think you should let your kids decide.
My parents both love to eat meat.
But I chose to become a vegetarian.
It was all my choosing.
More than likely they will rebel anyway from whatever you chose, because if you want them to be a vegetarian, when they get older and go out with friends, and they all order burgers, it will be tempting.
Soo. Good luck. :D
I think that is something you really need to research together to see the pros and cons of each and then compromise on a decision. It's a tough one but you really need to take it seriously... if you're not planning on having kids yet then you have plenty of time to resolve this.
Edit:
"If you can't eat meat or convince him to stop eating
meat, you are obviously not meant to be together."
I'm sorry but I think this is a ridiculous statement! I'm married to a meat-eater and he has been extremely supportive of my decision to become a vegetarian. I respect his choices and he respects mine. Yes it would be EASIER if he also didn't eat meat but he is the man that I love and I'm willing to compromise and accept that we don't have that in common. It is something that isn't that hard to live with as long as you truly love each other and he respects your decision.
im in the same situation. ive decided that, if my husband wants the kids to eat meat, then he makes it himself. because i wont make it. so theyll be vegetarian until they are old enough to decide for themselves if they want to eat meat.
that's hard, talk to your kid's doctor because there could be risk if they don't start eating meat early on, if it fine, do some research on how kids benefit from not eating meat as a child, you boyfriens might realise that it's for the good of the kids to not eat meat, when the kids are old enough, they can decide for themselves, you can't force them to eat, or not eat meat
Find a new boyfriend
Meat is a personal decision. You need to compromise and might have to split up the menu until they are old enough to make their own decision.
I think you should let your children decide on their own. Till they are able to makethat decision thne you should give them a well rounded diet that consists of many different foods, so that you will not make for having fussy eaters.
If you are not able to compromise on this issue then you may have to rethink your relationship, because forever is a long time with someone who doesn't share your beleife systems. People from diffferent faiths do it everyday, but only because both sides are committed to compromise.
Good luck!
raise your kids veggie...when they are old enough to make their own decision, let them. There are so many steroids, antibiotics, and god knows what else in meat that it's just not healthy for kids to eat. Wonder why cancer is on the rise...a big part of it is the fact that meat is pumped so full of crap these days that it's making us all sick.
Hold to your beliefs.
I guess it would depend on your reasons for being vegetarian. If you choose not to support the meat industry because of their cruelty, then I think you should stick to that principal. You don't have to tell your kids they can never eat meat, you just don't buy it for them. If they are at a friend's house, or if their dad makes something special for them, or if they're at a school function, they can still eat meat, and you don't have to give your money to an inhumane system. I think this is a perfectly good compromise.
You know, it's funny that every time a teenager asks the "My parents won't let me be a vegetarian" question, the meat eaters all jump down their throat and say "You have to eat what your parents give you" or "When you buy your own food, you can make your own decisions" or just "Do what your parents say". Now that a vegetarian wants to make a decision about the eating habits of her child, the same people say she can't force them and she has to respect their choice. Sounds like a pretty clear double-standard to me. You can't have it both ways.
Unless you've actually reached the stage where you're planning a family, rather than just talking about a possible future together, I wouldn't worry about it.
There's no harm an infant can come to from an intelligently planned veg*n diet. My sister was vegetarian when she had her first child, vegan when she had her second and third. After breastmilk, she fed them what she ate, but left it up to them to choose whatever food they liked at nursery, school, friends' houses etc. They knew they weren't forbidden anything, and when they got a bit older the ones that requested meat at home got it; she just made sure it was organic, not slurry and such crap.
They're now three strapping lads; two are omnivores(one of these hates vegetarian food, the other enjoys it often), one is a vegetarian.
From a very early age she left the choice up to them; it's the only respectful thing to do.
I'm a vegan btw.
Edit**Excellent point about the double standard, Veganomicon - letting their kids choose is the only respectful thing for omnivorous parents to do too
I would look for someone who more closely shares your views. Or sit down and give him good solid reasons why it's important to you. Do you know why it's so important for health to not consume animal products?
I remember when I first learned about how terrible milk (and animal protein as a whole) is for children AND adults, for bone health, and how it may be the reason there are so many more incidents of breast cancer. At first I tried to tell myself that there are studies out there that can prove or disprove anything. Then I had to admit to myself that the person doing the disseminating of this information was one of the most trusted men in the field of nutrition research, not some nutjob with half-assed research credentials and the reality was that I had been being lied to about the benfits of milk.
Why in the world would I continue consuming animal products when the research shows that it can really hurt me? Why in the world would I raise my child on animal products? Because an industry that makes billions off the sale of its product tells me to? It just doesn't make sense if I want to do what's best for my health and the health of my child.
I strongly encourage you to read The China Study. It will change your life and it will definitely make this whole issue of "should I or shouldn't I raise my child a (strict) vegetarian" a lot easier to decide.
Edit: I would no sooner let someone feed my child animal products away from home than I would allow them to give them alcohol or drugs. That is terribly irresponsible. If I found out someone fed my child animal products against my wishes they would no longer be able to see my children unsupervised. When my kid's 18 and moves out of the house if he wants to eat animal products then, well, there's nothing I can do about that, but not under my roof. Why would I willingly allow my child's health to be harmed? I think a lot of you don't understand the gravity of this situation. Think about everyone in this country who has died of breast cancer, colon cancer, and heart disease. Now consider that their lives could have been spared if they hadn't been consuming animal products. Do you really want to take a chance that someone you love can join those numbers of dead? Honestly? No thanks.
I don't think children should eat meat until they are old enough to know what it means. I've been veggie for over 5 years now and I actually feel kinda bad about being raised on meat (until 18), when I never thought about the animals I was eating.
I say, until they are old enough to decide on their own they should eat vegetarian. You can't feed babies meat for a while anyway. Plus meat is NOT healthy for you, it is proven to be worse for you than a balanced vegetarian diet. Even from a health standpoint your babies are healthier as vegetarians.
Since I know I have strong feelings about this, I would not want to marry or have kids with anyone who wasn't vegetarian. I understand above comments about becoming veggie after you've already fallen in love with someone, but if you already know you're veggie, wouldn't you want to share that lovely aspect of life : FOOD with your partner?
I guess different strokes for different folks.
You are the mother and they will be in you for 9 months so I think the best thing to do is to keep them on a vegetarian diet until they are old enough to make their own choice. There isn't anything in meat that they can't get from a well rounded vegetarian diet. If your boyfriend can't respect your decision then he doesn't respect you. A drastic change from the womb to the dinner plate could also upset your childs digestive system or even cause heart problems due to a drastic increase in cholesterol.
Work out the situation before you have kids with him. Get yourself a book like "Raising Vegetarian Children" by Stepaniak and Melina so you can show him that it's 100% possible to raise beautiful, healthy, thriving children on a vegetarian diet. If his objection isn't based on fear of malnutrition, find out what it IS based on. What you do about it depends on what his problem is with it. My boyfriend eats meat, but doesn't feel strongly about it either way. Since he knows that I absolutely DO feel strongly about it, we've agreed that if we have kids they will be raised vegan until they are old enough to choose for themselves. For me, it would be a deal-breaker any other way.
I think there is a very simple solution for this problem. Who will be doing the majority of the cooking for your household? If it is you, then there should be no argument about what the children are eating.
First of all, why fight about this now? You are not married, nor do you have children. Why jeopardize your relationship for something completely hypothetical?
That being said, I will offer a solution (sort of). You are a vegetarian...he is not. Why are your convictions more important than his? He believes his children should eat meat. You believe the opposite.
Instead of labeling your children as "vegetarians" or "meat consumers" why not let them be children with no belief either way. When mommy cooks the meals are vegetarian. When daddy cooks they contain meat. This way your children can make an informed decision when they are developmentally able to do so.
I have been vegetarian over a decade (I'm 24 now). And I still miss meat. I know I'll never eat it again, but I've met a few people over the years who were raised vegetarian and I have always envied them, because they never have to crave something they can't have. Also, everyone I know who was raised vegetarian chose to stay that way.
Everyone is arguing that you can't force your dietary habits on your children, but eating meat is just another dietary habit -- why is it OK to force that on them? They can be perfectly healthy and have delicious food as a vegetarian. Not to mention the endless health benefits. Plus, as they get older, they can make the choice for themselves.
Check out the blogspot for Vegan Lunchbox, it's a mom who raises her kid vegan and makes him all sorts of amazing things (like vegan Twinkies).
As far as you and your boyfriend go, I'd say present your case and try to work it out definitely before you have kids. Raising children is a huge deal if you can't agree on it -- the relationship may just not be right.
I say you should be having kids with someone that shares your views on such matters.
The only way anybody could actually be vegan is if they grow and proudce their own food. Did you know that the plows that tend to grain fields run over and murder tons and tons of woodland critters? So every time oyu eat a piece of bread, you'll be nibbling on little traces of bunny blood. And I doubt you're a very educated vegetarian, because none of them are. Here are just a few of the thigns you probably use that harm animals:
Toothpaste, film( contains gelatine), certain hairbrushes, yogurt, chewing gum, gummy candies such as gummy bears or gummy worms, cheese (contains rennet, which is derived from the stomach of dead baby cows), most gravy, perfume or cologne, and much much more.
So sit there and tlel yourself that you're a wonderful person for helping the animals, but in reality, you're murdering and devouring them every day. Nice job.
I'm not a vegetarian. I eat meat every day and I LOVE IT. There's somethign about pressing your teeth into a nice juicy slab of cow that really puts me in a good mood. I hate vegetarians like you because you think you're better than people who eat meat, but you really kill animals just like the rest of us. You are a hypocrite, my friend. So instead of being a hypocrit, join the rest of us and stuff a piece of serloin in your mouth.
I agree you should come to an agreement before you get married, much less have children.
Who is going to be the primary caretaker? Probably you, the mom. You are going to be the one feeding them until they are old enough to feed themselves. You are going to have to change their diapers and deal with their baby messes. Unless he's willing to do the majority of the childraising, the decision over what to feed them rests with you.
Perhaps you could come to some sort of compromise with regards to the children where he gets primary say in another aspect of their upbringing. You might want to check out Carol J. Adams' "Living Among Meat Eaters" for guidance in many areas, including this one.
Don't have kids with him.
If you do, it may be an endless battle with your kid(s) in the middle.
That doesn't change the FACT that there is no goddamned reason for any child to eat meat other than trying to deceive them into believing the many lies that most children are fed.
If it was my child, I wouldn't let the ignorance of the other parent get in the way of raising him/her the right way, with compassion in mind.
You shouldn't have kids.
If you are a vegetarian during pregnancy, you baby will lack essential nutrients, amino acids, proteins, and omega-3's.
Eating a vegetarian diet while pregnant is a very bad idea and will cause birth defects and complications with the pregnancy.
i would let them decide but untill there like 8 or so dont force them
Let them eat meat. You know, the NATURAL thing to do. Wait until they are older and let them decide for themselves what they will eat. Depriving someone of something at a young age will just cause them to want it more.
Marry a vegetarian. It will be a source of conflict in your marriage from now on and at the very least confuse your kids.
I would compare this to marry outside your religious faith--it is incompatible.
If you can't eat meat or convince him to stop eating meat, you are obviously not meant to be together.
Its not fair to deprive your children of meat just because you are a vegetarian. You should let them have it and then when they get older they can choose for themselves.
Are you vegiterian becasue you don't want to kill Animals? If that is the case then you have to think.....
.....Will me not eating meat really stop the meat that i would be eating be processed and sold, if you don't eat it, someone else will.
IT'S THE FOODCHAIN, live with it.
Bring your kids up eating meat, if they want to b vegetarians let that be their choice as they get older.
If you do bring them up not eating meat make sure they eat cheese for protein.....
Good luck!
If you're concerned about your future childrens' health, just be sure to get married first.
If you already are questioning this simple problem..WOW...did you think at all about your kids and not yourself?....Your a vegetarian..not your kids ..you don't make those calls..Your kids will in time..