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raising kids vegetarian
Started
by Julie King
on March 29, 2011
Hello! I was just wondering what everyone thinks about a mother whose a vegetarian raising her kids veggie! I dont have kids and wont for a long time but I am curious!
I'd say she's a good mommy:) There are plenty of threads on the subject.
I would say this is a mother who truly cares about the well-being of her children.
I would say what the others have said, and also think "how freakin' amazing - a mother who is doing her job: making sure her kids are as healthy as possible and not just running around trying to pander to children who are not old enough to make those decisions" - what is with people trying to please, please, please kids? was talking about this with my mom yesterday- when we were kids, we ate what we were given - no one asked us! and if we didn't want to eat it......guess what? we didn't eat! and none of us died of starvation! I see my brother and his wife feeding their kids complete crap because "its what they want" - on what sane planet does a 5 year old get to choose whats right to eat? whoops....taking this somewhere else! can you tell I have a wee issue with what my nieces and nephew eat!!!!
Hahaha, ann ann you sound just like me! I feel the same way about my nephews! My brother-in-law adopted a plant-based diet after he saw the great results in my husband and when he told his wife she literally said "my kids will not be f-ing vegans!" With the actual expletive of course. Instead, she feeds them (and herself) fast food every night! LIke that is better! She's not even making them home-cooked meals regardless of if they include meat and dairy. It is unbelievable these days. Parents complain that they have no time to make a dinner for their kids and it is easier and faster to get take-out. Well guess what? Both of my parents worked and we got home-cooked meals! These parents need to stop whining and take control of what their kids are consuming. If you are going to have kids then you should be responsible enough to give them healthy food (preferably vegetarian or vegan of course!) and take the time to make it happen! Kids should not be choosing what they eat because they will usually pick the unhealthiest things! People wonder why so many kids are obese. I applaud veggie mothers and wish there were more like them in this world!
I agree with you ann! Kids are working us good and hard! They have us wrapped around their little fingers dont they? Little brats! HaHA...just joking! lol!!! But really, parents are almost bullied by their kids when it comes to them wanting what they want. Then there is the emotional issue....we want to comfort them, treat them, take away their problems by baking them cookies or getting them ice cream, so we are a great hero in their eyes. Its pretty incredible how complex the issue is. I think parents are hit with issues they werent prepared to handle, such as...will the child sleep in our bed, or his own? will he eat meat or sugar? what about at school, or special occasions? I think education is needed to help parents figure out where they stand and how they are going to handle the issues before they have kids...within reason, that is. But I agree for sure about kids being grateful for what they are provided (after my husband and myself work our selves into the ground to feed them). I'm not saying I am perfect with this, but my thing is that i put my heart and soul into feeding my fam and i make some pretty delicious food, and if they dont like it they can have pbj. It works for us. Like you said.....great thread...brought out deep deep issues!
Both my kids are vegetarian - they are 12 and 9 now and we've been veg since the little one was born, so she's never had meat at all. We eat vegan at home now, but when they're out or at friends they still have cheese. I've always had the "eat what I make, or don't eat" rule, pretty much (they can eat what they do like or find something else in the fridge, but I'm not making them something special!) - and my kids have never been "picky". They eat the most amazing things, other parents are shocked. When my youngest was in preschool once they were talking about their favorite veggies and my daughter came up with artichokes! Even the teacher had never tasted one.
When they are older, I'm open to them making the choice for themselves. I will be pretty crushed if they choose to start eating meat, of course! But eventually, of course, they'll need to be making their own decisions. But I sure won't be cooking it for them, that's for sure! All you can do is raise your kids the best you know how and hope you've given them all the tools to make good choices.
Starflower, you are locked on!!!
Any tips for a new mom looking to raise her little one vegan? My Rina will turn 4 months old on April 7 and I will be making her own baby food. Is there anything specific about her nutrition I should be aware of? Iron levels, Vit. B12, etc? I've tried to find litterature on feeding an infant vegan, but couldn't come up with much... Your help is greatly appreciated and I will also discuss this with her pediatrician when we go for her check-up next week! Thanks a bunch!
I suppose it would be a bit different in my eyes if my nephews were like Starflower's kids and picked a nutritious alternative to the meal (which you wouldnt' have to cook either), however they choose cereal. Brightly colored, dye-infused, sugar-laden Trix cereal. It appalls me that they let him eat this for dinner all of the time. Or, they give him a hot dog. I'm sorry, but I fail to see how they think that is okay all of the time. Ugh, I wish it didn't frustrate me so much! They aren't even my kids! :o)
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