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Raising a child vegan
Started
by ashley052508
on August 21, 2012
What would be the best way to go about that? I just made the transition to vegan myself. I have a 9 month old and I dont want her to experience all the crap that I had to go through, as far as diet and health goes. I want to be able to teach her everything it means to be a vegan when she gets older. I guess part of my question is.... do children as vegans get enough of their DV? I know childrens systems and adults systems require a lot different nutrients to keep going. If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it. P.S Just found this site, and I LOVE it! You're awesome Alicia!
Hi Ashley! This is quite a few months late, but I just came across your question! Vegan children definitely get the nutrients they need without all the animal products/by-products. There are so many different types of milks out there (SO Coconut is amazing!) and these milks actually have more calcium than cow's milk! Since you'd be starting her so young, she will love her veggies and will be accustomed to the vegan lifestyle without having to transition later in life:)!
i'm not even pregnant YET but i am vegan and i want to raise my kid vegan problem is that i can't even keep people from giving my dog people food, how am i gonna keep fam members from feeding my child meat and stuff because they "think" she needs it. Or because they "think " she wants it.
Hi everyone! I am planning on a baby myself and am currently reading 'raising vegetarian children' by Joanne Stepaniak and Vesanto Melina, that covers everything from baby, toddler, kid and teen nutrition to questions such as how to deal with family who do not understand your vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. I recommend you to read it if you are concerned or interested in the subject.
I have recently became a vegan ( yay!!!!) and I am having a tough time getting my daughter to eat more veggies. I would ultimately like for my daughter and my husband to become vegan but they both love their meat and cheese :( So for right now I'm just trying to get them to eat more grains and veggies. The problem is my daughter wont eat anything green. If she does she wants ranch all over it. Any tips or tricks?? Thanks so much!
Alexia, I actually had to set some pretty big boundaries with our family. I had one family member not talk to me for a year after they tried to feed my then 5 month old walnuts and that wasn't even a "veg" issue, I just didn't plan on feeding nuts till after a year. There were several people that refused to follow our wishes and tried to lie to my son saying cheese was broccoli (he was only 15 months old and new the difference) But when he got severely ill at age 3 from certain foods and my inlaws sent them anyway... I put my foot down. I realize we can't protect them forever, but there are times we have to put our children before other people's feelings. The trick is to educate the child as they grow up too. Like my then 3yr old told his grandfather that turkey's go gobble gobble and our not for eating when he tried to sneak him some turkey. And later my son oinked at a piece of sausage. At age 6, he asked a camp counselor if he could read the ingredients on a bag of pretzels before he would eat them, and at age 9, he walked in to a camp kitchen asking for a veg option at his dinner. The point is, it isn't just about what we feed and offer them but also about what we eat, what we teach and yes sometimes that means setting boundaries with those that will interact with them.
April... YAY is right, try to remember that this is your journey and they each have theirs. I commend you for wanting to encourage mindful eating and not pushing the veg diet on them. I was veg for 10-12yrs before my Husband hopped on board. We are now a meat free house, but it took several medical conditions for him to realize what he was doing to his body. As for my son, he started out Veg so it was easier. I don't know the age of your daughter, but maybe take her to an animal sanctuary and explain in age appropriate terms the stories of the animals. Keep offering veggies and "oops, we ran out of ranch and I forgot to buy some" :-) just keep offering variety, chop them in other dishes, blend them in smoothies, pancakes, sauces, soups etc. And try to make it fun instead of a chore. She will either come around now, or come around later when she sees all the benefits your change of eating has done for you. Best wishes.
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