Should my baby eat meat?

Question

I am a vegetarian (since the age of 5 - my choice). My baby will be starting solid food soon - should I deny her meat because of my beliefs or should I go against all my principles, feed her meat and then let her make up her own mind when she's older?

Answer 1

Not an easy question. As you know, you do not NEED meat to have a healthy lifestyle (and before a legion of meat-eaters dive on that one, Id like to say Im not a vegetarian, I do eat meat myself, but Im aware you can live without it). If you think about it - you have been responsible for feeding and nourishing your baby for nine months in the womb, and then (if you are breast feeding) up til this point from birth. Sounds to me like she is already a vegetarian, because she has been living as you have since birth.

Don't go against your principles. She relies on you to make the choices for her until she is able to herself. What you should maybe keep in mind is that in time, she may become curious about eating meat and want to try it, and at that point, you should perhaps allow her the choice. Chances are, she'll be happy on the vegetarian diet. It doesn't make you a bad person or a bad mum to bring her up to the principles you live by yourself, and not other people's expectations.

Answer 2

well if you don't give her meat then she will never be able to eat meat and she'll be a vegetarian like you. If that's what you want then I say go for it. I am a vegetarian and my kids (in which I haven't had) will not eat meat because I think it is completly wrong to kill animals so we live, we can live w/o meat. I don't think you should make a life decision for her, but you'd also have to touch and buy the meat and prepare it too. I would make a Chart:
If she eats meat: She can choose when she's older, she'll have a choice, you must prepare the meats, you must buy the meat, you'll be supporting the factories that make the meat,
If she's a vegitarian: She will not eat any meat all her life, you can use soy meat, you'll never have to touch meat again, she'll follow your footsteps, her kids will not eat meat and their kids and so on and so forth...
If you don't give her meat now she'll get terribly sick if she tries meat when she is older. So choose wisely...
But these are just suggestions, you have to make the overall choice; after all you are her mum...

Answer 3

You are the child's mother. You make the decisions regarding how you want your baby to be raised. If you're a vegetarian, and it's against your beliefs to eat mean, then don't let her eat meat.

Letting her eat meat now.. and then making up her own mind, she may not want to go vegetarian later, and you'll be making 2 separate meals all the time..

Raise her with your beliefs.. because they are hers too. She just doens't know it yet.

Answer 4

If meat is cooked in your house for the other occupants you may offer her some morsels of meat. If she happily eats it, you should give her a few morsels every time it is cooked in the house.

If meat is not cooked in your house, I see no reason why you should specially cook it for your baby.

When she grows up let her make her choice and respect it but till she is not old enough to decide for herself the choice is yours.

There are millions of healthy vegetarian babies in the world so don't think too much about it. You are a good mother even if you only feed her vegetarian food.

Best wishes

Answer 5

She is a baby.. she will need the protein. When she is older she could be off meat but from infant to about 2 she should have meat in her diet. Its not like she will be eating stake and you have to cook it. The meat in the baby jars are just meat and water. My 2 year old will chew on meat but then will spit it out. He really does not eat meat, the pediatrician says that is fine since he is older, and there are other ways for him to get the needed protein , but for a small still developing baby, baby food meat should be used. It should be her choice when she is older to continue to eat it or not. But for now let her eat meat for protein reasons.

Answer 6

Do whatever you think is right. If you decide to raise your child as a vegetarian she will not be any the less healthy than a non-vegetarian child (IMHO she will probably be healthier!). When she's old enough to make a decision about eating meat then let her decide.

One thing though, if she wants to try meat, please let her. I dislike parents who enforce their views on their children. Kids need to be able to make their own choices, and formulate their own opinions.

Answer 7

Being a vegetarian is a choice she should make on her own when she's older. People who don't like to eat vegetables would not skip giving them to their children because of their beliefs. Let her have both and make up her mind.

Answer 8

You have no right to bring your child up with your beliefs!everyone is entitled to their own life,denying your child this nutrition so young will be bad for her,Feed her meat and then as she gets older she can make her own decisions!she will thank you for it in end.

My friend is a vegitarian but she never stopped her daughter eating meat,she is now 5 and altho she does eat meat she is perfectly happy to eat none meat things-but thats her choice.

Answer 9

Well, meat has nearly all the right nutrients humans have been omnivores (beings that eat meat and plants) ever since they came to being, so the way i see it, deny your child meat is like denying her humanity.

Answer 10

Everyone will have very strong opinons about this one. I would say listen to your heart, you are her mother, and its up to you how you feed her.
If you do bring her up a veggie, just make sure she is getting all the correct nutrients, maybe contact the vegetarian society for some guidance.