veggie children?

Question

i am a strict vegitarian i have 2 children. my eldest daugter who is 10 is not veggie when i had her i thought i would let her decide when she is older. she is aware where meat comes from and what happens to the animal.
my son is a year and the only reason he is not veggie is cuz i didd'nt think it fair to have one child eat what they like and the other restricted. my belifs are so much stronger now than they were 10 years ago. i would love oth my children to adopt a vegitarian diet, but it will have to be their choice.
who else is veggie and have meat eating children?
was i right in letting my children choose?

can i just add to those who did not read question.
my children are not vegan nor veggie.
no more nasty comments on here please there is no need!

Answer 1

Yes I think you are right to let your children decide... I am not a vegetarian. But I believe people are entitled to there own beliefs... and letting your children choose is very good of you!

Answer 2

You are right to let your children choose. Although how do you moralise and justify buying and cooking them meat ? I would say that makes you NOT a veggie.

Your kids are still at the age where they could be traumatised if tey knew what happens to amnals on the way to thier plate, so i would be very careful and try to make veggie meals more interesting. Maybe they will choose to eat veggie if its more interesting ?

There is no such thing as a "strict" vegetarian. You are either veggie, or not. Simple as that. The animal is not partly dead, so you cannot be partly veggie - therefore "strict" doesn't exist.

every week we also get people here saying they are demi-this or demi-that.....They ARE NOT VEGGIES, please other people, don't confuse the issue or corrupt the word "Vegetarian" because you can't be bothered to use the correct words for your diet.

Its like saying a Christian is a demi-Jew, or a Jew is a demi-Muslim....you woudn't do that would you ?

If you eat fish or poultry you are nothing like a veggie.

Having said allthat, it you could see the freaky shaped, hormone pumped animals that go into a slaughter house you would realise there is nothing natural anout modern meat and you'd do the dutiful thing and keep your kids away from it. Not even for moral reasons, but because the meat is so messed about with.

Answer 3

I have to disagree with Micheal H. Not about the letting them choose part, the rest of it. I think children should not be forced into a veggie diet, and should have to chose it themselves.

I do disagree though that finding out what happens to animals could traumatise them. Most children eat meat at least sometimes, and I know of none who've ever been traumatised, in fact most, especially boys, have no problem. If they disagree I assume they'll be perfectly free to chose to abstain of their own free will when they realise.
I also disagree with the tactics he and several others have suggested about trying them to dupe them into it, that's not exactly free choice either.

Also, cooking meat does not make someone a non-veg. I quote from dictionary.com: "[a vegetarian is] a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat." I think cooking meat for children is the best thing to do and cooking it for others doesn't affect ones vegetarianism.

His last point too, about 'freaky-shaped hormone-pumped animals' is not relevant. As you are posting in the UK&Ireland section I'll assume you come from there. As we are under the jurisdiction of the EU, the use of hormones and antibiotics in meat production is outlawed, as is selling meat treated thus imported from countries where it isn't illegal. Even if it wasn't like that meat would still be natural, but the point is nonetheless irrelevant. Meat is healthy and numerous studies have shown it to be beneficial to children.

Yes, unlike some people have said, meat is not unhealthy. I'm not going to fill my answer with a long, detailed explanation, so I'll keep it concise.
-There is nothing inherently wrong with animal fats, we create them ourselves, us being animals. They are created from excess calories and you can eat no animal products and still have too much. They're better than a lot of plant based fats too, like that which comes from soy. As always excessive amounts are a problem though.
-I'm sure you know that a healthy diet can be got without meat, but one can be got from meat which is just as healthy. Meat is not inherently bad. Claims that meat is unhealthy are invariably false.
-That vegetarian children have higher IQ's is not to do with their diet rather than that vegetarian families are, on average, more intelligent, and less unintelligent families become veggie. On the other hand numerous studies have shown that fish, at least, is beneficial to brain development.
-That children do not need it per se is no reason not to eat it, in the same way that we do not need chocolate doesn't meat we shouldn't eat it. There are benefits too.
-I think most of the benefits of a veggie diet come from a wide range of fruit and veg, and thus can be got without being veggie. As a vegetarian yourself I'm sure they'll get that though.

I support the right to choose though.

Answer 4

Absolutely, Mom, and disregard anyone that says otherwise. By being a strong example, your children will see that it is something you passionately care about. Even if the ten year old is not veggie now, she may change her mind later. I was veggie as a child, then went back to eating meat. I returned to vegetarianism after having my children. My four year old ASKED to do the same, and I sat with him, explaining why I was and what that meant in my food choices. He was skeptical about beans in the beginning, but now he is proud to be a soy-drinking vegetarian! He tells all the kids at preschool about how many animals he will save in his lifetime and how silk very vanilla is as good as a vanilla milkshake...
With my younder child (9 months), I choose for him. At this point in life, his parents choose everything he eats, and I figure that until he is old enough to competently choose one way or the other, my choice for him is to be healthy, and that is best done through a vegetarian diet. He loves his dinners of refriend beans and spanish rice, sweet potatoes, or ratatouille. It's important to offer variety and to eat out on occasion, so they see that this is a wonderful way of life, and there doesn't have to be any sacrafice involved.
Again, good choice! As a mom it is your duty to lead your children to the best way... But ultimately, it will all come back to them to decide. You can only do what you are doing- lead by example. Keep up the good work, Mom!! ♥

Answer 5

Im a veggie and i have a son who is 4. I believe its important for children to make their own decisions about what they believe in so i have explained to him why i dont like to eat meat and have let him figure it out for himself. He still eats meat but is asking more questions about being a vegetarian and what happens to the animals etc. He may decide to stop eating meat,but at the end of the day, it is his decision.

Answer 6

If people would take the time to educate themselves on vegetarian vs meat diets they would know that meat is not healthy (due to animal fats, growth hormones, antibiotics, etc) and a balanced vegetarian diet provides ALL recommended and necessary vitamins, nutrients, and PROTEIN (it's proven). Therefore, I believe a parent has a duty to teach their children healthy eating habits from birth. Vegetarian children have higher IQs too, so the fact that they are not eating meat like their friends should not be a reason to give in to the social pressure to feed them meat. Of course when they are older they will decide for themselves, as will they decide whether to smoke, use alcohol, etc. I recommend you read The Food Revolution by John Robbins for a very thorough presentation of the scientific/nutritional facts (with references) about meat vs.vegetables.

Answer 7

I'm a vegan and was veggie before, my daughter is 7 and has just decided to become a vegetarian, i let her choose herself, so i think you're doing the right thing in letting your children choose themselves.

Answer 8

My hubby and I have both been veggie for about 20 years, and we're raising our two children as veggies, as we think it's a healthier choice for them, plus I find meat disgusting. They're only 3 and a half and almost 2, so at the moment I choose what they eat. When they are older, we'll do as you have done, and explain to them why we made the choice not to eat meat. When they are a lot older, it will be up to them what they eat, and as long as they choose a healthy diet, I don't mind if they eat meat - as long as I don't have to prepare it!

Tig - you said it yourself... "Before we were civilised..."

Answer 9

I am a strict vegetarian, and my daughter is a demi vegetarian, i.e. she eats chicken and fish. I imposed this from birth.

The reason I did not impose strict vegetarianism onto her is that I feel it can be an alienating experience for a child - after all as a vegetarian how many times have you been met with a blank look or a tut at parties when you explain you can't eat the carved up cow they are serving?! Never mind at a childrens party at McDonalds or similar no Chicken Nuggets? Social disaster for a child!!! I was also concerned that my daughter would not get sufficient protein and omega 3 without chicken and fish - I think if I had a child again now, I might think differently, with all the excellent Quorn products on the market.

I feel you were very reasonable to allow them to make their own decision, and you shouldn't feel guilty for allowing them meat. Likewise, I don't feel guilty about restricting my daughters diet. Imposing moral beliefs about food is no different to inducting your child, without choice, to a religion.

If I'm honest, I allowed my daughter chicken and fish because I can just about bear to cook them - the thought of being creative with beef or pork just turns my stomach!

You should be congratualted for allowing your children a free choice - good for you, and hopefully your children will grow up to be informed adult or teenagers who can make their own choices.

Answer 10

Tank D you answer is rubbish........know the facts before you place such an answer. 3rd world kids are starving there is a massive difference. Children can live quite adequately on a veggie diet, in fact so can animals. We do not need meat to get all the right vitamins. In answer to the question, I wouldnt give the children meat, they do not need it.