Opinions on vegetarian Kids...?

Question

I am a vegetarian and have been for 2 yrs (since my child was born) Her father continous to eat meat when he feels like it, ie, when he has a hangover lol. I dont mind, its his choice.

Anyway, My daughter eats whatever i eat throught the week- always veggy. I also give her meats eg, cold meats, McDs cheeseburger and nuggets etc... As I am frightened she wont be gettin all the right enery and vitimins etc. I have been concidering giving her a meat-free diet for a few months.

Any tips on what food to give her that will give her all the essentials? Oh.. She loves spinach! so thats a good start. Also, if anyone thinks i should continue giving her meat, feel free to post!!

Thanks

May I also Add... There is a few people that have said MCds is bad etc... Of course i understand that. My daughter get a Mcds once in a blue moon. Once a month or something. Incase anyone thinks thats all she eats. I dont cook any meat so thats really the only meat she eats and its very very rare

Answer 1

My kids were raised vegetarian (almost entirely dairy/egg free also) until their teen years without any diet related health problems (just the normal kid sicknesses). Considering the current problems with the meat supply (antibiotic resistant E. Coli, Salmonella, Ptomaine, Prions) I'd say she'd be better off on a vegetarian diet.

Any normal balanced veggie diet is more than adequate for children! Look through Amazon or Abebooks and you'll find several books with complete 'how-to' instructions on raising a veggie kid.

Answer 2

Maybe you should consider "real" meat and not McD's stuff, if you think eating meat is good for her.
For a balanced nutrition you should bring her to her doctor and talk about nutrition tables and such stuff... Anyway, there is not much difference in the final result... My best friend when I was a kid was a vegan, and he never had any health problems. My brother was raised as a convinced meat-eater and never had any health problems (I am allergic to meat, so I won't pull myself into this).

If you feel she shouldn't eat meat, then you should balance her diet finding substitues (ex. beans), and explain your child why you have chosen to be vegetarian, and why her father prefers to eat meat, so she can chose when she's older (if she's 2 now, I guess she really can't chose on her own, lol). If she wants to eat meat or try some, tell her she's free to (at other friends' houses, in school, etc), it'll surely help her.
The biggest problem in being a vegan/vegetarian kid, is hate from other people who do not understand and are not open to different choices and lifestyles (other kids usually are simply very curious, at least where I grew up). Let your child be free to chose when she's older. For now, stick to what is healthiest for her, be it meat or veggies.

Answer 3

It's all about personal choice.. There's no right or wrong decision here.

My sister in law brought her first daughter up as a vegetarian and she pretty much stayed that way, and only rarely eats meat now. Later when her sons were born, she decided be more relaxed and give them a bit of everything and let them decide when they were old enough to figure out what they liked. I think this was a better option as they got to make the choice for themselves, and they have grown up pretty healthy and liking vegies, fruit, meat (but not burgers) and of course pizza! (like every kid does)

She'll be fine as long as you give her a balance, even without any meat in her diet as long as you make sure she's getting enough protein etc, then you're doing all the right things as a mother.

Answer 4

Both my daughters have been veggie since birth (16 and 13 years respectively) they are both energetic, intelligent, normal kids. I've been veggie for 20 odd years and my wife 35.

Just cook fresh and sensible, my girls loved red peppers (especially the long pointed sweet variety) cucumber sticks, advacado is a massive source of protein, and banana are good as well. Cheeses, eggs, and Quorn which is a micromushroom is used to create meat like dishes that you can all eat. Oh yes and if she already likes spinach, then other greens will go down well too.

Look at the veggie society site for help and tips. Going veggie is healthy and easy - just apply common sense.

Answer 5

A vegetarian diet can give your daughter all she needs provided it is well balanced. Fresh fuits and vegetables, nuts seeds and pulses for protein, grains and cereals for carbs, milk and cheese.
A great tip for school/nursery snacks etc dried fruits rasins sultanas or apricots tend to go down well.
As she gets a little older educate her as to why you choose not to eat meat but always give her the option, she might want to try it at some point, but at least you will have done your best for her.
If you want more help with her diet the vegetarian society is great or your GP with be able to offer advice.
Good luck

Answer 6

I am a vegetarian have been for 29 years now when I had my daughter I decided to raise her as an vegetarian until she could decide for herself . In fact she never tasted any meat until she was 5 .. She did try for a short time sausages chicken and burgers but decided that she preferred not to eat them again.11 years later she is still a vegetarian by choice Our diet is varied includes lots of vegetables fruit,soya ,rice pasta and dairy .We also take a multi vitamin tablet .

I would recommend a vegetarian diet for any child or adult but never force it upon them .

Answer 7

As some people have already said bringing up vegetarian kids is quite fine.

Here are some guidelines -

Vegetarian or vegan infants and children
****************************************************

Breast milk or modified baby milk should provide sufficient nutrients for the baby until the age of 4 - 6 months. Solid foods should then be introduced gradually. Vitamin drops should be given from the age of one month to two years and preferably until five years of age.

If no foods of animal origin are to be eaten, either vitamin B12 supplement or a food fortified with vitamin B12 (soy milk) should be given.

Weaning at 4 - 6 months

Foods should be introduced one at a time, and the quantities gradually increased. Suitable first foods include:

* Baby rice and water or baby milk.
* Smooth puree of vegetables, eg. carrots.
* Smooth puree of fruit, eg. apple, pear or apricot.

If the baby is thirsty it can be given boiled cold water or very dilute unsweetened fruit juice. No sugar or salt should be added to babies food.

Continue weaning 5 - 7 months

New foods can be introduced one at a time. Suitable foods include:

* Well cooked, pureed pulses, eg. lentils and split peas.
* Pureed root vegetables.
* Pureed brown rice, brown rice flour and water or baby rice.
* Mixtures of pulses, vegetables and/or rice puree.
* Pureed stewed fruit or well mashed banana.

No sugar or salt should be used added to food and salt free stock should be used in cooking.

At about six months the baby, under close supervision, can be given wedges of apple, sticks of carrot or baked wholemeal bread to encourage chewing.

Some commercial baby foods are suitable for vegetarian or vegan babies. These are fortified with some vitamins and minerals.

7 - 9 months

The baby should still be having 1 pint of milk or equivalent each day. If cows' milk is not taken, boiled goats' milk or a soy milk substitute may be used, but not until the baby is eating a variety of other foods and not without consulting a doctor or health visitor. Foods can now be minced or finely chopped and new foods can be introduced. Suitable foods include:

* Wholegrain breakfast cereals and porridge.
* Cheese (grated or finely chopped, cottage), yoghurts and eggs (if eaten).
* Wholemeal bread.
* Brown rice.
* Well cooked pasta.
* A variety of vegetables.
* Fruit (grated, chopped or stewed, including cooked dried fruit).
* Tofu
* Pulses and beans - well cooked and mashed or pureed, given with cereal food such as rice or bread.

9 - 12 months

At this stage most babies will be eating three meals a day. Most of the family's foods will be suitable and a wide variety of foods, flavors and textures should be encouraged. However, spicy, fatty foods and whole nuts should be avoided. At least 1 pint of milk or milk substitute should be consumed daily.

In order to get the best nutritional value from foods, it is essential that a mixture of foods is eaten at each meal.

Breakfast.
Wholegrain breakfast cereal
and milk or milk substitute
and wholemeal bread or toast and margarine.

Lunch.
Mashed bean stew and rice
or lentil and vegetable soup and bread
or mashed nut roast
and vegetables, cooked or raw
and fruit, yoghurt or milk pudding.

Dinner.
Wholemeal bread and margarine
and cheese, lentil pate or peanut butter
and vegetable or bean soup
and salad, vegetables
and fruit, yoghurt or milk pudding.

Answer 8

that is coming from a baby's attitude. properly, my mom loves all form of meat yet my dad is a vegan, so as that they wanting to augment me only eating hen and fish (no beef). ultimately they presented me to new meat yet i assumed all of it tasted like sh*t so i finished up being a vegetarian interior the end! :D the secret's to introduce little ones slowly and be supportive no count number number what they go with. only verify they recognize diverse life and diets are available in for them and enable them recognize the experts/cons of each and every selection. in my view i'm no longer gonna cook dinner meat for my little ones only because i go with them to "have a call." i locate useless animals disgusting to sniff, cook dinner, flavor, or maybe seem at, so i don't have that in my domicile. in the experience that they wanna bypass to Taco Bell to get meat, at their acquaintances domicile or maybe as they turn 18 they could be able to do this yet save it remote from me if I even ought to the contact it! If i'm their mom who's a vegetarian why ought to I spend money helping slaughterhouses if i'm adverse to them? Meh. i imagine that i ought to quite boost them to devour healthy vegetarian than devour all that greasy meat from quick nutrition places in view that I refuse to cook dinner meat myself.

Answer 9

A vegetarian diet is perfectly acceptable for children. I have been vegetarian all my life [60++ years!] and survived. The Vegetarian Society could give you information if you want

Answer 10

http://www.goveg.com/lettuce.asp

at the bottom, there is a link that says 'read more'. This site is a sister site to PETA and is very helpful with any meat free questions. i hope this will answer your question