vegetarians? would you feed your children meat?

Question

would you feed them meat, or not?
or would you feed them meat and let them make up their minds?

i dont have children yet, but when i do, i will NOT feed them meat, and when they turn 13ish, they will be discouraged from eating meat, i feel that meat is the same as smoking in the long run, and i would not let my children have a choice to smoke, i would STRONGLY discourage it.
alot of good answers out there.

Answer 1

I'm their mother for a reason and that is to make the best decisions for them. If I am aware of the horrors involved in the meat industry I see no reason to keep them ignorant about it. How good is it to know something is wrong and do nothing about it just because is the normal thing to do?

We have been vegan for a few years and my kids enjoy many benefits such as feeling better, less disease and increased athletic performance.

By teaching my children to not take the lives of animals for granted, even in the casual sense, I hope to inspire in them a deeper respect and love for our fellow earth-mates.

Answer 2

Billie B, there's a difference between Vegan and Vegetarian. Vegans do not eat or drink ANY animal products, while Vegetarians may eat eggs, dairy products and drink cow milk. Some vegetarians even will eat fish. With that said, it really does depend on the reasons for vegetarianism. If the parents are vegetarians to be healthier people as a whole, then no, they wouldn't feed their children meat, or would probably feed them very small amounts. If the parents are vegetarian and it's because due to some medical reason that they cannot properly process red or white meat, then they MAY prepare meat for their children. I used to have a low tolerance for meat products and as a child was not able to eat alot of meat, it would make me have.. digestive issues to put it politely. Even now I can't eat alot of meat. If I were to become a vegetarian, I wouldn't enforce that on my kids, especially if it's a medical problem that I have and that they don't. Of course some parents would probably not feed them meat anyway, to save themselves the hassle of preparing almost two different meals, especially if they use a meat substitute like tofu for themselves or something. If it's due to religious reasons or personal beliefs then no, parents generally do not feed their children meat, since they would probably want their children to have the same religious or personal beliefs as them.

Answer 3

At first I was thinking "Let them eat meat and then they make their own decision". I decided to ask people on here and one response changed my mind. I would be supporting the meat industry by buying meat for them, and I would never want to do that.

So they will grow up vegetarian and when they get to the age of 13 (when I became a vegetarian) they will be able to decide if they want to eat meat. They will only be able to eat it at someone elses house or buy it for themselves.

Answer 4

I don't feed my children meat because I don't know how to cook it and my husband and I don't eat it.
When they are older and they decide that they want to try it I'll buy them some free range organic meat and prepare it the best way I can.
I want my kids to be healthy. I want them to enjoy and crave fresh fruits and veggies for the rest of there lives but they are there own people and I can't be close minded about choices they make as young adults.

Answer 5

Personally, I would not feed them meat. It is a huge misconception that meat is really good for you and is necessary. Both of those are incorrect. The only thing that meat contains that is not found anywhere else is B12. It is necessary to have that, but beyond B12, there is really no reason to eat meat (IMHO). I would give them the choice after a certain age, but if they chose to eat meat, they would be on their own.

Answer 6

I'm vegan, I dont have kids now, but if I ever do they will be raised vegan.

Your question : "...or would you feed them meat and let them make up their minds?" isnt very logical. People always choose what their kids eat. If I fed them with meat, I'd be making a choice for them to be meat eaters. Eating meat is also a choice but you seem to have missed that part.. Children are not old enough to decide what is good for them.

I may as well raise them with what I believe with my whole heart and mind is the best diet. And on top of that, I would teach them to be compassionate. When they're old enough to make their own choices I wouldnt be able to stop them from eating meat, of course. But no one eats it under my roof.

Answer 7

Well since I don't eat meat, I would not be cooking meat for them to eat... I would rather raise a vegan child, But I would not control my children to that point. When the kid ate out at friends houses, and stuff like that, I wouldn't mind them eating meat, But at my house they would be vegans. And when they were old enough to cook, If they really wanted to eat it, I guess I would let them cook it themselves...(I would get them their own "meat" pan and "meat" plates...lol) So I would let them make up their mind when the time came, But I would raise them vegan, simply because In my opinion it is healthier, and because I don't cook meat.

Answer 8

that's a really good question. I'm sixteen so I'm obviously not having kids for a while, but i have thought about this. i dont know what i would do honestly! i would want to give my kids a choice as to whether they want to live a vegan lifestyle or not, but i wouldn't be able to bring myself to purchase the meat for them, since that would be supporting the industry that I'm so against. maybe i would raise them vegan, teach them all i know about the dairy, meat and egg industry, and then when they are old enough to cook and buy their own food, I'd let them decide how they wanted to eat.

Answer 9

Thats actually a tough question with many variables.If it were me and i had children (i am a vegetarian) I would raise him or her as my own and by my beliefs and then when they are old enough to be taught and explained everything as long as they understand i would let them make the descision when they are old enough.I was raised my two meat eaters who gave me meat as a child it wasnt until i was 12 i made the descision to be vegetarian i wish i had never eaten meat though my childhood.Personally I say raise them to your own beliefs they are your children then when they are old enough let them decide for themselves and respect there descisions.

Answer 10

Well if i ever have kids i wont feed them meat as babies, but if they want to try meat or eat it then ill let them make up their own minds.