What should I feed my daughter?

Question

I have a one year old daughter (almost 2) and she eats what I eat since im a vegetarian, is that healthy for her? when she gets older should i feed her meats? both me and her father are vegetarians, i dont want to mold her, i want her to decide what she wants to eat when she gets older, has anyone had experiences w/children growing up w/vegetarian families, if not, what do you think i should do?

Answer 1

No child should get to chose what they want to eat. If that was the case most of them would eat cake, chips, cookies and ice cream all day long. As the parents it is your responsibility to mold your daughter. She will be happy and healthy if you continue to feed her a balanced, wholesome diet. There is nothing in hot dogs and chicken nuggets that are essential for a child's well being.

Both of my nieces are vegetarian and they are smart, tall, athletic, healthy and beautiful. They have thrived as vegetarians and so will your daughter. :)

Have you heard of Dreena Burton? She has written two cookbooks and has two young kids and her whole family is vegan. I know her books have alot of kid-friendly ideas - Vive le Vegan and The Everyday Vegan.

Here is her awesome blog:
http://vivelevegan.blogspot.com/

(I know you aren't vegan but I just think she is so great!)

Answer 2

Meat is not necessary for any stage in life. You just need to do some research and find out what her nutritional needs are for that age. My 3 year old neice is the picture of health, she's tall, beautiful, very smart and has never had a drop of meat, milk, dairy products, or eggs in her life. She's not too thin or too chubby, but has the proper amount of baby fat for her age. She's beautiful!!

The nutrition and diet officials have stated that a vegetarian or even vegan diet are appropriate for any stage in life.

As far as letting her have a choice, there's nothing wrong with that. But keep in mind that any wise parent will not let a 2 year old chose what to eat. Why? Because they don't know what's good for them like you do. When the child gets old enough to make intelligent decisions you can feel free to tell her that she may try meat if she wants. If she's been raised without it, she may not like it. So much the bettr for her. A vegetarian diet is much healthier for her.

Answer 3

Like another posted, it's not their decision to make food choices! When they become old enough to handle the ideas of why you are vegetarian and what it does for your health and her's, then she can choose whether it is a path she wants to make for herself. Being vegetarian is a lifestyle, like what religion you choose to be. Say you are Jewish, would you raise your daughter Christian even though you don't believe it is your path to salvation? As for actually feeding her meats, it's not nescessary and as long as you get a whole lot of information under your belt, you can keep her healthy! Just don't load up on the sweets, but if you choose to allow them every now and then, make them whole grain (like some vegan, whole wheat, reduced sugar snickerdoodles). As for my family situation, my husband is not vegetarian by choice, though he has done the research with me and agrees it is healthy (he doesn't want to give up meat and that's cool), so he helps/ supports me raise our children vegetarian for their health and well being!

Answer 4

We go to my husbands parents house almost every sunday and I am CONSTANTLY taking things off n of Charlie that others have given him to eat- they give him all sorts of junk. I'm not against the odd treat but I choose chocolate buttons over jelly sweets and sugar tots etc which are full of E numbers and loads of rubbish. I have been really firm with them but they'll still give him something just before his tea and put him off. My nanna is just the same she'll say-"he took it from me" just stick something in his mouth so I have no idea what she's given him if she's left alone with him for 10 seconds. It makes me really wild!! My son is the type that given an inch will take a mile and I can never get him to eat properly on a Monday because of all the sugar he's had the previous day he's hoping for the same again.

Answer 5

My parents raised my brother and I as vegetarians. We are perfectly healthy. When I was old enough to make my own decisions (around school age), the option to eat meat was given to me. They never pushed their diet choice onto me, but niether did they go out of their way to offer me meat. Oh, and even though I had the choice, I have never wanted to try meat, and am even making the switch to veganism!

Answer 6

Nonsense. For the health of your child she should be a balanced "Veggie". Why feed her things that are bad for her?
Yes you do want to "MOLD" her, if not You, who? Your values are what will make her a good ,decent human being when she grows up. If you allow the world to be her value maker she will be destroyed.
Not just her health but her soul.
When she gets older she made try meats,
& other things at her friend's homes, that's alright too. By then she will have a firm foundation in good health.

Slainté(to your health)

Answer 7

Meat is not necessary, but an eating plan must be well thought out, balanced and sustainable.

I would suggest learning more about food though, not just how to cook it, but about what foods are made of and where they are used in the body.

ive found this is the best way to make your own informed decisions on what to eat.

Its true that kids will eat anything around and heaps of it, just keep lots of good fresh food around and let em go nuts.

Answer 8

my cousins grew up vegetarian and they are extremely healthy - just balance her diet and she should be fine - they were given the choice when they turned 13 whether they wanted to stay vege, i turned vege when i was 10 and am perfectly healthy =) she should be fine =)

Answer 9

Feed her healthy foods. You can feed her meats but don't go overboard. Also don't let her take advantage. Meats once in a while. But to keep her fit feed her veggies.

Answer 10

I would check with your physician and/or a nutritionist. Children's foundational diets are so critical to their present and later health. You could injure your child unknowingly. A balanced moderate diet is always the best.