Young children and vegetarianism?

Question

I want to point out first of all that I do plan on discussing this with her pediatrician next week.

My daughter is 4 years old, beautifully bright, and has determined of her own accord that she does not want to eat animals. I have asked her to eat meat, and she will do it, but she cries quietly the entire time and says she is mourning for the animal. She is not throwing a temper tantrum, she is simply very sympathetic and loving and feels emotions very strongly and maturely for her age.

Will not eating meat deprive her of any nutrients that she needs? And is there anyway to supplement these nutrients another way?

I wish she wouldn't worry about things like this. She worries about everything -- what will happen to the butterflies when its cold, does it hurt the leaves when they fall off the trees ...

Answer 1

You want to be very careful with this. Most children go through a phase where eating animals is repulsive. Personally, if I stop to think about it, I cannot stomach it either. However, giving up animal protein in children is a very dangerous thing to do if you don't normally cook in ways that suppliment the necessary nutrients.

Protein, iron, and certain vitamins (like B12) are important to get from meat. Vitamin B12, in particular, does not naturally occur in anything except animal procucts. However, you can suppliment this with fortefied breakfast cereals and multi-vitamins.

Will your child still drink milk and eat eggs? If so, keep encouraging that. Milk is always important, but in children, eggs can be a vital suppliment for meat. They contain the highest quality animal protein available on the market. If she's balking at the "baby chicken" idea, and if she's old enough to understand, explain to her that storebought eggs really are NOT baby chickens. Since they're not fertalized, they're only the nutrients to FEED baby chickens, like milk, not the babies themselves.

If you can get her to eat eggs, then lay off pushing the meat thing for a while. Just give her lots of eggs and dairy. You can slowly start reintroducing meat in small ways. I personally have a very hard time eating meat that is easily identifiable as animal!

Try to reintroduce using things that are not easy to identify. For instance, don't do "fried chicken". I still have a hard time not gagging when I see people pulling meat from small ribs. I know it's silly, but something in my brain just doesn't like it. Instead, do chicken nuggets, or lunchmeat. Processed lean ham is another good one. It's usually very salty (no iron taste) and has no real striation. You can also do things like tuna fish salad, and small amounts of ground beef. Cook the beef well and season it so that it loses the irony taste.

The most important thing, however, is to not push the issue. If you do, your daughter may begin feeling even more strongly about things, and refuse meat all together. If she won't eat eggs, and won't let you reintroduce small amounts of meat, then there are other options. However, at that point, you will want to make sure she is closely monitored by her doctor. You can implement a true vegetarian diet, but, as other posters have mentioned, getting a 4-year-old to eat alot of the things she would need will be hard. You can also suppliment with pediasure. While this is a good occasional suppliment, you will want to talk to your doctor if you're relying heavily on it.

If all else fails, use babyfood meats. I know this sounds utterly disgusting (and it is) but it can be done. I had a little brother who wouldn't eat any meat because he couldn't chew it well enough to swallow it. The doctor told my parents to start hiding baby food meat in other things, like spaghetti sauce, or vegetable soups. It's amazing how many places you can sneak in pureed things. This method is rather expensive though, and it will alter the taste of foods slightly, so your daughter may get suspiscious.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I agree that she will probably grow out of it, but yes do plan to talk to a pediatrician about it. At this young age, she should be eating a little bit of meat (not a lot if she doesn't like it so you don't have to force her). I am not a vegan, but I don't eat a lot of meat just because I am not too fond of the taste. However I am an animal lover, I just believe that killing of animals should be for food or protection, not hunting for fun. Your daughter will be very well and if she plans to continue this, ask the pediatrician what types of foods you should provide her with so she gets enough protein and nutrients. I believe though there there are some hidden nutrients that are good for the body that only meat contains (and vice versa for the veggies and fruits) Good luck and I hope she becomes very healthy :)

Answer 3

My so has decide on his own accord aswell that he is not a meat eater, or at least not a very big one. he will eat chicken or turkey now and then and he will eat hot dogs on occasion but ever since he was a little baby trying jarred foods that had meat mixed in he could even tell. It is just not his thing. His ped said that if I keep ofering he will take, well you know what it is not a phase he is now 2 and a half and still hates meat. I make sure to give a well balanced diet to him to make sure that he has all of his nutrients, minerals and protein and he is a perfectly healthy little boy by my standards and his peds.

He loves to eat nuts, beans, seeds, eggs, those types of things. I use those as his meat replacements. He has a big appitite for fruits and vegitables and will try any new fruit or veggie I put in front of him. I usually make quasadeas for him with scrambled eggs, cream cheese, salsa, orange peppers. lettuce and tomatoes, grated cheese, and flax seed on whole wheat peta bread. It is his favorite and it gets all of the food groups!


Not eating meat will not deprive her if you make sure to get a meat alternative into her daily. Get a Canada food guide and check out their alternatives and how much a portion is exactly for a toddler so that you can have optoins available and be assured that she is eating right for her choice of lifestyle. One day she might eat meat or this could be who she is.

Answer 4

I believe that people of any age can thrive on a vegetarian diet. With the proper food combinations, and plenty of beans legumes and tofu, she should be fine. I have been a vegetarian for 15 years, and when I was pregnant I had people insist that I must eat meat or the baby would not be healthy. He's two now and he is and has always been fine! He does eat meat now, if his father cooks it, but mostly eats my vegetarian cooking.
All that being said, you could always sneak some animal protein into her food. Most soup-even vegetable, and a lot of sauces contain chicken or beef broth. That way you could be sure she's getting vitamin B12.

Answer 5

Alot of soy products can supplement the protein she needs, and usually if you're giving her a multivitamin, you should have nothing to worry about. I think it's sweet that she's so sympathetic. I think lots of children go through this stage--I did as well, but I was probably six or seven when I decided I wanted to be a vegetarian--and that lasted about a month. I would support her in it completely, since it probably is just a phase anyway. But as long as you plan on speaking to her pediatrician, I don't see the problem in it! Good luck!

Answer 6

Not eating meat absolutely will deprive your child of necessary nutrients. Being a vegetarian or vegan is about a lot more than not eating meat. In order to be a healthy non-meat eater, you have to undertand how proteins work in the body and how to combine foods so that you are eating complete proteins everyday. Just adding beans or tofu isn't enough. You have to consume the right amount, and you have to consume it every day, and this is even more true for children. This can be done, but it takes commitment on your part, and the willingness of your daughter to eat appropriately, which is unlikely for a four year old anyway. Talk to your pediatrician definitely, but I think this is a phase that will pass. Try to find out where her idea came from so you can stop her from watching or listening to whatever it was. Four years old is way too young to start making decisions about one's life. She's supposed to be a child and enjoy her life. She is way too young to be worrying and stressing about food.

Answer 7

Despite what other people are saying, if she is mourning the animal while being forced to eat it- it is not a phase!

I decided that i wanted to be vegetarian when i was 6, and have never changed my mind about it (i am not 18), my parents supported me and i loved them so much more for it
If she feels so strong about it she has probably thought it through A LOT!

One thing she may need when she is older is a protein suppliment but they are not hard to get

Good luck!
xxxxx

Answer 8

I don't think you should ever get into a routine where you are making special meals for one person in the family.
Make the meal, put it out, set a time limit to eat and then take the food away.
Make sure she drinks her milk and takes her multivitamin. She will crave what her body wants.
Don't get into power struggles around food.
If she wants to be vegetarian later when she is doing the cooking and shopping that is fine.
She may be playing you with the sadness bit she is getting a lot of attention for it.
Is she an only child? I know you think she is special and supersensitive but catering to her based on her 'feelings' rather than common sense is going to lead to a lot of problems.

Vegetarianism at that age is often just faddish or temporary.
My daughter who was vegetarian would grab the bacon and say don't tell my friends I ate that.

Answer 9

i do think it is a phase also. Don't change your eating habits, but respect her wishes in this case. Shes showing amazing maturity and compassion here. I think it is really cool, and that kind of thinking should really be encouraged. I would serve her vegetarian meals as longs as she really wants them. Support her through this and just quietly accept it when the phase is over. Talk to your doctor about the dietary considerations, she might need suplements or specific types of foods to make sure she gets enough protein. But the rest of the family shoulld eat regular food.

Answer 10

Don't be worried. She just loves animals and probably thinks that it's wrong to eat animals. I do also but I eat meat only on holidays. Your daughter is at a normal stage with this. My sister also cries if she has to eat meat. I don;t hink that it's a big deal.