Parents of vegetarian/vegan kids: Have they been positively/negatively affected?

[Anonymous]

Some of these PPs are absolutely bonkers. I'd wager they are also the kind to push their religious beliefs on others, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of these PPs are absolutely bonkers. I'd wager they are also the kind to push their religious beliefs on others, too.

And the other side seems like ignorant racist ones that can't be bothered to change their lifestyle for the good of others. Right?!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I will never understand this all-or-nothing attitude about vegetarianism. Why can’t people eat less meat or almost none but not be so militant about it? Do they need the capital V Vegetarian label? Choose to not eat meat, don’t join a cult. If someone makes soup with chicken stock or someone puts jello in a dessert, eat it if you want to. If you try to live your life in such a moral black & white way, you will fail at every turn.

I am a life long vegetarian. I am raising my kid the same way because, like any other parenting decision, you want your kid to choose the healthier/ better choice.

I welcome your choice to limit your meat intake and not become a vegetarian, but how does my kinder choice make me 'militant'? The ones eating meat are responsible for terrorizing and slaughter of millions of animals. So maybe you should be asking yourself - why be so militant about food? When there are so many other options available in this day and age. I haven't tried to convert anyone to vegetarianism in my life, everyone gets to choose what they want, but since you asked - your food choice is taking away a life for every single meal you consume. So get off your high horse!

What is this moral black and white you are talking about?? Is little bit of racism ok, how about a tiny amount of sexism? Or, you think its ok to just assault someone as long as you are not raping or killing them?? coz black & white way yo!

Wow. Firstly, humans evolved to eat meat. Secondly, tons of field mice are killed when vegetables are harvested. In your world view, are their lives less meaningful than a pig or a cow?

Lol! The same old excuses! We also used to live in huts and jungles and cook using fire pits and guess what else - no internet, or suburban housing or branded clothes or modern medicine either When are you planning on going back to that? Huh?

It’s time to evolve and be kind to Earth and our fellow beings. I am not asking you to change anything about your lifestyle, go ahead and continue to carry on the cycle. But you don’t have any logical legs to justify it. Atleast be aware of the environmental and humane cost of it before you come and argue about it. As for the field mice - I’d repeat, please go ahead and educate yourself and compare the impact of factory farmed animals vs crops.

That’ll be the real ‘wow’ moment. And please, you can keep your fake ‘sadly’ for the mice to yourself. As if you really care!

You know not everyone eats factory farmed meat, right? I don’t eat much meat, but when I do it’s because DH went to the farmer’s market and bought something from a small local farm where the animals are well cared for and humanely killed.

PP, do you eat almonds farmed in California? Drink almond milk? Ever eat a banana? Or heaven forbid an apple in the spring? Do you fly on airplanes? Do you have a pet? Have you ever been to a zoo? Ever eat something with palm oil or even just sugar? Do you drink coffee? Your moral rigidity is not doing you any favors because now if you’re guilty of any of these things, you are making decisions that harm the environment. And personally, I think killing thousands of animals and hurting the health of millions of humans because thousands of acres of rainforest were destroyed for your “plant-based” diet is worse than killing one cow in West Virginia. That pair of jeans you got from H&M? Well the dye they used is destroying the oceans and killing marine life. Have you ever used a plastic straw? (Good lord!) The fact of your very existence is harmful to animals. Slap yourself on the back for not eating animals, but judging others when you are just as guilty of moral transgressions is disgusting.

And I am sure you do each and every thing that that you listed too. So, all that on top of meat & other animal products. You do the math! I get life is hard and being plant based in one more thing to deal with on top of all our problems. We can’t live while doing zero harm, but we sure can try to minimize the damage we do.

All of us on this post are really privatized and among the top few percentages in the world. A middle class person here lives like a king compared to a large part of human population around the world. And those poor people are the ones that don’t get to enjoy the benefits of this age of over-consumption but surely are the first ones to face the damages. Same for the animals too, their habitats are being destroyed every day. We think those things will never reach us and we are safe in our bubble. But someday it will, if not us then our children. We worry so much about our kids, and every small need that they have. What about the children everywhere? What about the small baby animals that are snatched away from their mothers and slaughtered? It’s all very heavy and it’s difficult to change. You don’t have to give up all your meat but please atleast open your mind. And the rest will follow.

recognize your privilege.

This is a strange response. The point of the post was that everyone is complicit in the suffering of animals and environmental damage. So while I think it’s great you eat ZERO meat, I will eat a local steak or some responsibly farmed fish every once in a while. You may take flights or drive a car, I don’t drive anywhere or travel much but I am not going to judge you and rant about your ethics. What I will do is point out your hypocrisy if you want to throw stones. Baby steps and small change is how you better the world. Not joining some club with rigid rules. Maybe not eating animals products is the thing you choose but for someone else they may choose to live in a smaller home or take the train or buy second hand or have less children. You sound incredibly naive and unaware of the complexities of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will never understand this all-or-nothing attitude about vegetarianism. Why can’t people eat less meat or almost none but not be so militant about it? Do they need the capital V Vegetarian label? Choose to not eat meat, don’t join a cult. If someone makes soup with chicken stock or someone puts jello in a dessert, eat it if you want to. If you try to live your life in such a moral black & white way, you will fail at every turn.

I am a life long vegetarian. I am raising my kid the same way because, like any other parenting decision, you want your kid to choose the healthier/ better choice.

I welcome your choice to limit your meat intake and not become a vegetarian, but how does my kinder choice make me 'militant'? The ones eating meat are responsible for terrorizing and slaughter of millions of animals. So maybe you should be asking yourself - why be so militant about food? When there are so many other options available in this day and age. I haven't tried to convert anyone to vegetarianism in my life, everyone gets to choose what they want, but since you asked - your food choice is taking away a life for every single meal you consume. So get off your high horse!

What is this moral black and white you are talking about?? Is little bit of racism ok, how about a tiny amount of sexism? Or, you think its ok to just assault someone as long as you are not raping or killing them?? coz black & white way yo!

Wow. Firstly, humans evolved to eat meat. Secondly, tons of field mice are killed when vegetables are harvested. In your world view, are their lives less meaningful than a pig or a cow?

Lol! The same old excuses! We also used to live in huts and jungles and cook using fire pits and guess what else - no internet, or suburban housing or branded clothes or modern medicine either When are you planning on going back to that? Huh?

It’s time to evolve and be kind to Earth and our fellow beings. I am not asking you to change anything about your lifestyle, go ahead and continue to carry on the cycle. But you don’t have any logical legs to justify it. Atleast be aware of the environmental and humane cost of it before you come and argue about it. As for the field mice - I’d repeat, please go ahead and educate yourself and compare the impact of factory farmed animals vs crops.

That’ll be the real ‘wow’ moment. And please, you can keep your fake ‘sadly’ for the mice to yourself. As if you really care!

You know not everyone eats factory farmed meat, right? I don’t eat much meat, but when I do it’s because DH went to the farmer’s market and bought something from a small local farm where the animals are well cared for and humanely killed.

PP, do you eat almonds farmed in California? Drink almond milk? Ever eat a banana? Or heaven forbid an apple in the spring? Do you fly on airplanes? Do you have a pet? Have you ever been to a zoo? Ever eat something with palm oil or even just sugar? Do you drink coffee? Your moral rigidity is not doing you any favors because now if you’re guilty of any of these things, you are making decisions that harm the environment. And personally, I think killing thousands of animals and hurting the health of millions of humans because thousands of acres of rainforest were destroyed for your “plant-based” diet is worse than killing one cow in West Virginia. That pair of jeans you got from H&M? Well the dye they used is destroying the oceans and killing marine life. Have you ever used a plastic straw? (Good lord!) The fact of your very existence is harmful to animals. Slap yourself on the back for not eating animals, but judging others when you are just as guilty of moral transgressions is disgusting.

And I am sure you do each and every thing that that you listed too. So, all that on top of meat & other animal products. You do the math! I get life is hard and being plant based in one more thing to deal with on top of all our problems. We can’t live while doing zero harm, but we sure can try to minimize the damage we do.

All of us on this post are really privatized and among the top few percentages in the world. A middle class person here lives like a king compared to a large part of human population around the world. And those poor people are the ones that don’t get to enjoy the benefits of this age of over-consumption but surely are the first ones to face the damages. Same for the animals too, their habitats are being destroyed every day. We think those things will never reach us and we are safe in our bubble. But someday it will, if not us then our children. We worry so much about our kids, and every small need that they have. What about the children everywhere? What about the small baby animals that are snatched away from their mothers and slaughtered? It’s all very heavy and it’s difficult to change. You don’t have to give up all your meat but please atleast open your mind. And the rest will follow.

recognize your privilege.

This is a strange response. The point of the post was that everyone is complicit in the suffering of animals and environmental damage. So while I think it’s great you eat ZERO meat, I will eat a local steak or some responsibly farmed fish every once in a while. You may take flights or drive a car, I don’t drive anywhere or travel much but I am not going to judge you and rant about your ethics. What I will do is point out your hypocrisy if you want to throw stones. Baby steps and small change is how you better the world. Not joining some club with rigid rules. Maybe not eating animals products is the thing you choose but for someone else they may choose to live in a smaller home or take the train or buy second hand or have less children. You sound incredibly naive and unaware of the complexities of life.

Did your ‘local steak’ said it was ok to kill them, since you live in a small house with no kids and don’t travel anywhere and never eat any restaurant that doesn’t use your local farmer. Did it hurt them less to be killed for your lunch? I bet the fish loved dying for a gentle soul like you. What sacrifices you make. Bravo!

The response is not strange, it’s just bouncing off your closed mind. With all those points you make, all you are doing is deflecting. What’s complex about saying I will not eat meat? Whatever excuses you make for it- are exactly the same ones made my oppressors for centuries who despite ample evidence choose to value their own comfort and conditioning above others.

Lol! Is there a rigid club I need to join? Damn, I missed my badge. Well, you did say I was naive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a lifelong vegetarian. My son was veg until 5 when someone offered him pepperoni pizza. He hasn't looked back since and its been 5 years. He knows what meat is, because we've always been very matter of fact about it. He made a choice and its ok.

My advice is to ok w/whatever your kid chooses to do regarding meat / dairy.

Similar thing happened to us but I told my son he was eating Peppa pig's family That put a quick stop to the pepperoni pizza eating. I don't think little kids really understand what meat is and where it comes from unless you grow up in a farm or something.

This is so cruel, and I feel bad for your children. I take my kid to a farm, he puts two and two together that the chicken he's looking at "is like the chicken we eat for dinner" and I just say yes. It's up to him whether he wants to keep eating it, anything more than that simple "yes" is brainwashing/borderline child abuse. Just wait until your kid is old enough to understand what you're doing/what you've done.

Not the previous poster, but LOL! Talk about some cognitive dissonance. You think a kid eating plant-based is cruel, what do think happens in slaughterhouses?

Trumpers who teach their kids hate, that's exactly the logic they use. I, me, mine before all. My taste-buds before lives. My protein has be easy and cheap. I am not going to change blah..blah..blah!

No, the point was that it's cruel to say you're eating peppa pig's family. Just say you're eating that pig you saw at the farm. It's the peppa pig family part that's cruel, but congrats to you for finding a way to mention trump, I guess.

NP here and you do you PP but try not to be a hypocrite with your cruelty spiel unless you are actually eating the humanely raised pig you saw at the farm. Not many people get to interact with live pigs in a farm. For most families the meat aisle and on tv is going to be the closest thing.

I actually do; I live in new england. Farms abound. Some of us meat eaters are actually conscious of the terrible system you all preach against, but also see supporting local farmers as a way to eat meat without contributing to said system.

Why aren’t YOU preaching about it if you have first hand knowledge of how horrible it is? If it’s unfair and terrible then it’s unfit and terrible. You still choose to support it for the sake of the farmers. They can find other things to farm, the animals that are killed daily under shameful conditions, they have no choice. We have to speak for them because you choose to comply with the wrong doers.

[Anonymous]

Just adding my 2 cents. We chose to raise our kids vegan. Once they were about 4 we noticed significant behavioral issues arising- not listening, aggressive behavior, etc. all our kids have been very skinny, not quite enough to for the Doctor to be concerned, but different form what I was like as a kid.

Now we have introduced yoghurt/ cheese and am looking at adding meat on a limited basis. We tried so hard to feed them healthy vegan food, but now I feel so guilty that we basically starved them. Recently got them tested and the Dr confirmed very low levels of vitamin D, magnesium and iron.

As an adult I will stay vegan. But I really regret trying to raise Vegan kids.

[Anonymous]

I decided not to eat meat/seafood when I was around 15 yo, when I saw people kill animal at market. I still eat eggs so I’m not a “pure” vegetarian. Originally I didn’t plan to have my kids become vegetarians, but the made the choices not to because they love animals too. At home you can easily avoid meat/seafood ( I keep mention seafood is because I was offered seafood when I ordered at restaurant from time to time), while eating outside you sometime have very limited options but you still can ask for not to add meat or eat side dish instead). For school lunch they do have no meat option but my kid complained when it’s her turn only pepperoni cheese pizza left so she just ate the side, so we just have kids bring lunch. If your kids want to be vegetarians it’s great, but if they don’t then you can at least let them eat what they want outside the house. I used to have a classmate she ate beef outside house secretly even their parents didn’t allow it.

[Anonymous]

I grew up vegetarian in the 90s (and am still a vegetarian). It wasn’t difficult then, though I had to explain as I got older to people that I didn’t eat meat (which was my own choice to continue as I got old enough). I didn’t recall it leading to issues. I do remember that we had “hot dog day” at school a few times (which…eww) and I had to bring my own lunch.

It’s super easy now in comparison! It’s truly amazing how eating has changed here and around the world. I was a vegetarian even when I worked in and traveled for international development and people were a little more skeptical of choosing not to eat meat.

I’m going to let my own kids choose but I won’t buy or make meat at our house.

[Anonymous]

My oldest is in her mid-20's and been vegetarian since she was six years old. I don't think she feels left out. She used to eat before or after attending a BBQ and just eat sides while there (slices of tomato, pickles, chips, etc.) but then she started asking "Could I bring a veggie burger for you to grill for me?" and nobody has ever said no. Even steakhouses have vegetarian options.

[Anonymous]

I have been vegetarian since college and am raising my 3 boys vegetarian. One has recently become vegan. Husband became vegetarian when he met me; he too is trying with my eldest son to become vegan.

We have never had issues. "We are vegetarian " is what the kids learned to say when younger; now it seems half their friends are vegetarians.

We must be good cooks as the neighborhood kids like to stop by and have a veggie snack pretty darned often!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will never understand this all-or-nothing attitude about vegetarianism. Why can’t people eat less meat or almost none but not be so militant about it? Do they need the capital V Vegetarian label? Choose to not eat meat, don’t join a cult. If someone makes soup with chicken stock or someone puts jello in a dessert, eat it if you want to. If you try to live your life in such a moral black & white way, you will fail at every turn.

So bizarre you felt compelled to write this here. And that you cannot fathom that other people have different morals and beliefs that guide them.

Really? Seems like being less rigid would make OP’s problem go away. It would also attract millions more to vegetarian meals which will be necessary to save the planet.

OP isn't really "being rigid" though. In fact I'd say that the poster who felt the need to post a lecture comparing a single sentence about a vegetarian diet to "having a capitol V label" " joining a cult" etc is probably the rigid one here. A mere mention of someone not eating meat sent them into a tizzy.

BTW get used to this OP. Some people feel really threatened over the mere existence of vegetarian / vegan diets, while insisting that you are the hysterical one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just adding my 2 cents. We chose to raise our kids vegan. Once they were about 4 we noticed significant behavioral issues arising- not listening, aggressive behavior, etc. all our kids have been very skinny, not quite enough to for the Doctor to be concerned, but different form what I was like as a kid.

Now we have introduced yoghurt/ cheese and am looking at adding meat on a limited basis. We tried so hard to feed them healthy vegan food, but now I feel so guilty that we basically starved them. Recently got them tested and the Dr confirmed very low levels of vitamin D, magnesium and iron.

As an adult I will stay vegan. But I really regret trying to raise Vegan kids.

Why not do vegetarian?

[Anonymous]

I am vegan at home, but I let it go when I go out or when I am invited to other people’s houses. This works well for me. Could you do something similar with your child?

[Anonymous]

This is over a year old. By now OP has probably tried a vegan diet, felt like crap after a few months, and went back to eating meat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am considering a vegetarian/vegan diet.

My coworker grew up vegetarian and she told me that she sometimes felt left out because she couldn't have some foods at friends' houses, had limited options at restaurants or college dining hall, etc. Did your kids have experiences that were positive, negative, or both?

Thanks.

My child chose a vegetarian diet for herself in second grade. We were omnivores. Maybe because of our community, it was rarely a big deal. Most parties featured a vegetarian option for vegetarians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus anyway. We had many more issues for my two kids with food allergies.