Anyone raising their kids Vegetarian or Vegan?

Question

only serious answers please!

is there anything in particular i should look out for if i plan to raise my kids in a vegetarian diet?

any tips or suggestions..thanks =]

Answer 1

i am a vegetarian. i would say give them fish and make sure they try different kinds and like some because if they dont eat any fish then they will get tired of eating the same thing over and over again. Also make sure they get a lot of protein since they won't be eating meats. Vegetarian cook books have a lot of good tips and recipes. Plus being a vegetarian keeps your weight down. I used to not be a vegetarian and now I am and I have lost some weight because I am not eating heavy meats. Also milk is good. If you are going vegan soy milk can replace milk. Soy milk is really good too!!! Good Luck!

Answer 2

well i dont like meat at all.

and i actually think its gross.

but i mean sometimes it can get out of control.

make sure healthy things are available so your child gets the nutrients that they need. =]]

Answer 3

My kids didn't start out vegetarian, but when I decided to go veg earlier this year, my kids decided it was something they wanted as well. They are 13 and 15. We did a lot of reading and research beforehand.

I would say just be mindful that your child is getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need, and enough calories. Kids require a lot of energy from their food.

Iron from plants is best absorbed with some citrus, so add orange slices or grapefruit segments to spinach salads, etc.

Here's a book that I've been thinking about getting since we are still newbies.

http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Vegetarian...

Also, I give my kids a vitamin supplement just to be on the safe side. I know many don't, but I am choosing to err on the side of caution.

Also, a good place to get input is-

http://www.vegweb.com

There are many veg*n moms on there.

Answer 4

I don't plan on having kids, but if I ever change my mind, I'll probably raise them veg until they're old enough to make their own decisions about food (maybe around kindergarten age, when they'll start experiencing meat-eaters more than before). I don't think I'd be disappointed if they chose not to be veg*ns, as nice as it would be to one day have a completely veg*n home.

I say this only because I was given a choice as a child. My parents are both omnis, and while they never came out and asked if I wanted to be a vegetarian, they never discouraged it and were completely supportive when I made up my mind.

Answer 5

Well, I don't have any kids, but I'm a teenager and I have been vegetarian my entire life.

Nutrition was never a big issue for me. I always drank 2% organic milk until a couple of years ago. (Now I drink soymilk.)

I eat a lot of Mexican and Latin American types of food. I am of Mexican descent, so my family cooks a lot of plain rice and pinto beans. Rice and beans are full of essential protein.

In addition to protein, iron can also be difficult to fully include in a vegetarian diet. Anyone who is vegetarian should eat a lot of vegetables.

Tofu is always great. Chinese restaurants make the best tofu, but you can prepare it at home too, and it's really good.

it's not difficult to be vegetarian, whether you are a kid or an adult.

Answer 6

I raised my kid, vegetarian, he is 12yrs old now.  Very simple.

Frankly speaking, i have no problem raising vegetarian kid.

I not worry about the nutritional needs and i was too busy to read up then, as my theory was he still drank milk and when he was older, i gave him vitamin supplements. I stop the supplement when he was around 6 yrs old at that time there was a recall for certain vit.

And few years back, i switched to 'Pedia Sure' milk for children 1-10yrs (meant for those fussy eaters) just for precaution he lacks anything.

He eats vegetables, fruits, exercise and have a bit of sunshine. Junk foods like soft drinks, chips, candy, chocolates, tibits are control items at home, only one in a blue moon.

Even when we are out dinning, soft drink is never ordered at all, once a while some desserts like ice kacang etc but is shared, So, he doesn't have the habit of munching all these.

On the whole, he grows and is a bubbly and active kid. Brain development for him, is not an issue at all.

Answer 7

My daughter is 20 now and she is vegetarian. I didn’t raised her vegetarian. One day when she was 6 years old she just decided to stop eat meat eggs fish and other stuff like that and never ate it. She goes on fruits and vegetables. Well she does eat milk products (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.) and pasta. She is good in very good health condition. I don’t think human really required to eat meat products.

Though I am not vegetarian, nor my wife, but we are not crazy about meat in our meals. I don’t think anything bad could happened. Just don’t go cookie and candy diet :).