As a vegetarian with children? ?

Question

First I am not a vegetarian I will make this a simple question as all my other ones I think out or voice my opinion bunch panties up. I am just wondering

As a vegetarian with children, when you have a child do you introduce your lifestyle to them and let them chose if they want to live it at a certain age, or do you push it on them and never allow them to explore the other food groups?

As a mother, if my children were to decide to be Vegan or Vegetarian I would do all in my power to make them meals they enjoyed with the lifestyle they have chosen, and not to push my meat eating views on them or tell them they should be like me.

Does it work the same way in a vegetarians/vegans household, do you give your children the option regardless if you agree with it or not?

Answer 1

I was raised with a vegetarian mother, and am a vegetarian today.  I have one younger brother and one older brother both who eat meat.  My mom gave us the option but was happier with us not eating meat.  My brothers are big meat lovers and my mom gets sad but she doesn't care and cooks it for him!

Answer 2

You can't force a child to follow a certain diet. None of my money will go towards feeding my son meat, dairy, eggs or any other animal product. I cannot control what they do when I'm not around and they won't be punished for eating something that I  wouldn't feed them.

It's funny because millions of parents force their sons into circumcision but many of those people are worried about vegetarians "forcing" their beliefs on their own children. It's laughable and sickening at the same time.

It's strange, I never see anyone asking Americans if they'll force their beliefs on their children by not feeding them dog meat, silk worm pupae, or balut.

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A vegetarian diet offers just as many options and just as much potential as any other diet, so their is no issue to be discussed when it comes to raising children.

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Yes, those are different countries with different cultures and different standards and I am an individual with my own standards.

Meat isn't food to me just as fried bats aren't food to you.

Answer 3

Push it on them?  Why is it that meat eaters think that vegetarians push their own ideals on their children when they do the same thing by feeding their children meat?  Parents raise their children usually by the same ideals that they practice.    

I can ask the same regarding parents bringing their kids to church..isn't that pushing too according to your logic?

Answer 4

I do not have any children but if I do have any in the future I will raise them vegan.  It's not forcing it upon them anymore than forcing kids to eat meat is.  Actually babies are born natural vegetarians, they don't get any meat until months or a year down the road.

As a meat-eater you have different ethics and morals when it comes to animals than vegetarians/vegans do.  If your child were to say one day that they were vegetarian/vegan you would prepare them those foods.  BUT, if my child came to me and said they were a meat-eater I would still make them vegan food at home because I am opposed to eating or preparing animal products.  You probably don't have any morals against making a spinach salad but I do have morals against making a rack of lamb or pork roast.

Edit: No you are still raising them to eat meat.  That is something you force onto them like any diet really, including vegetarianism.  Pediatricians are a very bad source for nutritional information.  I would consult a qualified nutritionist if I were you.

Answer 5

I would say that parents should raise children to whatever diet they are following.  Once the child is old enough to decide, he/she should make a choice and the parents should support it.