Vegetarian Children- Curious

[badcramps]

No kids yet. We'll see what happens when they come along since I am a vegetarian and my wife eats meat.

But OP--IMO you have no idea what you are talking about in terms of children's diets and necessary nutrients. Convince me otherwise. (Not that I'm being argumentative or anything.)

 

[amandamims]

No kids yet. We'll see what happens when they come along since I am a vegetarian and my wife eats meat.

But OP--IMO you have no idea what you are talking about in terms of children's diets and necessary nutrients. Convince me otherwise. (Not that I'm being argumentative or anything.)

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I appreciate everyone's responses to my question...

a family member is a veggie person (no meats, cheeses, or eggs) and she has a toddler. She does allow her to eat meat, but it is often accompanied by negative words about the meat. I can see her daughter switching when she gets older.

I was raised in a family where meat is the most important part of the meal. Yes, I will be the first to admit I am rather ignorant on this subject. That is why I turn to you, the good people of Disboards, for enlightenment!

 

[Sorsha]

a family member is a veggie person (no meats, cheeses, or eggs) and she has a toddler. She does allow her to eat meat, but it is often accompanied by negative words about the meat. I can see her daughter switching when she gets older.

Wow - this seems extremely counter-productive to me. Why would she give the child a food to eat, but then use negative words to make the child feel bad about eating it??!? Talk about eating disorder in the making...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

answers in red

To those of you who have children, specifically younger than 10, who are vegetarians, how did this come about? My oldest was a vegetarian from birth (except what she got via nursing) until about age 5? We tried the jarred baby food meat. Yuck! And I tried some meat, but she did not like it at all. Her doctor was a vegetarian and he said there was no need to press this issue. He was also my doctor and knew that I ate meat...so no agenda or anything. He was just educating me that it wasn't necessary. Around 4 or 5, she began chicken....I Don't really remember the age. Just that she really wouldn't eat anything for the longest time. She did eat dairy and eggs. Then she started chicken. Just recalled that she did try salmon at age 4. Anyway...and then around 6 or 7 or something, she finally gave red meet a try. She wants to actually go to eating as a vegetarain again. The problem is, that she tends to be picky about the standard fare of the vegetarian. So that gets tricky. She doesn't like beans. But she does enjoy nuts and I would have to educate her on the foods with protein.

Are you a vegetarian?No--I could be, but choose not to. I like the taste of animal products too much. But I have no problem with all of the health vegetarian options that allow for getting your protein and all of your other nutrients.

How do you feel about the lack of animal protein in their diet?There is only 1 vitamin that you cannot get without consuming animal. There are schools of thought that says it isn't even necessary. For those that feel it is, you take a vitamin. I forget which one--it is one of the B-vitamins. Everything else is available in some way shape or form by other means. (Been a while since I read this in the Super Baby Food cookbook and my copy was loaned and never returned.)

What do you do to ensure the child is getting proper nutrition? I educated myself on the proper diet of a vegetarian. I have known vegetarians that ate craptastically.

And, who made this decision? The child or the parents?Child was born that way--but over time changed. Now it is her decision on whether to go back. The only catch is I will not make an entirely separate meal. But I will sub her protein source that is of similar preparation. I.e. a veggie burger for a hamburger as an example, although not the best example.


My personal opinion: these children are missing out on some vital nutrients during their growing years. People were meant to be omnivores.And that is an opinion. It, of course, isn't factual.

Convince me otherwise, if you disagree with me.Gave it my best effort. But what you really need to do is proper research to educate yourself on the notion if this is what you really want to understand. I had my time period where I was convinced of what you believe. But merely reading about nutrition helped with that. The only exceptions I have heard of is some women needing to add a little fish to their diet in their later years. I think I recall an interview with Philisha Rashad, I think...(Mom from Cosby Show). I think it was her. Anyway, she reluctantly added fish after carefully researching what her Doctor was saying. I'm not sure if she still eats fish. You should also know that there are entire cultures where they are vegetarian and their children grow up fine.

(No, this was not meant to be argumentive; I simply am astounded when I read about children who are vegetarians. I assume this is more of a teenager or grow up to be a hippy choice)

The family member with the toddler--why on earth would they allow her to eat meat if they would do that. Bizarre!

 

[pensgirl10]

I appreciate everyone's responses to my question...

a family member is a veggie person (no meats, cheeses, or eggs) and she has a toddler. She does allow her to eat meat, but it is often accompanied by negative words about the meat. I can see her daughter switching when she gets older.

That is just....bizarre. The parent is in charge of what the toddler eats so if she doesn't want the little one to eat meat, why does she give it to her? That would healthier - mentally - then giving it to her but making her feel bad for eating it. Is there more to this story, like a husband or other family member who is insisting the child has meat?

 

[CPT Tripss]

My dd is a vegetarian by her choice. She decided at 5 that she wanted to stop eating meat after seeing a cartoon of a Thanksgiving turkey raising its' head and saying "don't eat me." I guess that was enough to get her to start thinking where food comes from.

Dh and I thought it would be a phase and that she would eventually out grow it. However, that was 5 years ago and she still won't eat meat. We definitely would not have made that decision for her, because the rest of our family are meat eaters and it makes balancing her diet a lot more challenging.

DD eats beans, edamame, nuts, yogurt and cheese for protein. I worry about her, particularly now that she is getting close to puberty and will probably need more iron soon. Her pediatrician doesn't have any problem with her being a vegetarian and has provided a lot of suggestions on what she should be eating to offset not eating meat.

I wouldn't worry about your DD. Sounds a lot like our DD who was a bundle of energy with substantial muscle from swim training. Most days were at six meals plus snacks to get all the calories she needed . . . plenty of good protein sources as you mention (and even more you don't mention - the various soy based products).

Even as an adult she still "grazes" eating four or five meals a day. Her major complaint is that WDW and cruise lines generally start with salad and pasta as vegetarian fare, requiring the customer to ask for specific alternatives.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

That is just....bizarre. The parent is in charge of what the toddler eats so if she doesn't want the little one to eat meat, why does she give it to her? That would healthier - mentally - then giving it to her but making her feel bad for eating it. Is there more to this story, like a husband or other family member who is insisting the child has meat?

Yes, hubby is opposed to vegetarian lifestyle in the child. (he's a family member of mine and raised with the same sort of meat-centric views)

I think the meat is a compromise right now, but I can see the writing on the wall; eventually this child is going to reject it. It is good to know that there are perfectly healthy vegetarian children out there.

One interesting note about the mother in question...she basically eats pasta. She's not a big fan of beans or a lot of vegetables. She doesn't care for tofu either.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

My good friend's son became a vegetarian when he was 5. (Now 10.) It was around the time that he realized that meat came from animals. He said, "I don't want to eat animals. That's mean." I was really surprised that he would feel that strongly at such a young age, especially since his family is not vegetarian and, as far as I know, he didn't know any other vegetarian children.

The rest of the family is not strictly vegetarian. They do a lot of meatless meals to prevent making two different things, but the rest of them will eat meat. When it became obvious that her son was serious about vegetarianism, my friend did research on how to make sure he was still getting the proper nutrients/protein. He's stuck with it for 5 years and he's a healthy/happy boy.

This is the same situation as at my house. My daughter made the same conclusion at the age of five. We spoke with her doctor, who reassured us that a vegetarian lifestyle is perfectly healthy. He did encourage us to insist that she not become a vegan, as the nutrients in milk and eggs could be very difficult to replace from other sources. As far as protein goes, I never understand why people get so worked up over it. We eat SO MUCH protein in the United States, vastly more than we need. I can see being very cautious about B-vitamins and iron, but why the big stress over protein, when we get it from so many sources?

My daughter is now 15, and despite my mother occasionally trying to "trick" her, which I can't understand, she is still an ovo-lacto vegetarian.

The thing we think is funny is when people say they are vegetarians and then order chicken. Or when a recipe labeled "vegetarian" includes chicken broth.

At any rate, we're as far from hippies as you can get. We believed ten years ago and believe now that this was a reasonable choice, that it didn't have any measurable impact on her health or on the rest of the family, and that it was and is no big deal.

 

[pensgirl10]

One interesting note about the mother in question...she basically eats pasta. She's not a big fan of beans or a lot of vegetables. She doesn't care for tofu either.

That's my son. Pasta, cheese pizza, cheese sandwiches. He's an adult, what can I do? Actually I ate a lot like that when I first gave up meat, just didn't know any better and didn't know what else to fix. There are a nice variety of books and blogs now though.

 

[marie1203]

We have no kids yet but I do not eat red meat or poultry I do eat fish. I find this questions very surprising because I see what most people feed their children and not enough protein seems the least of the worries out there. Most process foods are worst for you than not eating meat. How about all the extra hormones, chemicals that are putting in children bodies feeding them meat? Once I switch I found the most Americans diets have too much protein in it. Since I am the one cooking I cook according to my believes if anyone in my house disagrees they are welcome to cook for themselves. DH rarely eats meat (only when we go out) and he has been doing really great with a vegetarian diet. He works out a lot and being a marine there is a lot of physical work involve and he is surprise to see how much better he feels. I know a few children that do not eat meat and mostly come from the idea that they are actually eating an animal. As as many had already said here there is many other sources of protein to be able to have a healthy diet being a vegetarian. Our children will be raise being vegetarians and if later then want to change then is up to them.

"My personal opinion: these children are missing out on some vital nutrients during their growing years."

I find this statement ironic because form my experience vegetarians are more aware of their diet and nutrition.

 

[pensgirl10]

This is the same situation as at my house. My daughter made the same conclusion at the age of five. We spoke with her doctor, who reassured us that a vegetarian lifestyle is perfectly healthy. He did encourage us to insist that she not become a vegan, as the nutrients in milk and eggs could be very difficult to replace from other sources. As far as protein goes, I never understand why people get so worked up over it. We eat SO MUCH protein in the United States, vastly more than we need. I can see being very cautious about B-vitamins and iron, but why the big stress over protein, when we get it from so many sources?

People seem to think you need a big hunk of protein on your plate. Meanwhile we are getting smaller amounts all the time from the milk on cereal, snacking on yogurt, whole grains, and more.

 

[cornflake]

The protein thing is such a weird deal. Americans in a general sense are like, obsessed with the idea of getting enough protein. People have always asked me how I get enough protein.

Americans eat FAR TOO MUCH protein. Way more than they need. It can lead to things like kidney stones, etc. I'm not even talking about Atkins-type people, just in general, Americans seem to have a deeply skewed idea of both how much protein they need and how much protein they consume.

Like they don't realize how much protein is in stuff other than meat.

I've been veg since I was a kid, was the only one in the family, decided my own little self, know plenty of people who decided between the ages of 5-10, once they realized where meat came from.

I once inadvertently (I am NOT preachy about it, don't ever ask people to make stuff specifically for me, etc.) turned a friend's 5-year-old veg. He asked why I didn't want a burger like everyone else had. I said I don't eat burgers. He asked why, I said I just don't eat meat. Why? I don't eat animals. He said but it's not an animal; his mother said it was. He asked what animal, etc., when his parents explained, he panicked, talking about the calf at the petting zoo, became hysterical, threw the burger across the room sobbing and that was that.

That said, I totally don't get the - how can people make their kids vegetarian and make that choice for them, they should be able to choose - argument. How, exactly, are they not choosing for the kid if they're feeding the kid meat?

If the answer is that vegetarianism is restrciting a food - meat eaters don't give their kids all foods. I've seen plenty of people on the Dis and in real life whose kids never had brussel sprouts, beets, Indian food, sushi, Ethiopian food, what have you. So how is that different from restricting them from meat?

There is no meat allowed in my house.

 

[Sparx]

We are vegetarian, therefore our son is.

No I'm not worried. No I do not believe that we need any part of an animal to thrive.

As soon as we can take down a cow with our bare hands and sad pathetic grinding teeth that aren't even sharp, you might convince me that we are meant to do it, but then the person would probably get sick from eating the raw carcass, if they could even get the skin off using our non-sharp teeth (highly unlikely), and once again I'd be back to "nope, not omnivores at all"!


And once he realized what meat is (very early, as we have always talked openly with him, especially since I have a sneaky mother in law who has tried to trick ME, a vegetarian for 22 years now, into eating meat and he needed to know to not eat anything she offers without checking with us first) and what is done to animals to get it (I think that many children would balk at meat if told the absolute truth...but so many people lie about it!), he's had zero interest in it at all. You'd have to trick him to eat it, and we would certainly not appreciate that!

What an asinine statement. You've continuously proven your profound lack of basic scientific understanding but this is really a new level. I'm very interested in your justification of your internet usage, since you obviously believe that humans should only be doing what they can do with bare hands instead of utilizing tools (like forks, knives, spoons, internet, cars, televisions, clothes, toilet paper, plumbing, electricity, flint, rock) I look forward to you not being able to justify your internet usage and leaving the rest of us alone with your at best ridiculous and at worst incredibly dangerous statements.

 

[mombrontrent]

I became a vegetarian when I was 17, so 14 years ago. My Dh and all 3 kids eat meat, although my son eats alot more meat then my daughters. They are free to choose to eat meat or not. I think they think beging a vegetarian is gross They think I eat alot of wierd gross "crap". I eat alot of whole grains, beans, legumes and a huge variety of veggies. I am not vegan, as I could not give up cheese, yum! Sadly I end up making alot of different meals in my house, to please everyones diet choices, good thing I love cooking! My DH who used to think a meal must include some type of meat now loves alot of my vegetarian fare, he often requests my black bean and corn enchiladas, and loves my homemade soups which I make all the time. I've even gotten him to like quinoa, bulgar and kale and alot of other things he would have turned his nose up at before. Now if I could just get the kids to try these things..............

 

[cornflake]

I became a vegetarian when I was 17, so 14 years ago. My Dh and all 3 kids eat meat, although my son eats alot more meat then my daughters. They are free to choose to eat meat or not. I think they think beging a vegetarian is gross They think I eat alot of wierd gross "crap". I eat alot of whole grains, beans, legumes and a huge variety of veggies. I am not vegan, as I could not give up cheese, yum! Sadly I end up making alot of different meals in my house, to please everyones diet choices, good thing I love cooking! My DH who used to think a meal must include some type of meat now loves alot of my vegetarian fare, he often requests my black bean and corn enchiladas, and loves my homemade soups which I make all the time. I've even gotten him to like quinoa, bulgar and kale and alot of other things he would have turned his nose up at before. Now if I could just get the kids to try these things..............

Stop cooking meat, ban meat from the house, they'll eat something else. I don't at all get the vegetarians who cook meat for people or feed their kids meat. I mean if you're veg for health reasons, then you'd theoretically be feeding your family what you believe to be much less healthful. If you're veg for ethical reasons, how does that work?

I also kind of have to ask what you cook for them that they think whole grains, beans, vegetables, etc., are "gross." Like... even with meat added they don't eat those things?

 

[marcyinPA]

My neighbor's daughter (13) is a vegetarian, by her own choice, but she doesn't eat fruits or vegetables either. She eats some of that Morningstar stuff, and a lot of carbs (pasta, rice, potatoes). I love my neighbors, but I see her consume quite a bit of junk....jmho!

 

[tvguy]

.

She kind of follows the "face" rule... if it has a face, don't eat it. So she still eats milk and milk products and eggs. She gets a lot of her protein also from nuts, seeds, and beans. She likes tofu.
.

Our daughter went to the "face" rule when she was about 16 thanks to those lovely folks at PETA. She's 20 now. She takes lots of vitamin supplements, because she has this issue that there aren't a lot of vegetables she will eat. She eats a lot of fake meat products, riblets, fake chicken breasts, veggie burgers. Her doctor is always on her case because it is more work for a vegeterian to get enough protein.
Her issue isn't about not liking meat, fish or chicken, it's about how they are treated. I have caught her lusting after a BBQed tri trip, and she says she misses tuna salad sandwiches, she says they taste great, she just doesn't want to eat anything with a face.

 

[roxy84]

I am a vegetarian and have been since I was a child (by my own choice). There are a lot of reasons why I choose to live this lifestyle (health, environmental) but the biggest reasons is because I do not want to have animals suffer/killed for me so I can eat them. I get enough protein and other nutrients (I track my food daily).

My DW is a meat eater, and I am okay with that. I will not prepare meat for her, but she does make her own things and will get meat dishes when we dine out. When we have children they will be raised vegetarian and I will be honest about what meat is. If my future children decide they want to eat meat, I have no problem with that as long as they maintain a healthy food choices.

I work with kids, and I get asked many times why I am a vegetarian. I try not to push my beliefs on children, because it is not my place. I have children say they want to become vegetarian, and I tell them that it is a decision they can make with their parents to make sure they are eating healthy and doing it the right way. At the same time I am amazed to see how many children don't know what their meat is. I think parents try and hide those facts because they are scared their children will not get enough protein and other nutrients. It is okay for a child to show compassion towards animals.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I've been a ova-lacto vegetarian before, been a pescatarian for very long stretches. (The first one eats dairy type products and eggs, the second one eats fish and such as well.) Right now, I can't, due to health issues, and in fact, eat ALL protein, limiting myself to 20 grams of carbs a day. (If I go over, I know about it, and it's not pleasant!) The risk of kidney stones is easily mitigated, and the only scientific studies I've been able to find haven't found any other health difference between low-carb and low-fat eaters.

The fact is that either manner of eating CAN be healthy. Neither one is better than the other. It's all in your choices. I know plenty of really unhealthy junk food vegans, and I know plenty of omnivores who are just as unhealthy. I'm healthy in my diet and I know a lot of vegans and vegetarians who are just as healthy in their diets.