Would you 'allow' your child to become a vegetarian?

[Miss Jasmine]

Here are McDonald's french fry ingrediants ---

French Fries:
Potatoes, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, natural flavor (beef, wheat and dairy sources), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (to preserve natural color). Cooked in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (may contain partially hydrogenated soybean oil and/or partially hydrogenated corn oil and/or partially hydrogenated canola oil and/or cottonseed oil and/or sunflower oil and/or corn oil). Contains derivatives of wheat and dairy.

So it is still using beef flavoring in the french fry itself. However it is now using a vegetable oil.

 

[RitaZ.]

A friend of mine has a 12 year old daughter, who just recently decided she wants to become a vegetarian (one who eats only oatmeal and toast, but thats another issue)

Does she really only eat oatmeal and toast?

 

[auntpolly]

They didn't disclose the beef flavoring; they started using vegetable oil in 1990. So people thought the fries were veggie. Some Hindu vegetarians were pretty pissed.

We all should be! There is nothing worse than finding out something you thought was vegetarian has meat in it -- especially when the person who made it knows you are vegetarian and just didn't tell you.

I went ballistic on a chef a few years ago that giggled to me "hahahhaha....there's chicken broth in the vegetarian risotto!" (Idiot!)

 

[gris gris]

I just wanted to add that as a vegetarian I really don't expect anyone to understand it or cook separately for me. It's my choice. I normally don't bring anything with me when I go to other people's homes, there's always something else on the table. I require a whole lot less maintenance than my dad, who has celiac sprue disease. His diet is extremely high maintenance and our entire family supports him and cooks wheat-free if he's coming. He also brings his own food with him often.

 

[Minnie824]

Does she really only eat oatmeal and toast?

As far as I know, no, she does not just eat that...it was a comment that her mom (my friend) made that stuck in my head. Actually, my friend was making a vegetable tortilla lasagna for her last night as well. The kids are kindof picky eaters though, and just don't eat much quantity of food....there are 5 of them(my friend, her DH and 3 kids, this one is the oldest) and all 5 of them can split 1 frozen pizza for dinner and have leftovers.

 

[sha_lyn]

My SIL, on the other hand, will not eat dishes/food prepared with meat in any way (such as stock, lard in crackers, eggs in cakes, etc) but she does eat cheese.

That would be how most of my vegetarian friends are. They also eat eggs.
Oh and thanks to them there is one item I didn't realize isn't vegetarian, worcheshire sauce. someone who eats no animal pruducts at all (and usually will not wear leather etc) usually goes by the term Vegan.

 

[Dreamer04]

I would support her! I would love for her to be open to new ideas like this and to experiement with my guidence. Although, being a meat and potatoes lover myself, it would be interesting!!

 

[VSL]

That would be how most of my vegetarian friends are. They also eat eggs.
Oh and thanks to them there is one item I didn't realize isn't vegetarian, worcheshire sauce. someone who eats no animal pruducts at all (and usually will not wear leather etc) usually goes by the term Vegan.

Yep, I believe that Worcestershire Sauce is made from fermented sardines (and first appeared in ancient Greece). So many people don't know that!

 

[Alice's Mom]

My oldest is 4, so not really a concern yet, but I just wanted to see how people felt about it.

My 5 year old a little over a week ago said she couldn't eat animals anymore, she was heartbroken about them dying. I could tell it was coming, she had been talking about animals and food for a month. She saw the crab go from tank to pot at a restaurant and didn't sit well with her.

Its just the two of us, so its not a big deal. I'll probably be healthier because of our new diet. My mother asked her if she wanted McDonalds yesterday and my child, I repeat, my child said no. We didn't eat red meat to begin with, but I do love fish in all forms.

The DIS was very helpful in fact, especially Laura and FlowersChild in recommending sites to consult on for menus and making up for lost protein.
Thanks again guys

All oatmeal and toast I wouldn't be too keen on.

 

[RitaZ.]

As far as I know, no, she does not just eat that...it was a comment that her mom (my friend) made that stuck in my head.

Ok. I just wondered how a person can go from eating only oatmeal and toast to becoming a vegetarian.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

You can get B-12 from fortified foods. Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians have little problem obtaining it, but the Vegans have a harder time. Lots of little old ladies get it in a shot, because of the Intrinsic Factor thing (your body has to secrete Intrinsic Factor or you don't get B-12), and for lots of reasons there is a greater deficiency in old folks.

There are so many things you have to take into account when eating a diet that eliminates meat, (and possibly dairy, eggs, & veggies). It isn't just a matter of eliminating what they don't want, you have to replace it with other stuff that contains whatever they aren't getting.

Personally, I wouldn't make addendums to my grocery list or prepare extra food for one of the kids. The House Rule is that if you are allergic to what is being served, you get PB&J, otherwise you're eating it.

If the kid is grown and on their own, have at it! I'll even buy them a nutrition book!

 

[MzDiz]

The thing about leafy greens, like spinach, and calcium, is that it contains oxalic acid, which prevents the body's absorbtion of most of that calcium. Beans are better for calcium, but try telling a teenager that she should eat more beans.

Beans, beans, the magical fruit...

 

[ford family]

Going back to the "frutarian" references earlier, a few years ago there was the case of a nine month old baby whose mother eat virtually nothing but fruit. She was warned that her diet made her milk insufficient for the baby's needs but ignored advice and the little girl died.

Wasn't it Plato who advocated, "moderation in all things"?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1542293.stm

ford family

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I would not allow it. I'm not cooking separate meals and frankly I think it would be annoying to have a vegetarian in the family, someone you constantly have to plan around.
I don't get the whole vegetarian thing, I admit it.

Well, JVL1018, you have at least 1 person here who agrees w/ you.

I wouldn't cook separate meals and buy food that is only going to be eaten by 1 person. I just don't agree w/ that philosphy for myself and my family, and I don't get it either, but to each their own.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Mine already is - has been since birth!!!

If you turn that around - and she came to me as a teen and said she wanted to eat meat - I would allow it: it isn't my job to control her, but to guide her. I wouldn't cook it in my home, because I prefer to provide what I feel is the healthiest choice for the family....but outside the home she could decide for herself...she kinda already does, one of the neighborhood moms puts out pepperoni on their snack plate and my DD helps herself.

 

[Longsx3]

I would probably allow it. DD (9) claims to be a fruitatarian (sp?)...I think she is just plain fruity! For about the last year she hasn't eaten a lot of meat, she will eat chicken legs and skirt steak on occasion. Our entire (12days) cruise last summer she ate a cheese plate (Brie, Gouda, Etc) and fruit for dinner...on nights when they had seafood she would eat that as well. She eats fairly healthy, loves seafood...shrimp, crab, calamari, & lobster, she will also eat veggies with Asparagus being her favorite. Recently we heard a commercial for a schnitzel buffet and she said oh yuck, she went on to say that she was excited because maybe in Okinawa they would have a sushi buffet! I said you won't try a turkey pattie (schnitzel) but you'll try sushi??? Definitely not a normal child!

 

[Laura]

We all should be! There is nothing worse than finding out something you thought was vegetarian has meat in it -- especially when the person who made it knows you are vegetarian and just didn't tell you.

I went ballistic on a chef a few years ago that giggled to me "hahahhaha....there's chicken broth in the vegetarian risotto!" (Idiot!)

Oh, absolutely it's horrendous. Just that Hindus have a special reverence for cows, that's all. So they were particularly horrified and sued McD's.

 

[Laura]

Going back to the "frutarian" references earlier, a few years ago there was the case of a nine month old baby whose mother eat virtually nothing but fruit. She was warned that her diet made her milk insufficient for the baby's needs but ignored advice and the little girl died.

Wasn't it Plato who advocated, "moderation in all things"?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1542293.stm

ford family

Yeah, that's batty. I also heard of a vegan family who refused to breastfeed their child and it died--I guess they thought the mother was like a cow? It couldn't drink soy formula, and they wouldn't feed it regular dairy formula. There are definitely some loonies out there.

 

[Sparx]

Yes I sure would. I was a vegan for a year and a half or so. I still don't eat much meat, but I ate very balanced meals and a lot of soy products.

I'd just make sure that my child was getting everything they needed out of the foods they were eating.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

If you turn that around - and she came to me as a teen and said she wanted to eat meat - I would allow it: it isn't my job to control her, but to guide her. I wouldn't cook it in my home, because I prefer to provide what I feel is the healthiest choice for the family....but outside the home she could decide for herself...she kinda already does, one of the neighborhood moms puts out pepperoni on their snack plate and my DD helps herself.

Even though we have different opinions on the basic subject here, I think you have made a very good statement here about raising your family! I think I need to keep it in mind! (I'm feeling kind of snarky today and getting in a mood!! I need to get over it before I go home!!)