How to explain why veggie mum eats different food

[MintyTea]

I'm vegetarian; DH and DD (who's nearly 3) are not. For my own dinner, I try to make the veggie equivalent of what they have (Quorn vs chicken, etc) but sometimes it's not possible and I end up having something that is quite obviously different. DD has asked a couple of times "Why are you having that [veggie thing]...?" but eventually she'll want to know more! I do want to be honest with her, but don't want to put her off eating meat and fish ("I don't want to if Mummy isn't", "I don't want to eat fluffy sheep! Waah!", kind of thing) until she is old enough and wise enough to make her own choice.

Any advice from any veggie mums/dads out there with non-veggie kids?

[hotcrosshunny]

I'm not sure why you think its OK for your daughter to eat meat but not you (if it is a matter of ethics?)

[Greenandcabbagelooking]

Something along the lines of "I don't eat meat or fish because I feel sad for animals that had to die. When you are older you can choose to eat meat or not to. My XYZ is yummy, would you like to try some?"

[MintyTea]

Thanks, Greenandcabbagelooking. Did you do that with yours?
hotcrosshunny, I believe that I should give her everything just now and she can choose what to take away - if and when she decides to, when she's older. I don't think it's up to me to impose a "restricted" (for want of a better word) diet on her, at this or any age.

[MakeTeaNotWar]

My DD is the same age and she is satisfied when I just say that I'm vegetarian or a vegetarian meal - she has a rough understanding from nursery what a veggie is and that they sometimes have different meals

[mummy1973]

Hi. I'm veggie and the rest of the family are not. My children have always known I don't eat meat. To be fair though many meals I make are veggie and we all have them. Maybe 2 meals a week are not. I told them from a young age that I don't want to eat animals and they know where meat comes from but still choose to eat it. They are now 6 and 9. They may well change their minds (or not) when they are older. I was 13 when I last ate meat....many moons ago!

[Slackgardener]

I cooked veggie food for everyone, one meal no exceptions, I feel quite strongly that a family should all eat the same meal, my veggie food was very good, dh enjoyed eating it too. So the dcs and dh had meat when we ate out or when they visited friends/family but I didn't cook it.
It worked out for us, dcs will eat any meat and are not in the slightest bit squeamish about eating a rare steak, or raw fish but since then I have started eating meat so they now eat meat at home too and all still eat the same thing.

[SavoyCabbage]

I think that when you are having a totally different meal, you should all have that totally different meal. Otherwise it's a slippery slope. What if dd wants a different thing from the two meals you are cooking?

What if you have triplets. Then you will be doomed!

[MintyTea]

SavoyCabbage, that did give me a laugh/shudder of fear - triplets!

You've all given me some really useful things to think about. Thanks. Maybe one or two times a week, we could all have the same (veggie) meal - I know DH definitely wouldn't mind.

Happy Easter eating, all!

[CaffeineDeficit]

Another veggie mum who just cooks vegetarian food for everyone here. If DH is cooking, then he and DS may have meat and I'll have some sort of veggie alternative (e.g. Quorn sausages) and we'll all have the same veg.

In terms of explaining vegetarianism to DS, who's 3, we talked about how different people eat different things and how some people choose not to eat meat and they're called "vegetarian." Apparently, that's sufficient explanation if you're three - no need to discuss the rights and wrongs of eating animals. He does know where exactly where meat comes from but this doesn't seem to put him off at the moment. Like you, we'll let him make his own decision. about vegetarianism or continuing to be an omnivore when he's older.

[CaffeineDeficit]

Another veggie mum who just cooks vegetarian food for everyone here. If DH is cooking, then he and DS may have meat and I'll have some sort of veggie alternative (e.g. Quorn sausages) and we'll all have the same veg.

In terms of explaining vegetarianism to DS, who's 3, we talked about how different people eat different things and how some people choose not to eat meat and they're called "vegetarian." Apparently, that's sufficient explanation if you're three - no need to discuss the rights and wrongs of eating animals. He does know where exactly where meat comes from but this doesn't seem to put him off at the moment. Like you, we'll let him make his own decision. about vegetarianism or continuing to be an omnivore when he's older.

[CaffeineDeficit]

oops. sorry for the double post -stupid phone!

[superbagpuss]

i have 4 year old DT boys

they know mummy doesn't like meat, but that they and daddy do

if I cook its veggie, dh cooks meat or fish for them

they know where their food comes from, farm parks are good for this and if they leave the meat part of a meal its no big deal