Dairy is Scary

[ndo4000]

I have been a vegetarian for over 20 years and have begun to dabble in reducing my diary.

I just watched the video 'diary is scary' and am genuinely traumatised. I had NO idea how brutal dairy farming is.

I am happy for me to make changes and continue to reduced my dairy intake, but I have 3 young children and I feeling v torn about their diet and supporting the dairy trade.

Not really sure what I'm asking but does anyone have any tips in reducing their whole family's diary?

[stucknoue]

There's lots of substitute products now days but always ensure it's fortified with calcium for young kids as they need some form of "milk" once no longer breastfed (not sure how true it is but I read they need milk until around 7/8 old which in our distant past would have been breast milk before naturally weaning.) I personally couldn't do it, cheese is way too nice and whilst there's poor dairy farms there's also many excellent ones, I've stayed on a couple and they were pretty decent husbandry wise, and the male calf's were reared for rose veal.

[Electrocute1980]

Hi op - I switched from vegetarian to vegan just after Christmas after watching Cowspiracy. I have two dc, aged 3 and 8. My advice would be to just let them try what you're having. My two didn't really drink milk anyway and happily have my oat milk in their cereal or hot drinks. They will steal my vegan cheese (I use violife sliced cheddar) and often ask for it in their cheese sandwiches. We all use Flora Buttery which they like. I like the alpro yoghurts and they both really like them as well.