When to explain to DC what meat is?

[Nikhedonia]

Was chatting with DD (4) today and she was telling me about animals eating people, something to do with wolves and bears eating people (bloody kids books).

I explained that the chicken we eat, is the same as the chickens she sees at the farm or reads about in her stories. She was really confused and said that was just 'food' not animals. We chatted a bit more and she seemed horrified at the idea of eating an animal and has told me she doesn't want to eat animals anymore.

Anyway, I'm a bit worried I've had the conversation with her when she's too young - she's 4 (nearly 5). How old were your DC when you explained what meat actually is? And how did you explain it?

Hang on Ylvamoon - spaghetti doesn't grow on trees. There was a very famous April fools joke in the early days of TV where some reporters draped some over some bushes and pretended to be visiting a spaghetti plantation, but that wasn't real!

Ylvamoon, ermmm... Spaghetti doesn't grow on trees.

It first came up with my DD watching a Charlotte's Webb cartoon DVD. I explained where the pigs were bring taken and why. Her response? 'Mum I want ham. Get me ham' 🤣 She's a preteen veggie now mind you. I used to keep chickens so they were aware that sometimes we killed and ate them. They'd categorise the 'pet' chickens (ie the ones they were attached to or were ringfenced as theirs as pets) from the general chooks that would be layers or for the chop as the 'eating chickens' or the 'no eating chickens'. I've always been dead straight up about farming and where our food comes from, but we live very rurally so it's part of life here. There's too much disconnect between the source of our food and how it gets to our plates. Supermarkets don't help with this. Just be factual. DC are curious and resilient and it does no one any favours 'protecting' them from the facts of life in my opinion.

Where can I get a spaghetti tree please?! I want one 😁

I'd assumed that @Ylvamoon had seen a clip of the old Panorama hoax and was joking.

Just in case it was a serious post, spaghetti is made from semolina which is usually made from durum wheat.

She may end up a veggie.

She would be totally supported, if that was her choice. Would be interested to see how her morals would stack up when she realises she would have to eat loads more "yucky vegetables"

Ds picked up a ham in the supermarket and asked if it was made of people when he was 3. We've always made it clear what meat is. It's never been an issue apart from that one time in the supermarket

I can't remember DC expressing any interest about this. Eating animals was just obviously normal.

DD asked at Christmas dinner just before she turned 5. Cue entire family watching my parenting skills.

She still eats meat and on the occasion that she talks about being vegetarian I point out exactly the quantity of plants she’d have to eat to be healthy and full!