To raise my child as a vegetarian?

[rstuk]

Both myself and DH are vegetarians and we would like our children to be vegetarians too for both health and ethical reasons, however I'm a bit unsure because all of the websites i've checked have conflicting opinions on whether or not this is good for a small child (digestion issues etc) and our parents (non/ex-vegetarians) think we're 'depriving' the child
Help anyone? i'm completely lost

I wouldn't say that was really hypocritical Bananas - just maybe not very thoroughly thought through ? - but then lots of people are veggie but still wear some leather eg.shoes.

Purple I absolutely agree it's not morally consistent - and I posted about it upthread. For me personally the ease of eating dairy/eggs from a healthy diet point of view, and my fondness for cheese and coupled with concerns about the environmental sustainability of eating large amounts of air-freighted "meat alternatives" mean that right now I do eat dairy/eggs but when life is less hectic, I'm not pregnant/BFing and have more time to think and cook well, I fully imagine myself going fully vegan. It's unquestionably the right thing to do morally from the animal rights POV.

We are leather-light ie always buy alternative if feasible and affordable, but no gelatine (imo eating gelatine just isn't compatible with calling yourself a veggie)..

The Japanese seem to do OK with a significant traditional consumption of soya products such as tofu GreyWhites

Have a look at this article for example. It also deals with the "but what about the Chinese/Japanese?" argument. From an ethical point of view, soya is also fairly questionable (links to deforestation and slavery).

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2004/nov/07/foodanddrink.features7

More info here too summarising some of the research to date:

www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/food_and_drink/1337453/the_dark_side_of_soya_how_one_super_crop_lost_its_way.html

Vinegar have you looked into local veg boxes? We get organic veg boxes delivered twice a week, all from a local farm on the outskirts of the city we live it. Very reasonable cost and delivered to the door which is very handy as you don't have to cart it home from the shop while pregnant/bf. They also have some chickens so eggs are also available, the chickens are treated well and we know that as we have visited the farm. We eat in season so produce is constantly changing.

We do get quinoa, mung beans, oats etc from the shop but the bulk of our food is local and much nicer.

Oh yep, we are part of a local veg/fruit scheme already. It isn't delivered, but we pick it up from an independent health food shop 2 mins walk away.

It's the pulses/soya/grains stuff I struggle with in terms of environmental impact. And it's easy to cook exclusively veggie, with zero brain input at the end of a long shift at work and cycle home! Probably just because it's what I'm used to (veggie since age 12).

But as I said I know it's morally nonsensical really, I'm just making excuses!

I know what you mean. I don't think soy products are very healthy tbh and we generally avoid them. We have mung beans once or twice a week and quinoa, everything else is veg and you're right it is so easy to cook. I think part of the problem is people think if you are veggie/vegan you must eat tofu and that's not the case at all. I wouldn't eat it and certainly wouldn't give it to the DCS.

The hardest thing for me was finding sweet treats but since a vegan friend told me about frozen bananas out through the juicer and The Wannabe Chefs raw salted almond brownies I haven't looked back.

Did you see this article, Purple m.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/vegans-stomach-unpalatable-truth-quinoa ? Do you find you get enough protein with only eating pulses a couple of times a week? We have a 2 yr old and I'm currently 32 weeks pg so try and get some into most meals, but that may be overkill.

The footnote is also important though - that 97% of soya worldwide is used for animal feed....

No I hadn't seen that, sadly it doesn't surprise me. We buy fairtrade so hopefully we are doing the best we can.

I think we get enough protein but we do eat a huge amount of vegetables and juice 2-3 times a day (usually with broccoli & spinach) so I think that's enough. Being pregnant you really shouldn't juice though, and you are probably doing the right thing eating more whilst pregnant. You could always lessen them in meals and move to juicing when you have had the baby.

We never get ill, have loads of energy, exercise each day are healthy weights so I'm confident our diet is good.

I find mung beans are excellent as an alternative to mince. I often make a big mung bean pie packed with veg and topped with mash, the DCS love it.

Veggie family here!

DP was pescatarian until recently, but is now vegetarian. We have taken the decision that we will raise the DCs on a vegetarian diet and that includes when they eat out in restaurants or at other people's houses, etc. It was an easy decision to make nutrionally and also avoids either DP or I having to handle meat, which I think he would find difficult and I find impossible.

If the DCs make the choice to eat meat when they are older, we will respect that, but will still serve a vegetarian diet at home.

Oh, and we are all healthy. :)

In terms of protein seitan is really easy to make in whatever flavour you fancy.

YANBU at all, so long as you respect their decision to try meat if they want to one day. But that works both ways - so if my non-vegetarian DCs want to go vege/vegan one day then I will not stand in their way.

As it happens we don't eat meat every day and thanks to this thread I will be looking up the Vegetarian Society website for inspiration.

I have been making an effort to include more protein due to a health condition and it is surprisingly easy to find other sources that we all enjoy - for example I rarely bought nuts due to expense but now I started my 5yo absolutely loves them too, and they are a goldmine of other nutrients.

Generally we don't buy red meat but stick to poultry, and I am trying to increase fish intake for oils etc. But we eat vege meals quite a lot, I wouldn't stand for the "it's not a meal without meat" attitude that some people I know have.

I certainly agree a good vege diet is very healthy indeed. Definitely better than relying on protein intake from heavily processed meat like ham and sausages which I am phasing out of the house now. They make me feel horrible lately anyway. Can't comment on the processedness of quorn/tofu as I don't eat them. Totally understand wanting to avoid all processed food but I couldn't stick to only raw food, too many things I'd miss!

Hi, sorry took so long to reply, been enjoying the sunshine
I initially had no worries about giving my child a veggie diet its more other peoples horror stories that are worrying me that veggie diets aren't suitable for weaning and young children but from the sounds of things a veggie diet is perfectly fine for everyone
Thanks for all the lovely suggestions and support

As long as they get all their vitamins from a well balanced diet, it's fine. Beans and pulses can provide lots of protein

I would add that as a pretty much lifelong vegetarian who has a toddler who I have bought up veggie that you tend to make more of an effort making super healthy dinners than someone who relies on (often crappy processed) meat for protein. The lovely dinners often go in the bin but would not feel comfortable making my child dinner I can not test. Squished avocado on a piece of toast or rice cake with a face made out of chickpeas and olives is currently the way my fussy toddler is eating pulses. Oh and sweetcorn fritters are your friend...lots of recipes online.

You can also 'hide' pulses by making a pate with say cannellini beans (pretty much just by squashing them with garlic or something) then pop it in a wrap with some cheese/tomato/whatever they like that day.

Another veggie family here, hello!

I have 3 dcs in 20s and one teenager all vegetarian since birth all fine and none have fancied eating meat once independent. I don't see why people think it's an issue- you bring your children up the best way you can, to do the things you do...madness to think you would cook meat for children if you were vegetarian yourself.

My Ds is proud to be the only vegetarian in his school. Admittedly this is a small village school, but he made the decision himself at around 4. We rarely buy meat for ourselves, occasional bacon or duck, and we will eat fish. He is completely vegetarian and also doesn't eat cheese. He is happy with lentils, tofu, quorn and vegetables. He is a lean, strong rugby playing boy, so no problems health wise.

And another 'success' story here: I'm vegetarian, my 2 DCs have been brought up mainly vegetarian with a little fish (DH was omnivorous, & they were born in Japan, where fish is hard to avoid); one won't eat cheese and one won't drink milk but otherwise they've had a broad veggie diet with lots of veg, tofu, pulses etc plus dairy and eggs, and a small amount of fish, maybe once or twice a week.

They are now aged 14 and 10, both healthy, very tall for their ages, quite muscular, and both still vegetarian/pescetarian by choice - I would not try to stop them if they wanted to eat meat at school or elsewhere, but they have not wanted to.

I think it is perfectly natural to bring children up eating the same food as their parents - doing anything different seems weird to me.

JugglingFromHereToThere thank you for the reply. I found out that when you buy meat from butchers there is no sell by date lol.
I was worried that my kid would rebel just because mummy says meat is vile, so now I am 'letting' her try. Given that 50% of the time I cook, 50% of their meals will still be vegetarian, I am just being open.
I grew up on a farm, I understand how life works, I just absolute hate the smell/texture.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well chickpeas go in a stir fry.

Also if you heat them in a little oil, add curry paste, then mash them up with a little water to a smooth consistency they make a fab dip. Much nicer than hummus IMO :)

Avocado is one of my very favourite foods, I'm pleased my 5yo loves it (pretty good considering I refused to try it until I was 18 - fell in love instantly thereafter) but DS doesn't unfortunately.

And chickpea curry is lovely.

Ive been vegetarian since 9 and im now 37.
I made my choice to not eat meat or fish and my children will make their decisions as they grow.
I dont like cooking or handling meat but i have for my boys since they were weaned (they are now 10 and 13).
They like burgers, sausages, chicken and fish but also enjoy quorn products.

Every parent is entitled to make a fully informed decision for their own children, just as long as they are ready to accept that a child may decide otherwise as they grow.