Don't want DC to be a Vegetarian

[2became3]

OH is a veggie, I have been for 3 months.

I don't won't DC to be a veggie when they're old enough to eat foods.

I think they should be free to explore a range of textures and not have limited on baby lead weaning.

I haven't yet discussed this with OH, not given it much thought until now. I know he'll be against it as he often says "Aww, my veggie family"

AIBU?

P.s, I'm aware I'm being a little out of line here posting without actually talking to OH first, but I know what he's like. I've said it in fleeting before and he laughed about it like I was joking a funny joke

I would probably find a vegetarian or vegan partner difficult, yes, though we do eat lots of meals without meat or fish.

I am still hung up on the 'biologically normal' suggestion, that if you dont eat meat your not normal. WTF where do people go to school these days? Why does having canines mean its normal to eat meat and abnormal not to?

Canines evolved for killing, does that mean I am biologically abnormal for not ripping people throats out with my teeth?

Nobody is a meat eater for ethical reasons!

Think neither of Abu, you both have preference but not either of them trump the other.

I give my dc meat but for a few years I can tell that when she is older she will most likely be veggie. She is 6 and already realises we kill animals to eat them and doesn't like that fact and she also doesn't really eat meat anyway.
I don't mind at all and I'd fully support her if and when she does but for the moment she eats so little portion I'd like to get meat into her.

I think the only middle ground is to allow the dc to decide when they are older, but op if you don't want to be veggie and want those hot wings then get them don't conform to your dp's ideals.

suppermummy- teeth are only part of the evidence of our evolutionary diet.

The way we digest food is important too, herbivores digest cellulose, which we can't, they can synthesise their own vitamin B12, which we can't.

Gorillas are herbivores, biologists agree that from a dietary perspective homo sapien is closest to the chimpanzee, which hunts and eats other animals.

From an adaptation point of view it is clear that homo sapien has not evolved as a herbivore. Meat is a natural part of a human diet. Yes we can survive on a plant based diet, but there has been no evolutionary benefit for our species to become completely herbivorous.
Therefore eating meat is a normal thing for members of our species to do.

It's not an insult, it's an observation.

YABU and disrespectful

Humans can eat meat, we don't have to, biologically. Not eating meat is not abnormal. It's a minority choice, but not an unusual one in many parts of the UK.

Disrespectful?

To point our that meat is and has been a part of our normal biological diet?

Of course no one eats meat for ethical reasons. But people hold all sorts of ethical
beliefs that I disagree with. I agree that the ethical reasons for being vegetarian seem to me fairly clear and unobjectionable (unlike, for example, some people's ethical opposition to abortion). But I think it is potentially dangerous to suggest that if a belief or practice is done for 'ethical' reasons it is more important.

In practice most of the mixed vegetarian/omnivore partnerships I know have fed their children meat when young, with the family eating veggie when altogether but with the omnivore partner cooking meat.

I think that dottydee is referring to the OP, Mindtrope.

My DP is not a vegetarian, so we are a "mixed" couple. Our children are vegetarian however, as my DP doesn't have any strong beliefs about meat eating, whereas I have strong beliefs about not giving meat to our children. Because he hasn't got any strong beliefs he's happy to defer to mine.

We are both pescatarians but are allowing our children to try anything they like. Mostly outside the home as it would otherwise easily be wasted here (tho we do have a dog!) But we buy ham every so often if requested by them. I want them to try everything. I don't think it's that easy to make a true choice if you haven't experienced it before. I was brought up atheist and still find being in church uncomfortable. My husband was brought up veggie and took a long time to try/like fish. I don't think he could do the same for meat even if he wanted to... So that's my logic for my children. Fwiw I don't eat meat because I don't like it. For husband it used to be religious reasons. We both also have moral principles against meat eating but not overly strong ones I suppose...

I'm a vegetarian and so is my partner. Both our kids (6 yrs and 15 months) are vegetarian.

You can't uneat meat. We have always said Dd can try some if she wants - her call - but we would never serve it. She's asked once and we said yes but she changed her mind as soon as she had permission.

She has always known it's animals and finds it odd that so many people do eat them.

It is interesting what others are saying you can't 'uneat' meat. I'm not sure why that would be such a big issue...I don't want to impose my views on my kids and not allowing them meat would do that imo. For the same reason I'm not religious but happy for my girls to go to a church school and discover religion. They know me and their dad are not religious and don't eat meat, they are choosing their own paths (I hope). I suppose the difference is I'm not anti religion and whilst I'm against the meat industry I do not make it my life's mission either and I realise that as a specie we have relied on meat along the way.

But you are imposing your views on your children. We all do. You're imposing that they will eat meat because you feel they should. Same with being happy to send them to a church school. I haven't imposed a church school on my DS, because that's my view about religion and education.

Let's say I try not to. I don't impose meat (I certainly don't feel they should eat meat but I feel they should have a true choice) but let others offer it to them and if they ask for it they get it. They are never forced to eat anything at home, just offered a wide range. Usually at home it's no meat as I don't buy it but if requested specifically why not. Mostly I rely on others to introduce meat to my kids in effect (logic and convenience) Imo if they don't experience sth they can't choose to have it or not. Same for church /church school. I know what it is like to be brought up completely atheist and it was not a true choice so trying to tamper that for my kids. We go to church from time to time as they like it. They know my beliefs are different.

Why is eating meat always seen as the natural default position? The way I see it, a diet without meat is easy, healthy and affordable. Why would I need to add meat to that?

The idea that it can't be uneaten once it's been eaten is pretty straightforward really. Wouldn't you rather your child had never eaten human flesh? It's just a bit of a strange concept if you don't consider meat to be food :)

All parents impose their choices on their children, it's impossible not to. Your choice is to allow them to eat meat if they want to outside of the home. That's you imposing your choice on them.

I was also brought up in a totally atheist household. My choice is to do the same for my own children as it was beneficial for me. Your choice that you're imposing on your children is to expose them to one specific religion in a church school. It's not the same choice as me, but you're still imposing your wishes on your children.

sparkle She has always known it's animals and finds it odd that so many people do eat them.

It's a shame you are bringing your DD to see such a normal human activity "odd".

Why is it a shame?

I think the fact that there is so much research showing that meat is bad for you, linked to cancers, hormone & growth problems you're child would be better without it. If you want them to experience a range of textures u can get veggie fake meats such as quorn, lentils, beans there is so much. Plus overall meat is more expensive. when she is mature and old enough let her decide to eat it, not to stop eating it :) x

b12 is only in meat because they feed it to the animals. just research it:) it would naturally be in the soil but we have destroyed our earth so much the vegetables from the soil doesnt have it :(

namestress why would you want to eat food that pretends to be meat?

speak it's sad because eating meat is a normal human activity.

Speaknowords - Yes you are right I am influencing my kids and my views are impacting my kids. But I am not imposing my views unless you see me giving me them a choice as an imposition. I don't. To impose is to block or restrict. Yes they are not brought out in a vacuum, but I am also trying to build a path for them to make a choice.
I do think it is not easy to choose something you've not experienced before. I want to open my kids to possibilities.
Meat is part of our history, part of why we are here, in small quantities it is not detrimental to health, it is part of us, we should accept that.
Fwiw they are, because of their heritage, exposed to more than one religion. It is indeed about exposing them to various experiences, that is my aim. So what I 'impose' on them I suppose is my view that children (and adults) should be exposed to as many varied experiences as possible. I'm happy with that.

if someone wants to eat meat but dont want the health consequence or to support an industry that harms animals and the environment:)