To “make” my kids be vegan?

[Sarcy]

About 3 years ago I decided to become vegan, my two youngest are being brought up vegan. Whilst my 4 older kids made the decision for themselves. One of them decided about a year ago that he didn’t want to be vegan anymore, at friend’s houses or when he’s out with friends he’ll eat meat but at home I don’t let him. I’ve had a lot of people tell me I’m wrong for “forcing” my kids into this or not letting them backout easily. This isn’t the case but I made sure DS had truly thought about it before deciding not to be vegan. I’m just trying to understand what makes people think it’s wrong to raise children on a vegan diet, surly giving your children meat is much worse

Yes, well, NHS advice is reviewed by people who passed GCSE sciences, A-level sciences, graduate degrees in the sciences, and probably post-graduate degrees, and as such, know that polypeptides are building blocks of all living things, including plants.

The scoundrels.

So your son doesn't want to be vegan and you're making him be vegan in the house for something you only started 3 years ago? You said your oldest kids had the choice but they didn't really, did they, if you make them eat only vegan at home? 🙄

Mint: you are deranged.

I’m a vegetarian, my OH isn’t. I made an informed decision to be a vegetarian when I was twelve. I’d like my own children to be able to make their own informed choices as well hence why when the time comes we’ve already decided not to raise our children as vegetarians

I am a Paediatric dietician, Purple Daisies. Do you want to see that? I know what I am speaking of. Yes, you can get it from 'other sources' but it is not as easy and it is a lot harder to get it right. The most wholesome source of calcium for example, is dairy. I have seen more than a few children with brittle bones and poorly developed bones so please don't think you know better than me. And please don't take the pandering of the NHS which has to put out information as a guide to the public even if they don't agree with it, as promotion.

Q: How do you know if someone's a vegan?
A: They'll tell you

Usually within 30 seconds of meeting them. Yes, YABU, very much so. Why should your children be forced into eating what you choose as your way of life?

@Ginger1982 she hasn’t explained choice . I doubt it has come from I am making a bean stew would you like that or a pork chop.

MintChocChip04

Nah, sorry. Don't believe you.

No dietician would ever claim that animal sources were the only source of protein. They just wouldn't. It's on a par with a dietician saying you need to eat green leaves to oxygenate the blood, in Gillian McKeith style.

Another religion.

Oh good, the usual nonsense about canine teeth (almost every mammal has these, some herbivores have massive ones) and vegan parents whose children starved to death.

Your house, your rules. You're not forcing anyone to do anything other than not bring meat - which you have an ethical problem with - into your house. He's not missing out if he eats what he likes outside of home.

Why don't people understand that keeping to your ethics in your own home is actually part of having them in the first place? Otherwise they're not really your ethics are they?

And @hildazelda once M&S has a Christmas ad with a vegan roast dripping with vegan gravy, maybe then we can talk. I shit you not, I hear people banging on about bloody steak almost every day. And that's not an ethical choice that means anything to them either.

It is neglect imo. A vegan diet is cruel and extremely unhealthy. Growing children NEED meat and dairy. It is not an optional extra. It is necessary. Imo it is child abuse.

No qualified paediatric dietician would type this nonsense unless they'd typed out a paediatric dietician certificate on their computer and laminated it to fool folk into believing their nonsense.

I have a friend who is a GP who is a vegan, as are two of her three DC. I also know a nutritionist and have a PT who moonlights as a nutritional advisor to several athletes; all agree that it's perfectly possible to cut out animal products and remain in good health. The belief that protein only comes from one source, that calcium comes only from dairy, is utter bullshit peddled by bollocky-annies wanting to sound brighter than they are.

Sorry, this question may have been asked but there’s no answer so I’m asking just in case:

If you were at a restaurant with him and he choose a non vegan meal, would that be ok?

I know families of a few different religions that aren’t allowed certain foods and the kids eat it when out with friends in secret (I know plenty that stick to the rules too). I know one Jewish family where as soon as Mum is out of the house Dad is cooking bacon with the kids and they frantically waft until she comes home

Parenting is raising your children according to your beliefs. I am vegetarian. Vegan for 23 years. Being vegan is not hard when you are sorting yourself out, it is more difficult if you are at friends houses, your child is going to tea. For those reasons, and because I didn’t want my child to feel “weird”, they were raised as vegetarian, not vegan, I changed from vegan to veggie when pregnant with my 2nd child. It is not “cruel” to raise your child as vegan. Generally vegans and vegetarians put a huge amount of thought into creating a balanced diet for their children. I worked out how many grams of protein and iron were required on a daily basis. I have been commended by my child’s GPs for their good blood results. We ALL raise our children according to our beliefs.
Meat eaters give their children meat. They don’t ask them whether they’re happy eating the decaying flesh of an animal. Judging by the ridiculous comments my veggie daughter has to fend off, some are told complete lies about the meat and dairy industry (eg cows just have to have one calf to be able to produce milk for the rest of their lives ). My. children have no wish to eat meat. If, when they’re in their teens they want to, that is fine, their choice. I have told them that. But my house is a vegetarian house. I am not going to cook meat for them, not store meat, nor allow meat to be put in my plates. That is so for anyone who comes to my house. I eat out with meat eaters. I do not go on about my vegetarian beliefs. I answer questions if I am asked.
Meat eaters raise their kids to eat meat. (Always) Vegetarians raise their kids to be vegetarian (someimes). Vegans raise their kids to be vegans (sometimes).- Who is imposing their views?

Starlight, she might have said, 'you don't have to be vegan but I'm making beans and if you don't want them there's nowt else.' That's not choice!

By the way. Some of the strange posters. Have you actually looked at your “canine” teeth recently? Compare them to a carnivore - wolf, dog, cat etc. They are pathetic. Not a lot of flesh ripping capabilities there....

You have a YouTube channel, don’t you? I’ve seen a few of your videos, including the one where you talk about him not wanting to be vegan.

As a vegan myself, and as you quoted in that video - ‘it’s his choice’.

You can’t force anything and from what I have seen from your YouTube channel, it’s really sad you would force him to do anything. It’s not your life and it’s not your body. ‘Forcing him’ to do anything is wrong.

@Albadross, can't say I've ever come across people who 'bang on about steak every single day'. Not unless they work as a butcher perhaps.

We have canine teeth for a reason.

Actually, we don’t. Imagine trying to kill and eat prey with those tiny teeth - you couldn’t. Our teeth were not designed to eat meat for the simple fact that we are not carnivores, we are frugivores.

A vegan diet does not provide enough protein.

For a start, our requirement for protein is vastly overstated. Have you ever heard of a person suffering from a protein deficiency, like ever? Also there are numerous sources of protein in the vegan diet. I wonder if you have the same concerns about where meat-eaters get their fibre from.

@Confused Beetle "A vegan diet is dangerous for children. Many nutritionist and paediatricians are warning against it. Technically you would think it was possible but in practice, many do not get a broad enough spectrum of nutrients. It isn't really just a case of meat or no meat. Veganism is much more restrictive."

Exactly. As a paediatric dietitian I usually don't wade into these topics because it is basically pearls before swine. They simply don't want to be told. I am not great with words/expressing myself on message boards, but as you said it is nigh on impossible for a growing body to get the nutrients and calcium they need. I've had doctors refer patients to me who have had rickets and numerous skeletal abnormalities and the usual tying thread is a militantly strict vegan diet. Dietitians, especially paediatrics do not recommend vegan diets for children. It is dangerous. This is not an exaggeration, a myth, or saying it for the sake of saying it. It is dangerous for growing bodies. Unfortunately you get some as evidenced on here, who simply refuse to see the truth. It is GPs, orthopaedics, and dietitians like myself who have to see and deal with the fall out of these cultist fads.

You wanna be vegan fine, but forcing your children is disgusting.

I dont believe your elder kids made the decision themselves. They didn't have much of choice in the matter as you guilted or controlled them into it. . And yes you are so bu it's untrue. Not that you are going to care

A future veggie/vegan would have an axe to grind with a parent who's forced meat on them

I read last week that a growing teen requires 1,000 mg of calcium a day for bone growth. In your example I would at least have the consolation that I had given them a diet that could achieve this whether they were grateful or not

MintChocChop04, there are much healthier sources of calcium which perhaps you should be promoting: green leafy vegetables – such as broccoli, cabbage and okra, soya beans, tofu, nuts, bread and anything made with fortified flour.