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

nellieellie - "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?"

Are you saying meat eaters eat meat for every single meal? Meaters don't ALWAYS eat meat. We eat salads, too. Meat eaters raise their kids to eat a VARIETY of foods. Vegans never allow a variety if it is animal-based. Who is imposing their views? Vegans. Meat eaters eat vegetables and store vegetables. Vegans won't even (according to you) store meat in their house or allow it to be cooked or served. You truly can't see how it is only the vegans imposing their views?

The teeth argument won't work. Some poster the other day had made her cat vegan desipite igoring the fact cats are obligate carnivores. So children have no hope

It means growing bodies get no calcium and no protein.

No paediatric dietician would say this. There are loads of other sources of protein and calcium outside of meat and dairy. It’s really common for children to be dairy intolerant so their parents need to provide alternative sources of calcium.

They simply don't want to be told. I am not great with words/expressing myself on message boards

Are you now?

I have been a vegan since birth, and I don't have the depth of qualifications required to be a dietician, and I could do a better job of pseudo-science evangelising against veganism than you are.

I find your posts implausible.

Such ill-informed shite on here about veganism. Can't even be assed to argue some of the points I've seen but seriously people need to go and do some research.

Regarding children eating meat, I don't really have a stand point on it as I am raising my DC to eat meat so he can choose when he's older (although he often eats vegan at home) but can everyone who says that it's disgusting/ child abuse etc etc seriously tell me that their child has all the correct nutrients and eats healthily all the time? Seriously? Because if not what is your argument against this? I can imagine that raising a child as a vegan forces you to be more mindful about nutrition etc and to make the right food choices whereas eating more 'mainstream' you don't. Just my opinion.

But people really shouldn't be so quick to judge choices unless they've researched, because if you had you'd see it's not all that bad

Why is it meat eaters have to cater to vegans when cooking but never the other way around. Yet it's always vegans who moan they are imposed on.

Poor kids. Irs your choice but you forcing your restricted diet on them.

There are a lot or misconceptions about a vegan diet. Done properly, it is much healthier for you than a meat-based diet.

Not done properly, of course a vegan diet is unhealthy but what you need to realize is that those same people eating an unhealthy vegan diet would be eating an unhealthy non-vegan diet if they ate meat.

mintchoc I’m interested to hear why you consider the milk that is nutritionally designed for a baby cow a necessity for human children when no other animal consumes milk beyond infancy?

It really winds me up that nobody gives a crap about how much protein or calcium is in someone’s diet until they mention that they are vegan and then it’s all anyone cares about! Plenty of omnivorous people have very poor diets lacking in many nutrients.

Can I ask why you have chosen to be a vegan?

In fact, thinking about it, there is no 'could' about it- I have done a better job advocating against various OP's plans for (unhealthy, poorly balanced) vegan diets on message boards.

Me with my scant GCSE and A-level sciences, the NHS website and a few textbooks on dietary requirements.

Poor kids. Its your choice but you forcing your restricted diet on them.

All the vegan kids I know eat a much more vast array of foods than their meat-eating friends. Most meat-eaters I know seem to eat a variation of mince, chicken, potatoes and pasta. Whereas the vegan kids I know eat far more imaginative and nutritious meals.

And also how do you define vegan

“Today 20:57 Onlyjoinedforthisthread

And also how do you define vegan”

By its definition?

You are an idiot. You are forcing your beliefs into your children. It doesn't matter what your beliefs are, you have no right to demand that your children adhere to them.

Sprinklesinmyelbow I think you'll find different people choose different definitions

DairyisClosed, that’s a ridiculous statement. Given your logic, surely meat-eaters are also ‘forcing their opinions’ on their kids by giving them a meat-based diet.

I don’t eat meat anymore but I would never stop my kids eating it.
I think it’s wrong to restrict kids diets.

I feed my DC vegan at home, if DH is cooking they dont eat vegan if he fancies fish or something with cheese. Out of the house they eat what they like. I dont stop them putting cheese etc on food I have cooked. Its hardly an extreme diet anymore.and has been shown to be perfectly healthy.
I don't particularly like funding industries I hate and if DH didn't buy dairy I am.not sure if I would keep it in or not. We'll see when he sees the light and converts

DialsMavis what industry is it that you hate

Ok so not RTFT but if you want to be vegan that's fine, you don't want to cook meat, fine, but I don't think a vegan diet is healthy for your kids and at least one of them has stated that he doesn't want to be. Couldn't you meet them in the middle and let your children have a vegetarian diet and you have a vegan one?

Factory farming.

If God didn’t want us to eat meat, he wouldn’t have invented mustard 😉
Or canine teeth for that matter.
You can eat want you want, but shouldn’t your kids have a say in their diet?

I was thinking the same Mary . A pint of milk and a block of cheese in the fridge would at least show you were listening a bit.