Not to want our children to eat red meat?

[Flymeaway4]

I'm vegetarian, have been for 20 years, partner is not. Since before they were born, I've said I'll let them have chicken, fish etc, but not red meat including pork. Once they're old enough to properly understand that meat was once an animal, then they can decide for themselves whether they want to eat red meat too, or be vege if they like, their choice. Partner thinks I'm ridiculous and said "why can't she have a ham sandwich" at a party yesterday, "what harm will it do". There were plenty of other options there anyway: chicken, cheese and egg sandwiches, quiche, fruit etc.

In case you think it's relevant, my reasoning behind no red meat is that I think cows and pigs are too intelligent, they know exactly what is happening when they arrive at the abattoir and I think that's just too cruel (and lambs are babies). Allowing chicken and fish, until they can make their own informed decision, was my compromise. If it were purely up to me, I'd be happy raising them vege!

So, am I being unreasonable?

Well maybe it's a good thing I don't live in the UK if your farmers are so cruel. Btw I never mentioned "talking to farmers", I said I could see the products they purchased and the cost of them, and I suspect that living in a rural area of a country which is heavily dependant on farming gives me a much bigger insight into farming practices than you have. Of course there are cruel farmers, just as there are cruel people in all walks of life, but the majority do care about their animals, it isn't in their best interests not to. You seem to have made it your life's work to find cruel farmers, it all seems rather odd to me

I am vegetarian and take no supplements either. My diet is perfectly adequate.

In what way is fortified food different from supplements? Vegans also don’t need supplements they can just eat food/ drinks fortified with the vitamins but it’s no different than taking supplements unless you can explain the difference? In one case the vitamin/ mineral has been added to the food and in the other case it has been added to a pill.

I presume your dog is also vegetarian?

Bully for you, would you like a medal?

Honestly, some of you people seem to be unable to read. I said in my first post that there have been posters on this thread who have said that they are vegan and take supplements. Are you incapable of understanding that I was not talking about every vegan on this thread, there is no need to rush into print to tell me about your own lives. You aren't even a vegan it seems, so it has nothing to do with you.

Nope. Already admitted to being a hypocrite on that one.
I justify it by the fact that she is a rehomed dog so I am not responsible for bringing her into this world. I believe rightly or wrongly that pet food is mainly made up of the waste from the human food industry. For example, she eats tendons, ears, tripe, fish skins etc.
I used to go to my local butcher and get her pluck. It was pretty grim but it was waste so if I can use the waste part of an animal to feed her then all the better.
I do think about a vegan diet for her - there is the famous example of the 20-something-year-old Collie dog who ate a vegan diet all her life - but I'm not sure if I have the right to deprive her off meat.

I find your whole post rather odd and utterly pointless (equally guilty with this one) but hey ho.

I don't think people buy bread because it is fortified. They buy it because they want bread, and getting supplements via it is simply a bonus. If you buy a pill then you are buying it because you actually want whatever vitamin/mineral it is giving you. Now, was that too difficult for you to understand. I was talking about posters who have said they take supplements, which is not usually how someone describes bread. Honestly, I give up!

I agree. My DM became vegetarian at 8. It was very unusual at the time so she didn't have the best diet but her parents did not dictate to her. She, likewise did not dictate to us and stop us from eating meat.

It’s disappointing to read such nutritional illiteracy.

Even if you are perfectly happy with the despicable way animals are treated why wouldn’t you educate yourself enough to know what foods are carcinogenic at least?

It beggars belief that we read posts that say what is the harm in the odd ham sandwich without even pausing to consider it is the ACCUMULATION of carcinogens that does the harm not one or two stupid sandwiches!!!! If your child is eating bacon one day, ham the next, beef for a roast or lamb, salami on a pizza etc etc of course it is building up inside their bodies!!!!!

FFS why on earth am I having to explain this.

One solitary single ham sandwich in a life time is clearly not going to give your kid cancer, but a life time eating various versions of red meat and processed meat most definitely will.

if you don’t believe me - read it for yourself on the cancer website:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/diet-and-cancer/food-controversies

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cancer-causing-foods

Why do YOU think one in two people are being diagnosed with cancer in the U.K.? Too much organic lettuce and cucumber?

Farmers have worked and paid a lot of money to keep this stuff buried if this thread is anything to go by.

YABU

people are going to get cross about this, but there we are. I’m a vegetarian, eat a lot of vegan food, and I feel that I do my best. But I never preach. It’s not my business. To everyone who is preaching, if you eat anything purchased with eggs or dairy in, eat chocolate, eat honey, eat avocado then you cannot preach. All of these things are a risk to animal welfare. Unless you are checking that every bit of quiche or chocolate you eat has egg and milk from animals kept properly then you’re a hypocrite. If you keep cats or dogs you are too - pet food is one of the biggest reasons for overfishing. Avocados and mangoes are insanely damaging to the environment. If you drive a car you are doing untold damage to wild animals. The list is endless.

People do what they can for the best. Shouting from your high horse about how saintly you are because you don’t eat ham is utter crap. You can make ethical choices and do what you can and THAT is what is important. But shouting because you think you’re an animal hero because you don’t eat meat is ridiculous because you will be doing things daily that harm animals. There’s no need to preach. And I say that as someone who doesn’t eat meat or fish. But I know I’m not perfect nor am I better than someone who eats chicken.

My son can eat as much red meat as he wants. Plus all the other meat. No vegan vegetarian in this house! I'm a butchers daughter.

Its fine from a butchers! So much better for you than processed

People are getting cross because children will pay with their health, possibly their life for the shit decisions their parents make for them.

Smoking was fine and cool for a while, until it wasn’t. My mother smoked, and was encouraged to smoke in pregnancy. Meat will be the new cigarettes in time, when the penny drops.

Red meat from the butcher is still carcinogenic.

It's not going to end up lab grown....

i work in the environmental sector and the shit I know who scar some of you. But I guarantee if I looked in your kitchen, your garden, your shed and your wardrobe I could find a hundred things that have hurt animals. This is the way of society now. And there’s not a lot you can do BUT do your best. Which is all anyone can ask. But it doesn’t mean we can shout at and judge others for choosing different ways to protect the planet.

You can say that about a million things. Alcohol, cars, cleaning products, sugar, screens deodorant. There are so many things which are bad for us and can cause cancer or some such that we inflict on our children. It’s about balance and navigating your way through society.

Most of your list can be easily mitigated though, electric cars, no sugar, home made or eco cleaning products, green sunscreen etc.

We have never been in such a great position to make conscious ethical decisions.

Haven’t read the full thread but while I am totally with you especially about pigs, I have bought chicken about five times since watching Hugh FW’s chicken farming programme in about 2008. I don’t think chicken or fish is any better unfortunately.

What a stupid comment. I love animals but I can still enjoy meat. Its the circle of life.

@YESSTEVE

You're talking a lot of sense and I appreciate that you work within the sector but pet food is one of the biggest reasons for overfishing.

I find that difficult to believe.
A quick look on google tells me that according to the WWE one third of all fish caught is fed to animals. I presume that means all animals including zoo animals and any number of other animals and not just cats and dogs.
Mine eats fish skins. Fish is often sold in supermarkets with no skin so how is that no a waste product as far as human consumption go?

77% eat meat in India

That will never happen. Will always be more meat eaters.