To be fed up with 'vegan' kids?

[bakingmads]

We live in an area where it's become fashionable to be vegan gluten free. We know a few kids who are allowed to eat whatever outside the house. I've noticed these kids have an unhealthy relationship with food. They seem obsessed! They never stop eating and if they see meat, it's insane to watch. I've even witnessed a child stealing food from other's plates!

I think if they follow such a strict diet at home because they believe that it's healthier, then why let the kids eat meat outside the house?

It's got a to point where we don't invite them for play dates because they don't seem to want to play just eat.

Not sure if I should mention something to the parents. Is it normal for a child to eat non stop?

I mean you’re not wrong, the nitrates in bacon also being a carcinogenic. But whatever is suggested someone will complain about. Tuna, too much mercury, chicken too many hormones, red meat, too expensive. Fruit, bad for teeth. Whatever is provided you will run the risk of upsetting someone, so don’t worry about it. If people that are that bothered they can provide their own food or not let the kids come to play.

A friend of mine whose daughter was not vegan but would only eat Nutella on toast or Nutella sandwiches. I didn’t expect her to provide bread and Nutella. Another friends son has Arfid. I bought the brands he eats. Same for veggie or vegan, I’d buy what the child eats. It’s not hard. Does seem like a vegan bashing thread OP!

A quick Google or a basic knowledge of human nutrition would tell you it's very hard to get vitamin B12 on a vegan diet the same goes for other vitamins and minerals.

The argument "what about non vegan kids whos parents only feed them junk food" is ridiculous.
But on a side note yes even shitty processed nuggets are a far superior source of vitamin B12 compared to any vegan food with the exception of fortified vegan meats which are more processed, unhealthy and unnatural than chicken nuggets.

Yes it is possible to be healthy on a vegan diet but it takes very careful planning to ensure adequate nutrition most sensible vegans will have to take vitamin B12 Tablets anyway. We have no way of knowing how sensible the ops friends are they could just as easily be zealot raw vegans that don't believe in eating anything fortified or taking vitamin pills.

Hence my comment to the op please do not stop inviting these children over and feeding them. Cravings can also be a sign of a vitamin deficiency.

That chicken that has been made into a chicken nugget, was likely given b12 in its diet, as modern farming doesn’t really allow for it to gain b12 naturally. May as well take the supplement yourself if you’re going to let a chicken take it and then eat the chicken. Cut out the middleman if you like.

Spot the person who can’t cook.

I always think that about people who slag off vegan food. When I’ve said it of course they all insist they’re great cooks. 😂

B12 is only really commonly found in most meat because in most instances it is supplemented into their food in some way.

Bad argument.

"modern farming" is a massive euphemism - you mean industrial/factory farming, which treats animals for both meat and dairy with unbelievable cruelty for the whole of their lives, until they die - which in truth, must be a blessed release.

You can tell it's cruel by whether you'd be happy to watch a film by one of the anti-cruelty campaign organisations showing the reality of meat and dairy farming. If you're still wavering, imagine your pet going through the same. I know I can't, which is why I'm vegan.

Re B12 - nutritional yeast is a very common ingredient in vegan cooking. Every vegan I know uses it to add umami and a cheesy flavour to food, so supplements aren't necessary as long as you're using that.

I wouldn't say we follow a 'strict' diet but DH and I are vegetarian and so we don't buy or cook meat. The kids can eat whatever is on offer out of the house, including at parties, school dinners, etc. To us it doesn't seem 'weird' but very pragmatic that we all eat the same at home but they can make their own choices at. These families may be doing the same. I can understand that if, for instance, you have a coeliac in the house just only buying gluten-free makes sense, but there's no reason to restrict them elsewhere.

Or maybe it is a health thing - and is that so awful? I'm happy for my kids to have a massive donut as a treat when we're out but it's not something I'd normally buy for us to have at home. We eat fast food literally only when we have to do a very long car journey. Having some things as 'only when we're out' seems a fairly sensible way to keep them in moderation.

I can just imagine it now hordes of deprived vegan/GF kids routing through your cupboards.

Total didn't happen of the year🙄

One little boy I recall his mother packed Tupperware with approved food for parties because he had allergies. When he grew up and went to university he went wild trying so much many different foods. Nothing happening to him at all. Looking back I think she had mental health issues. When she was divorced the house had to be sold so she smashed up the bathrooms and ripped out the kitchen leaving a wreck for the new owners.

I always wonder why people leap to the assumption that vegan food is all UPF, whereas if you eat meat, it's all unprocessed protein and vegetables.

Surely it's more a case of you either eat processed food, which could be meat or vegan nuggets, pizza, burgers etc, or whole foods, ie grains, vegetables, pulses, legumes, spices, pasta, bread etc with or without meat, fish, cheese and eggs.

@bakingmads would you react the same if they were not allowed sweets at home but ate them at yours or is it only children that don’t eat meat you have misgivings about?

It sounds like the parents are actually making it easier for the kids to have a social life by not policing them when they are at other people’s houses. No doubt you’d still be hand wringing if the parents expected you to provide gluten free vegan for them. No one bats an eyelid at kids who only eat beige food because it’s got whatever was scraped off the abattoir floor in it so must be healthier than vegetables.

Children will generally gravitate to novelty and always want what they don’t have easy access to. And you’ve stopped inviting them so not sure what problem you need MN to solve for you?

I know what you mean. The playdates aren't fun for your kids as the invited vegan child is just wanting food. In a similar vein my son had a friend that wasn't allowed toy guns at home but Mum was fine with him playing with them at friends. ALL he wanted to do at ours was play guns and my son would get bored and upset that he wouldn't do anything else.

I’ve only ever met 2 vegan children and they both appeared very healthy and happy. It’s not something I would chose myself but it doesn’t affect me at all so I’m not bothered about it. If vegan children were attending my child’s party I would make a special effort to ensure they were catered for.

This is why a lot of vegans take vitamin b12 supplements.i assume they give their kids supplemental vitamins also.

Do their parents know what they eat when they are at your house?

this story just reminded me of a vegetarian girl at my daughters primary school. The Mother announced how proud she was her child had never tasted meat….. till my daughter chirped up that they had been swapping meals all year! She ordered the red choice (meat ) and gave it to the vegetarian girl! 😳
iv never seen a mother so angry. She was really off with me after that, like I knew! My daughter thought she was doing a good deed.

Are you sure they're not just... hungry kids? We are a vegan family, both of my children are vegan - one of them I have to practically force feed, he would rather do almost anything else than sit and eat. The other one is constantly looking for his next mouthful!

2 kids, same upbringing, same diet - two very different appetites.

Maybe your daughter wanted to be vegetarian. 😉

Our school is shit hot on not sharing foods because of allergies.

Also, pretty much everyone should be supplementing with B12, unless you eat your veg straight out of the ground, unwashed - B12 comes from the soil, but almost all of it gets washed away in food preparation.

I'm vegan, and I am on the PTA.

It is very easy to accommodate the vegetarians by offering them vegan food. They don't have to have dairy every meal time.

Same, vegan PTA member here. I just do the same option for vegan/vegetarian/halal. No complaints either!

Why have you taken voting buttons off, is it because you know you're being unreasonable?

Anyway, back to the OP.

I am vegan, my kids have been vegan since birth. Currently tween and teen, neither interested one bit in eating meat or dairy, both with great diets, for the most part (younger DD goes through phases of being a bit fussy). I have raised them to understand meat and dairy aren't ours to eat, any more than they would eat dog meat or milk from a cat. There are other vegans who feel less strongly, I guess, and whilst maintaining a vegan household, tell their children it is up to them. The kids aren't vegan though. Just eating plant-based at home.