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’m vegetarian, pregnant twice and never been low on any vitamins or iron. My midwife couldn’t believe I had higher iron levels than an average meat eating pregnant woman. I don’t even watch my diet ie to make sure I eat enough iron, protein, etc I just don’t eat junk often and have a generally healthy lifestyle.
some comments here - children crave what they’re denied at home, they’re hungry because they don’t eat “real food” (the animal corpses) are so ignorant and laughable 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄

This is definitely a manners issue.

My niece (4) and nephew (6)
are vegan but don’t have to be at school or outside the home.

They do not behave like this at all.

They ask nicely if they see something they want. They share nicely with each other and don’t overeat at all - unless it’s something very yummy like a pack of mini-eggs.

In fact, my nephew eats like a bird and can need chivvying to eat more in his plate.

I find it really weird they can eat what they want outside the house- if they're so passionate about their "healthy" diet or do passionate about animal welfare, or whatever has made them go for a vegan and gf diet, why do the kids get to binge elsewhere. It's asking for them to be a nightmare to host, they must be like pigs in poo when they go to other places!! (I would be, to be fair to the kids)
Also, some kids are just gannets, I've had playdates where kids repeatedly ask for snacks, after they've had fruit or biscuits already and then a full dinner. If it's annoying just stop inviting them, I do the same with picky eaters, and to be fair, I prefer those that eat loads to those that moan about whatever you serve them (personally!)

As can vegan bashers and meat eaters.

I never, ever go on about what I eat.

Lots do though. Some meat eaters even turn up on the vegan board to tell us how nice bacon sandwiches are.

That isn’t helpful, agreed but I’ve known it happen the other way round.

Twenty years ago the vegan kid in DC class regularly stole other kids packed lunches. Sneaked in to the storage area and stuffed themselves!

Agreed. Those kids could be severely deficient in certain nutrients. That comment saying they're just badly behaved was downright stupid. The Vegan diet involves no meat no eggs no dairy. That's quite extreme and I really don't care for posters saying "I'm a vegan and I'm healthy" good for you but it takes a lot of careful planning to get the right nutrients on a vegan diet and no one here has anyway of knowing if this particular family are doing a good enough job of it.

But do you see children fed on processed convenience foods turning up to a party and demolishing all the vegetables because they’ve been deprived them? Personally I’ve never seen this.

Plenty of omnivores are also 'severely deficient in certain nutrients'. The closest some people get to vegetables is chips and ketchup.

Malnutrition, scurvy and rickets have been observed in some due to an extremely poor diet, even in people who are also overweight and it's not normally related to lack of money for food, just a very poor quality diet.

Being vegan or omnivore isn't the issue here, its the quality of the diet, fruit, veg, protein, whole grains etc vs sugar and poor quality processed food.

Sometimes a person's situation makes it difficult or impossible to eat a good diet but in a lot of cases it's just a preference for junk food and not seeing a healthy diet as important.

After all, vegetables, pulses, grains and spices are much cheaper than the sort of processed vegan 'meat alternatives' that a lot of people are talking about. You do have to cook them though.

Please explain how people who aren't required to be gluten free can get ill by being gluten free by choice? Surely it would then make the gluten free people who have to be sick as well? As long as you're eating a balanced diet, gluten shouldn't matter, surely? Evidence based answer please.

I'd really like to know because I've had all the tests and they say I'm not gluten intolerant, but a condition I have is better on a minimal gluten diet. I don't avoid completely, just try to minimise.

My SIL’s children were like this. Strictly veggie at home but ate anything and everything out of it. All are omnivores now.

I don't understand your outrage. Just give them meat and bread. The children are probably not happy with their parents' food choices at home however they can't do anything about it as they are children.

I used to be slightly prejudiced against overweight people. Then I read Ultra-Processed People and it got me off my high horse. A little spoiler - author's twin brother ended up being 20 kg overweight when placed in an unhealthy food environment whilst going through stressful times. And stayed overweight for years. And the twin brother is also a medical doctor (his story is given with consent). It's not the people- it's the industry which needs to maximise their profits. So they try to bribe everyone who tries to stand in their way - from researchers to politicians. The results are for everyone to see

It's more about having fads and lifestyle choices ..... fad bashing

I didn't explain it well. The op says this family is gluten free by choice none have intolerance to it. My friend is gluten free because it makes her ill.

We were exactly the same! It got to the point when we had any pennies it would go on the foods we weren't allowed at home

I remember my brother, about 5 years old, knocking on the neighbours house asking for some meat as we could smell their roast cooking

OK, thanks for responding. I was a bit confused by it but was definitely interested in hearing if there were issues with being gluten free if not strictly necessary, just helpful.

Then your issue is that the children need guidance on what is polite behaviour in other people's houses because this is just rude. What they eat (vegan/gluten free or meat and wheat) is nether here nor there, how they conduct themselves and politely express their needs is.

I know 3 kids who are exactly the same, despite not having a restricted diet at home. 2 of them are very overweight.

I remember one of them coming over and going straight to the fridge.

I know all that. And I acknowledged that it is hard to stick to a healthy unprocessed diet for a variety of reasons.

But the point I was making was that it's not veganism that causes people to be nutritionally deficient, it's other factors. A vegan diet can be better than an omnivore one and vice versa, whatever other factors are in play.

Vegan parents are not going to buy and cook something that they don’t believe in. What an ignorant, narrow minded view. You’re practically spitting! 😂

A vegan kid is like a vegan cat. We all know they weren't the one who made that decision

Realise this is a slightly older thread, but is the solution not just, when the child asks for a snack/ meal, saying something like:
"There'll be a snack/dinner ready for both of you a bit later, go upstairs and play, and I'll shout you down when it's ready". And try to aim for it to be in the middle of their playtime, but you choose what it is/ when it's served, don't just let them graze on your entire kitchen!
If they ask for more, let them know that they've already had their snack/ meal, and when food will next be available to them (eg "You've finished your snack now, we'll be having dinner at about 6 o'clock". Then, "There's nothing else until dinner at 6 o'clock, go back outside to play now, and when dinner is ready I'll let you know" or "You're having dinner at home, and you've had your snack, so there's nothing else to eat until your Mummy picks you up. I'll fill your water bottle up, and you can go back and play now".

Most people don't allow their kid's friends free range in their kitchens or pantries, and it's not unreasonable to only provide a set snack or meal during a scheduled playdate. If you're able to give a choice that's fab, but it's definitely not required! No need to stop inviting altogether, but you can make some changes to keep everyone happy!
If you feel the need to keep food available to them at all times, try putting a basket of snacks you don't mind them having somewhere that's not the kitchen, and let them know they can help themselves from there.