to think parents shouldn't bring their child up vegetarian?

[Picante]

Unless for religious reasons.

Yes this is a thread about a thread but I think I was annoying too many people over there so I've started my very own for people to get annoyed with me here!

I just think it's mean. Meat is such a huge part of our culture and fair enough if you're old enough to decide that you don't want to kill animals... but children should be given all sorts of food in the early years, including meat, until they are old enough to make that decision for themselves!

YABU and I think that your qualification of "unless for religious reasons" is even more ridiculous.

Why should religion be more important/valid than any other thought out point of view? Vegetarians often make the choice because of ethical and moral objections to the meat industry, are those objections and beliefs less important than religous ones??

BTW I am a vegetarian who does feed her dd meat as dp eats meat and we took the point of view that she was likely to want to try what he was having from an early age and we didn't want to stop her from doing so though we are honest about where food coms from and buy free range. As it happens she loves beef and fish in particular and is allergic to legumes.

As someone pointed out on the previous thread you either choose to give your dc meat or not but in either case until they actually can decide for themselves, at say 5 or 6, you are making a decision for them.

A thread about a thread

If people want their children to be vegetarians then it is no business of mine. I was one for years but the lure of bacon was too strong.
So long as the child is getting a balanced diet then I dont see a problem. When they are older they can choose to eat meat or continue being a veggi.

Bit of a pointless thread IMO.

" shoes this is not a wind up it is in response to this.

Picante, Vaguely trying to be PC = Definitely being a hypocrit IMHO.

Sorry, meant to adress 2shoes!

Come on someone must agree with me secretly?!

my 6yr old ds1 often asks about meat etc.
and i say he is welcome to try meat- all he has to do is ask and i will buy and cook him some- or get dh to do it-

he's interested in chicken atm because he can't believe how anyone would kill and eat one- i tell him thow it works and what happens.
He doesn't want to eat any- but he does think about it-
and he asked why we don't eat each other- and the cat and the dogs- because we all have muscles and this is protein.

so don't invite him round to yours- he might just change his mind about the veggie stuff!!

I kind of agree with you in that if a 9 month old baby was at a party and picked up a sausage roll it does seem a bit mean to not let them eat it

YABU - I am veggie and DH is not. I turned veggie at the age of 10 having always hated being forced to eat meat - to me it was always a dead animal and never an item of food. I would have liked to have been given the choice as to whether or not to eat meat. My DS will be brought up veggie (although pescatarian really as he will eat fish) until he is old enough to understand what meat is and then he can decide whether or not he wants to eat it. I certainly won't stop him and I don't have any moral objection to eating meat - I just think that eating meat should be a choice.

YABU.

A vegatarian diet can be just as healthy as a meal based one, and can also be just as bad as a meat based one too.

So long as the parent is ensuring the child has a varied diet including all food groups in sensible proportions, then I see no problem.

A child can decide later should they wish to try or eat meat, just the same as they can decide to become veggie later.

EG - I don;t eat meat because I simply don't like it. Have tried it more recently but really don't enjoy it at all. Haven't eaten since I was 13y. I do eat fish however, which I do like and enjoy. Not eating meat, for me, is not an ethical/moral decision.

not rising to it

PMSL at 'our culture'. You're assuming everyone comes from exactly the same culture as you, then?

In my vegetarian days, no way would I have cooked meat for anyone.

I agree, OP, and what's more, I don't believe that children should be raised within a religion. I think religious affiliation and diet are both things that everyone should decide for themsleves when they're old enough, not be indoctrinated into.

I don't agree with you but I know my dad does. My nephews are being brought up as veggies and he is always having digs about it.

My sil says that she does not want to impose meat eating on them and they can choose to eat meat if they want when they're older.

YABU - Its up to the parents and I can think of much worse things that being bought up vegetarian.

If neither parent eats meat then surely it is less hassle to bring up a child vegetarian, rather than buying meat specially for them (and quite possibly being disgusted at having to cook it).

Do you think that "bringing up vegetarian" implies additional brainwashing of the "meat is bad" variety? It's only natural to pass on your own values to your children.

I don't personally agree with forbidding your child from eating meat if they want to do so - for example at other people's homes, at school or nursery etc, but as long as the food is nutritious it is up to the parent what they cook/ buy for themselves and their children.

Whatever you do you are making choices for your child. Whether it's to eat meat or not or to worship this god or that god, to go to this school or the other one, their name... the list is endless.

All you can do is allow them the freedom to make their own choices later even whent these go against what you believe or would wish for.

Sorry, but that is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. So I should abandon all my morals and beliefs so that my DDs won't ever feel awkward at a party?

And I certainly believe in the rights of animals not to suffer torment and pain for the sake of my lunch more than most religious people believe in their god, so I don't see how the religion proviso is relevent either.

they are your morals and beliefs though

not those of your kids