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"I can't eat my breakfast cos I can see a googly eye on it!!"

36 replies

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 11:42

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Meanoldmummy · 28/01/2006 12:23

I ordered sea bass in a restaurant once, when ds1 was 2.5...it came out complete with grilled eyes and tail and he let out a blood-curdling howl of grief and terror. I completely wimped out and told him it was a pretend fish, made out of tinned tuna, with a plastic skeleton and painted up to look real. My mother was disgusted. It really is tough though....HOW are we supposed to explain all this to children who have been brought up to be kind to living things? I'm dreading being asked where bacon comes from.

Nemo1977 · 28/01/2006 12:26

aimsmum only experience I have is what happened to me. We wednt on holiday when I was 6 to tunisia and was the only time it really clicked that chicken was an actual chicken as of course in shops over there you pick your chicken fresh and it is killed for you. Anyways due to that I became veggie until I was 21.although wasalso a fussy eater so basically I lived off mash,peas and gravy!! Hope it passes.

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 12:29

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Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 12:31

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Meanoldmummy · 28/01/2006 12:32

I'd be pretty fed up if someone else took it upon themselves to break this sort of news to 5 year olds without consulting the parents.

suzywong · 28/01/2006 12:35

what a bind
tell her that all the animals you serve up have had happy happy lives, skipping about in the meadow and that it is their job to be turned in to meat and they don't mind as they have such a fun time on the farm.

Then make sure you buy free range meat.

I can't wait till the kids see Chinese MIL suck the flesh from an entire fish head, while talking a couple of languages and with her mouth mostly open. I for one, shall never forget my first time witnessing that.

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 12:37

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Katemum · 28/01/2006 12:38

Is it worth accepting that she does not want to eat meat but explaining to her that this will mean that she now has to eat things that she has previously turned her nose up at?

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 12:38

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Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 12:40

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mears · 28/01/2006 13:03

I knew there was a good reason I did not enroll DD in Rainbows

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 17:49

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Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 21:26

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fannylover · 28/01/2006 21:35

Sorry, but i don't think it's out of order for children to know where meat comes from.
If you don't want to tell them because it's that awful then why give them meat at all?

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 21:39

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fannylover · 28/01/2006 21:41

i am sure she will soon get bored of it... especially when she sees you all tucking into her favourite things.
but in the meantime plenty of kids are brought up on a very good veggie diet... so don't worry too much!

crunchie · 28/01/2006 21:43

Aimesmum I am veggie, my kids are not and I have ALWAYS told them where there meat comes form. It is dead animal, they HAVE been killed so they can eat meat. BUT if people didn't eat meat there would be no fluffy lambs in the fields and cows in teh meadows. I truely believe we should let our children see what animals are bred for and explain to them as SW says. Like I say my kids are not veggie, although I am. They would have the choice o be veggie if they want.

If she wants to stop eating meat as DD1 is seeming to do, you can use quorn at this age, also beans on toast is a good meal, along with eggs, cheese etc. I suppose it depends how you cook. DD1 will now only eat the odd bit of chicken when she fancies it, and sometimes sausages, although she still lovess fish.

Please don't make it an issue if you can help it !!

Carlk · 28/01/2006 21:46

leave the meat for a bit.
it is worth bearing in mind that Sumo wrestlers are fed on chenko which is vegetable stew.
just my2p

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 21:54

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fannylover · 28/01/2006 21:57

although you can give quorn etc it isn't very high in calories, but fills you up easily... so don't go too mad with it.
if she is really serious then try and find other things she will eat... remember to include plenty of nuts, seeds, beans and pulses

tamum · 28/01/2006 21:59

Poor you, Aimsmum. I agree with suzwong, that some discussions like that might be good. Is there any way you could discuss the difference between free range and battery stuff, for example, and try and meet her half way?

Meanoldmummy, that is a hilarious explanation, I loved the detail you went into

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 22:00

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Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 22:06

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starlover · 28/01/2006 22:08

hey well it's great she is so inquisitive! and keen to find out what things are made of and how they work.... you'll be remembering this in 20 years when she's a famous scientist! lol

Aimsmum · 28/01/2006 22:11

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