do vegetarian mums have to have vegetarian babies?

[bobblehead]

Hi
I have been veggie for many years now, although I'm not against meat eating in principal. Someone told me the other day that as I was vegetarian it would be better for my dd to not eat meat when she was weaned (something to do with the digestion). Personally, I would probably prefer not to give her meat until she is old enough to decide for herself, but as dh is a huge meateater I don't think this will be an option unless I can give him good reasons for it. Do any wise mnetters have any experience of this or know why it would be better for her to be veggie?
(sorry, this is a bit rambling hope it makes sense)

Yes I did occasionally. Not much as it was easier eating what I had prepared for everyone else.

I think I know where you're coming from on this - in essence he has had it already?

Exactly, so he's technically not a strict vegetarian ( your ds that is) so if he wants to try meat, then let him I say.

WWB, I am not having a go at anyone. It is simply that, personally, I feel that as vegetarianism is so much a part of my value system feeding my children meat would be TO ME, wrong. One can't give a weaning baby a choice. As parents we make choices on our childrens behalf and as such, just as I won't put meat or meat products into my body I can not imagine doing this to my child.

I realise this becomes more problematic when a child has a meat eating parent and a vegetarian parent. I also realise it depends on ones reason for being veggie.

However, giving a child meat is no more about giving them choice than not. My children will choose eventually whether they remain veggie or not but as I would not serve meat for anybody else in my home I wouldn't do it for my children either. My friends who are veggie feel the same way.

Haven't meant to offend anyone I, personally, just find it odd.

I am veggie and DH isn't therefore we decided to let out kids eat meat. Also tbh although I am veggie, my diet isn't that healthy and certianly NOT something I could wean children on. Soft eggs, cottage cheese, low fat stuff. So I made the choice once my kids were old enough to eat meat, that they would.

Nowadays dd aged 6 is starting to want to be veggie, so she often has my meals. She rarely eats red meat (maybe once a week) but I haven't done many bean/lentil/quorn type things - she tastes mine usually. DD aged 4 may end up that way, but she doesn't eat veggies, so I doubt it

no

I'm veggie but my DH eats meat. My DS will be given a good balance of meat and veg. I'd like him to have good quality meat though, the same as I'd like him to have organic veg if poss. This probably sounds shallow to some, but as I am not a 'moral' veggie, I want my ds to fit in with his peers at birthday parties & teas etc!

If you are confident about being able to provide a balanced diet no problem. I say this as an ex vegetarian and having watched many women who are vegtarians say they are as an excuse for dieting really. My dh is vegetarian and we eat vegetarian at home mostly as he cooks for us but I eat meat when out.

My ds is fed meat (organic good quality) 2-3 times a week as I do most of his lunchtime cooking for him. We do this as I am not happy that I can guarantee a good balanced diet (while I'm still reasonably in control of this) without it. I know it is possible to do but it would be too much for me to manage with working etc. My dh is perfectly happy about this.

When ds is old enough to ask about being a vegetarian, if he wants to be that will be no problem.

I do think people are vegetarian for many reasons and if both partners are vegetarian I think raising a child vegetarian makes most sense. However if one of you eats meat it's more about what works best for the family as a whole

Anna

Ps - as someone who loves food of all sorts - I do sort of understand your dh's worry that he won't be able to share one of his loves with his daughter.

I'm amazed at vegetarianism and what it covers for some people.

I come across lots of people who describe themselves as vegetarian and have to conifrm their dietary requirements for catering purposes - usually aks do they eat fish as experience shows many do. It's not unusual for the response to come back 'Yes, fish ok - and chicken'. Why can't they just say 'No meat - poultry & fish only'?

Unfortunately questioning people about their dietary needs means that the few people who are very strict e.g. strict veggies, vegans, coeliacs (although would never question someone describing themselves as coeliac or having an allergy) tend to get ticked off and can be a bit shirty in their replies!

Sounds like total bobbins to me. I've been veggie for 15 years. I give my ds meat (which he loves) as I'm more concerned about him getting adequate iron than anything else. But then I'm not a vegetarian out of principle, I just don't like meat. There isn't anything wrong with ds's digestion, he wolfs meat down, in fact it is his favourite and always has been since I started weaning with the full range of foods (he's now nearly 2)

Sue - on the whole I just say "no meat" (I eat fish, no chicken). However for ease there are times when I would say I was vegetarian - when ordering catered meals such as at weddings, etc.

I'm veggie, and so is DD but purely because it is easier... Although I have to admit that she eats fish (but I don't) just because I want her to eat a healthy balanced diet.

Our reasons are that as a veggie she gets lots of quorn / butter beans / lentils / other beans etc etc as we have that stuff naturally in the house.

If we were to give her meat, then it would be the rubbish stuff because we wouldn't be able to justify buying a whole joint of beef for one little girl, so we decided that her diet would be awful if she ate meat. We also didn't want her eating meat out anyway, because at nurseries, shops etc you can never guarantee the quality of the meat, and in catering is most likely not to be of the very highest quality. Therefore, we concluded that the best option was to go for a veggie diet and to be honest I think it works - she eats very heathily, with lots of protein from non animal sources, and I take care to ensure she gets a balanced diet, because I know I have to be that much more careful... also, as she is the only veggie child at her nursery, her diet is largely led by what I want to give her (I supplied the recipies!!). They do put a lot of thought into making sure she gets good food better I think than some of the meat options!!

HTH

I'm vegetarian, dh is not. I am happy to cook meat for the kids.

I'm with WWB on this - why should my choice be forced on the kids?

Yes - we are vegetarian household.

they can make their own decisions later, but I am not serving up meat. They will plenty of life later on from meat consumption if they so wish, like when they move out

Don't want to get into the row about whether it is right to bring up your child veggie or not, but I just wanted to say that I thought the word 'force' is very strong to use and could be used both ways. Some mothers could argue that they don't want to 'force' their child to be veggie, others that they don't want to 'force' meat on their child... either way you can argue that you are forcing something on your child whatever way you look at it, so I find the whole 'forcing' thing a bit of a non argument. It is also very emotive too, and sounds as though you are being very cruel for raising your child veggie - something I personally would not agree with (see previous post).

However, I do agree that it makes you no less of a vegetarian to give your child meat - everyone has got to find their own way, and no-one should judge others for their choices, including judging whether 'forcing' children to be veggie is right or wrong!!

I've been veggie for 23 years and now can't eat meat because it makes me sick. I was planning on giving dd a bit of meat because I wanted her to retain the choice. And also because my reasons for going veggie in the 1970's don't apply so much today, with organic and well-reared meat being available now. Plus I do think it'll be easier for me to ensure that dd has a more well-balanced diet with a bit of fish and meat (though I accept that other mums will feel differently!).

I agree that we all "impose" our lifestyles on our kids, whether that's eating or not eating meat or any other kind of way of life.

But am I the only one worrying about whether dd will ever be able to eat meat if I don't give it to her now? Perhaps my own experience of this is unusual.

I'm with the veggies who give their kids meat on this one. Mine both started eating meat at 18 months to 2 years. I made the decision to give up meat as a child, and if either of them choose later on to do the same (i suspect DD1(6) will)then I would be happy that they are making an informed choice.

As far as being able to tolerate meat in later life if brought up vegetarian, I know of one friend who was vegan from birth , and as an adult can only be described as a rampant steak eater!