Vegetarian Children?

November 3, 2009

It's not uncommon here for members to say that they have quite recently turned

to vegetarianism and/or veganism. Sometimes they live alone, other times with a

partner or spouse and assorted companion animals, and sometimes there are

children in the family. What about the children?

If you have small children - oh say kids under school age, for argument's sake -

what's the way of handling the fact that you now follow a vegetarian diet

whereas before you were eating animals? Do you explain to them why mommy or

daddy doesn't eat meat anymore? Do you try to show them how vegetarianism is a

better way to eat? And do you start to cook only vegetarian food in the

household? What's best - in your opinion?

And how about older children? Those settled in school or even teenage? How do

you handle the change with regard to them?

I think this is something that more and more people are facing these days.

Advice, opinions, anecdotes would be much appreciated!

Let's hear from you, okay? Even if you don't have children yet or if your

children are all grown up, it's likely you have ideas about this. Let's share.

Best, Pat

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November 3, 2009

When I decided to become a vegetarian I was cooking for a very definitely

carnivore husband and 4 children ranging in age from 8-14. I explained my

choice and the reasons I had made it but did not try to force them to follow my

eating pattern. As 2 of the children were too young to be given the

responsibility for preparing their own meals I couldn't follow that road. I was

working full time and certainly didn't have the time, energy or inclination to

cook separate meals. I told everyone that I would be making vegetarian meals

which could have meat added at the end of the cooking time. I was prepared to

buy and cook meat for those who wanted it although I definitely wouldn't do that

these days.

I developed a repertoire of recipes which could have meat cooked separately and

added in at the end of the cooking process or used more or less as a garnish so

those who wanted meat could continue to have it although in a different form.

Schnitzels, steaks, roasts and chops were replaced by things like stir fries,

vegetable casseroles with some pieces of meat/chicken added at the end, soups

etc. I also invested in a couple of 'nearly vegetarian' recipe books which gave

me lots of ideas for making vegetarian meals adaptable for carnivores.

My late husband was never going to be persuaded to become a vegetarian, 2 of the

children decided to become vegetarians and the other two stayed with eating

meat. Of the two who chose the vegetarian route, one decided to become a vegan,

which he still is over 25 years later. My daughter was a vegetarian for about 4

years until she met her boyfriend (now husband) whose favourite meals were, and

still are (LOL) those purchased from Mc Donald's.

I honestly can't say how I would have handled the situation had the children

been younger when I made the decision to become vegetarian. I know for sure

that I would have had to continue cooking meat for my husband but whether I

would have given the children exclusively vegetarian food will have to remain an

unanswered question.

Luckily my second husband has been a vegetarian since he was 16 so we don't have