re: vegetarian transition

[Guest guest]

Although my husband and I were both vegetarian before we went out on

our first date, we raised our two children with low meat (they were

chicken nugget-o, baloney-o, lacto-ovo vegetarians). It was a

philisophical decision with us, and frankly, we were concerned that

some minor key element would be missing. We are animal lovers (5

dogs), and the kids are very involved with the dogs. I had to

explain to my young daughter why we couldn't grow hot dogs in the

garden. My daughter at age 7 decided to go vegetarian!! A surprise

to us and she did it. When my son was 5 we attended a 3 day vegan

symposium and learned how much healthier the vegan diet was. When we

got home, I poured him a big glass of milk (he hadn't eaten much over

the weekend, picky eater)...he just looked at me and said... " Mommy,

milk isn't good for you! " That was it, he was vegan. We all went

vegan at that point. When we go to vegan symposiums/ lectures, the

kids sit with us and have learned a lot!

Don't get the impression that we are " pure " whatever that is.

We transitioned with some of the foods that we had, while learning

about new foods. The kids still eat some veggie burgers that have

casein in them. I just am happy to get food in them sometimes. I

also am biding my time, trying diligently to find new family/kid

friendly recipes. We are aiming for a whole food vegan diet. The

aim and the actual day to day foods don't always match. But there is

an amusing transition. I have learned that if you get one of those

handy apple core/ wedge cutters, and put out apple wedges... they

disappear, as do carrot sticks and nuts. Also of interest, at my

daughters insistence, our 5 dogs are vegan, too...we just did it, no

complaints, they look great! And no stinky, gross dog food.

For us, being vegan is about love. We love the animals and are

grateful that we can live, treading more lightly on the earth. I

have been so thrilled that our kids have made decisions for

themselves. They know that they would be loved just as much if they

were meat eaters...but that I would no longer fix the meat at home.

On a rare occasion, the 5 year old son had fast food meat after we

went vegan. It was no big deal. It was his choice. He later said

he didn't like it anymore. I told the kids that I want them to live

consciously, to make good decisions for themselves. I wasn't going

to make the decisions for them. If they had decided that animals

were intended for consumption, or that saying a prayer thanking

animals for the gift of their lives would be adequate...then I would

have been happy that they were living consciously.

I also want them to understand that God loves the animals, and

the people who try to protect them and not harm them. He also loves

equally those who kill them with out thinking and are cruel to them.

It is about love, unconditional love, and our power to wield it, too.

I hope this helps...it is an interesting journey.

Lynn Dolson