Guest guest Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 I would choose another nursery school that is open to different diets. With all the allergies etc. in the world, most nurseries should be willing to accomodate a different diet. If they are not willing to accomodate and there are no other nursery schools available I would make my own food to send along for my child to eat. If you have to tell them that your child has severe allergies to make sure they understand the importance of not feeding him/her certain foods then do it. I started telling both my children from very early on about vegetarianism. My oldest (6.5 years) understands vegetarianism completely and is a big help in explaining things to her younger brother (2.75 years). Although my son doesn't completely understand he knows that we drink soy milk and not cow's milk and we talk about not hurting animals and that animals are our friends. He will likely be able to understand more fully by the time he is 3.5-4 years old. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 Hi -- I am going to answer, and also rant a bit... For school, point out that other children don't eat some food items either. In my daughter's pre-school/kindergarten, she is the only vegetarian, but there is another child who doesn't eat nuts, another child who doesn't drink the school's juice (food dyes), and another who is allergic to dairy. Rant, rant, rant: I am going through a divorce. There is a custody dispute (my soon to be ex wants 4 days here, 4 days there, 4 days here, etc., which I think will be confusing and upsetting for all involved), so a guardian ad litem was appointed by the court. She favored my husband's point of view, and much of her report was about how good it is for them that he exposes them to " normal " food (he's not a vegetarian, eats dairy and tons of junk food). My total, from-the-heart answer is don't make a big deal out of it. There are rules at Samantha's house, rules at Dylan's house and rules at our house. We don't eat meat, and avoid dairy & processed foods. My kids love our food and most of the time, don't want to try it at other peoples houses (including their dad's) even when I'm not around (and not because they think I'll find out). Hope that helps... Karen Vladimir Profant [vprofant] Tuesday, January 21, 2003 7:17 AM Nursery school Hi all, my son (3,4 - a vegetarian since birth but doesn’t know about that yet) will go to nursery school for the first time on Friday. He will attend it only once a week until June. We chose Fridays on purpose since sweet (no meat) meals are served on that day. So far so good, but the main problem will come in September when my wife will probably have to go to work and our son will attend nursery school five days a week. Of course meat is served four days a week and teachers are allergic to hear anything about special diets. 1. How do you deal with this kind of a problem ? What kind of philosophy do you hold ? 2. When is the right time for children to realize they differ from 99 % of the society ? Vladimir Czech Republic PS: My wife and me have been vegetarians for about one year - since we found enough courage to tell even our parents „no more meat " . Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 Vladimir, I'm so glad you wrote in, in part because I'm facing this issue here in the US and also because I'll be moving to the Czech Republic soon (7-9 months?) and would love to have a few veggie contacts! If you're willing to stay in touch with me, please email me off-list. As for the nursery situation, I have 3 suggestions: 1. Tell the " allergic " (ha ha!) teachers that your son is very allergic to meat (and anything else you avoid). This may or may not scare them into compliance. 2. Provide his own meals. This may be a bit of a challenge, both for cost and convenience, but the daycare should at least be willing to put his lunch in the refrigerator. Your son is old enough to understand that he shouldn't eat other kids' food. My son is the same age, and often asks, " Is this vegan? " or " Does this have eggs, or milk, or meat in it? " Before he even *thinks* about eating it. So if your son has his own food and knows not to eat other kids food, then he'll be okay. 3. Your son *is* old enough to learn that his eating is different from most Czechs' eating, but you don't have to tell him exactly that - tell him that everyone is different, everyone's face and skin and hair and body and likes and dislikes and feelings and manners are all different. Your son looks a bit like you and a bit like your mother, but not exactly. he eats like you and his mother (I'm assuming), but he has his own food likes and dislikes, and so on. So I suggest that if you teach him that everyone is different and special in their own way, then he won't feel that his vegetarianism is the only thing that makes him different. Good luck! Doh ------- " They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. " ~ Ben Franklin > > Vladimir Profant <vprofant > Nursery school > > Hi all, > > my son (3,4 - a vegetarian since birth but doesn’t > know about that yet) will go to nursery school for the > first time on Friday. He will attend it only once a > week until June. We chose Fridays on purpose since > sweet (no meat) meals are served on that day. So far > so good, but the main problem will come in September > when my wife will probably have to go to work and our > son will attend nursery school five days a week. Of > course meat is served four days a week and teachers > are allergic to hear anything about special diets. > > 1. How do you deal with this kind of a problem ? What > kind of philosophy do you hold ? > > 2. When is the right time for children to realize they > differ from 99 % of the society ? > > Vladimir > Czech Republic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 Hello I am a vegan grandmother with a live in daughter and granddaughter. We were not all vegan or vegetarians until our grandaughter arrived, in which case I decided to make major life changes. She is now nearly 5 is very well versed in why she is vegetarian and I am vegan. She can tell everyone in her school where anything comes from, how it is made and what it contains, in case they get on her case for being or eating'differently'. The more information you know about yourself the easier life is. I think any child that is vegetarian ought to know why the choice has been made for them and why the choices are valid. (Which we all know, but they need to know to sustain themselves) I also own and operate a nursery school and kindergarten. We have done so, my husband and I for 20 years. We have had many families with allergies and always did our best to be sure those children were well looked after to be sure no foods that were allergic to them were ever served Now as you can imagine we serve no animal products, children who stay for lunch bring their own lunches, I provide snacks and juice (for years we served milk, what was I thinking!!) In reverence to my own cause I choose to serve healthful snacks and drinks. I recently taught a class thru Childspan in the state of RI to educators of young children on the " diversity of eating -vegan/vegetarian families " To teach them that CHOICE is just as important as no choice as in allergies. Only 9 educators came but they were interested in accepting vegetarian families into their schools with respect to their eating habits. Remember to help educate the childrens teachers, they most likely have no clue where you are coming from. Handouts like PETA and VEGAN AWARENESS do make a difference. The teachers who came to me were astounded at what they learned in one night about what they were eating! So don't judge until you give them a chance to make a change or help you out If they don't accept your policies for you, your child and your family by all means go elsewhere. I know Vladimir you may not have such choice, but healthy eating makes a difference. ONE voice can make a difference. Make it be yours! Pamela ---- Tuesday, January 21, 2003 8:48:20 AM Nursery school Hi all, my son (3,4 - a vegetarian since birth but doesn’t know about that yet) will go to nursery school for the first time on Friday. He will attend it only once a week until June. We chose Fridays on purpose since sweet (no meat) meals are served on that day. So far so good, but the main problem will come in September when my wife will probably have to go to work and our son will attend nursery school five days a week. Of course meat is served four days a week and teachers are allergic to hear anything about special diets. 1. How do you deal with this kind of a problem ? What kind of philosophy do you hold ? 2. When is the right time for children to realize they differ from 99 % of the society ? Vladimir Czech Republic PS: My wife and me have been vegetarians for about one year - since we found enough courage to tell even our parents „no more meat " . Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 >1. Tell the " allergic " (ha ha!) teachers that your son is very allergic to >meat (and anything else you avoid). This may or may not scare them into >compliance. I've used this in restaurants. If I ask that something be prepared without any dairy products because I'm vegan, I figure they will think that it won't hurt me if they aren't careful in the preparation because it's a quirky " preference " or a choice. However, if they believe that I'm deathly allergic to these items if they come remotely close to the food I eat, they don't want bad publicity or a lawsuit on their hands if I become very ill ) I read this in a book and thought it was very clever. Stephanie is correct that someone who has not eaten dairy or meat for a long time (or having never eaten it) can become very sick after ingesting those items. A friend of mine ate something that the preparer figured 'if she doesn't know there is a little milk in it, it won't hurt her'. My friend had diarrhea for *days*. So telling the daycare that these items will make your son very sick won't likely be a stretch of the truth. ~Marvelyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 Hi - The daycare our children attends serves no meat at all, so that's not an issue. The trouble is that the breakfasts and snacks could be a lot more nutritious, but at least there is no meat. As for when I child should know that he is " different, " I would agree with others that he should be told now about vegetarianism and why you do not eat meat. My daughter is 3.5 years old, knows that we do not eat meat and has started telling people that she is vegetarian. I'm not sure she really grasps what it all means at this point, other than that we don't eat our friends. As for being different, as someone else pointed out, other children are different in other ways. There is a little boy in her room who cannot have nuts, one boy who is allowed no sweets, etc. At this age I think they just accept; the world is still pretty new to them so I'm not sure they know what " normal " is anyway. Good luck to you. Karen - " Vladimir Profant " <vprofant Tuesday, January 21, 2003 7:17 AM Nursery school > Hi all, > > my son (3,4 - a vegetarian since birth but doesn't > know about that yet) will go to nursery school for the > first time on Friday. He will attend it only once a > week until June. We chose Fridays on purpose since > sweet (no meat) meals are served on that day. So far > so good, but the main problem will come in September > when my wife will probably have to go to work and our > son will attend nursery school five days a week. Of > course meat is served four days a week and teachers > are allergic to hear anything about special diets. > > 1. How do you deal with this kind of a problem ? What > kind of philosophy do you hold ? > > 2. When is the right time for children to realize they > differ from 99 % of the society ? > > Vladimir > Czech Republic > > PS: My wife and me have been vegetarians for about one > year - since we found enough courage to tell even our > parents " no more meat " . > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. > http://mailplus. > > > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 In response to all of your wonderful responses about nursery school menus, I just wanted to say thank you. You have all given me wonderful ideas. And Karen, I too am going through a custody battle and had not even thought about my ex's diet. He is not vegan as my daughter and I are and when he is granted visitation, he may not continue to feed her vegan, healthful foods. She is too young to protest or know and I know she could be very sick if he does not comply with her diet. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! ~Robin > " Karen L. Thurston " <Karen > > >RE: Nursery school >Tue, 21 Jan 2003 10:43:46 -0500 > >Hi -- I am going to answer, and also rant a bit... > >For school, point out that other children don't eat some food items either. >In my daughter's pre-school/kindergarten, she is the only vegetarian, but >there is another child who doesn't eat nuts, another child who doesn't >drink >the school's juice (food dyes), and another who is allergic to dairy. > >Rant, rant, rant: I am going through a divorce. There is a custody dispute >(my soon to be ex wants 4 days here, 4 days there, 4 days here, etc., which >I think will be confusing and upsetting for all involved), so a guardian ad >litem was appointed by the court. She favored my husband's point of view, >and much of her report was about how good it is for them that he exposes >them to " normal " food (he's not a vegetarian, eats dairy and tons of junk >food). > >My total, from-the-heart answer is don't make a big deal out of it. There >are rules at Samantha's house, rules at Dylan's house and rules at our >house. We don't eat meat, and avoid dairy & processed foods. My kids love >our food and most of the time, don't want to try it at other peoples houses >(including their dad's) even when I'm not around (and not because they >think >I'll find out). > >Hope that helps... >Karen > > >Vladimir Profant [vprofant] >Tuesday, January 21, 2003 7:17 AM > > Nursery school > > >Hi all, > >my son (3,4 - a vegetarian since birth but doesn’t >know about that yet) will go to nursery school for the >first time on Friday. He will attend it only once a >week until June. We chose Fridays on purpose since >sweet (no meat) meals are served on that day. So far >so good, but the main problem will come in September >when my wife will probably have to go to work and our >son will attend nursery school five days a week. Of >course meat is served four days a week and teachers >are allergic to hear anything about special diets. > >1. How do you deal with this kind of a problem ? What >kind of philosophy do you hold ? > >2. When is the right time for children to realize they >differ from 99 % of the society ? > >Vladimir >Czech Republic > >PS: My wife and me have been vegetarians for about one >year - since we found enough courage to tell even our >parents „no more meat " . > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. >http://mailplus. > > > >For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at >http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to >http://www.vrg.org/family. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2003 Report Share Posted January 27, 2003 Hi, I would like to thank you for all your responses to my questions. I read them all to my wife and they really helped us. My wife spent the first day in the nursery school together with our son. She also discussed our needs with the teacher and the cook. She said they understood it and were quite willing to listen to her. As Pamela said " don't judge until you give them a chance to make a change or help you out " (there is certainly enough room for my personal growth). I had judged them all as allergic just because the director seemed to be nervous when asking us about special diets. It doesn't mean they are going to make different meals for our son - it means they are going to respect us. Great ! I didn't expect more that day. Thanks again Vladimir Czech Republic PS: As you all said we were not the only ones who needed something special. The teacher's son has some problems with his bowels so she has to make gluten-free meals for him every day. > - > " Vladimir Profant " <vprofant > > Tuesday, January 21, 2003 7:17 AM > Nursery school > > > Hi all, > > my son (3,4 - a vegetarian since birth but doesn't > know about that yet) will go to nursery school for > the > first time on Friday. He will attend it only once a > week until June. We chose Fridays on purpose since > sweet (no meat) meals are served on that day. So far > so good, but the main problem will come in September > when my wife will probably have to go to work and > our > son will attend nursery school five days a week. Of > course meat is served four days a week and teachers > are allergic to hear anything about special diets. > > 1. How do you deal with this kind of a problem ? > What > kind of philosophy do you hold ? > > 2. When is the right time for children to realize > they > differ from 99 % of the society ? > > Vladimir > Czech Republic > > PS: My wife and me have been vegetarians for about > one > year - since we found enough courage to tell even > our > parents " no more meat " . Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2003 Report Share Posted January 27, 2003 Great news! Stephanie - Vladimir Profant Monday, January 27, 2003 3:23 AM Re: Nursery school Hi, I would like to thank you for all your responses to my questions. I read them all to my wife and they really helped us. My wife spent the first day in the nursery school together with our son. She also discussed our needs with the teacher and the cook. She said they understood it and were quite willing to listen to her. As Pamela said " don't judge until you give them a chance to make a change or help you out " (there is certainly enough room for my personal growth). I had judged them all as allergic just because the director seemed to be nervous when asking us about special diets. It doesn't mean they are going to make different meals for our son - it means they are going to respect us. Great ! I didn't expect more that day. Thanks again Vladimir Czech Republic PS: As you all said we were not the only ones who needed something special. The teacher's son has some problems with his bowels so she has to make gluten-free meals for him every day. > - > " Vladimir Profant " <vprofant > > Tuesday, January 21, 2003 7:17 AM > Nursery school > > > Hi all, > > my son (3,4 - a vegetarian since birth but doesn't > know about that yet) will go to nursery school for > the > first time on Friday. He will attend it only once a > week until June. We chose Fridays on purpose since > sweet (no meat) meals are served on that day. So far > so good, but the main problem will come in September > when my wife will probably have to go to work and > our > son will attend nursery school five days a week. Of > course meat is served four days a week and teachers > are allergic to hear anything about special diets. > > 1. How do you deal with this kind of a problem ? > What > kind of philosophy do you hold ? > > 2. When is the right time for children to realize > they > differ from 99 % of the society ? > > Vladimir > Czech Republic > > PS: My wife and me have been vegetarians for about > one > year - since we found enough courage to tell even > our > parents " no more meat " . Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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