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Vegetarian/vegan Children-is It Ok?

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Just wondered as I prepare for school lunches etc what your thoughts were on children being vegan/vegetarian , I should specify I mean because an adult has decided not because they are at an age where they may consider it a lifestyle choice themselves.

OneeyedRaven
over a year ago
What do you think of this?+20 points
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RegularComper90

I think a child should be given the choice as to whether or not they want to consume meat.

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MrsCraig

I think it should be up to the child. My son is current weaning so he gets given a variety of food and gets meat. However if he decides when he is older that he wants to be vegetarian or vegan that is his choice and I will learn how to prepare food for him.

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OneeyedRaven

think this is how I feel about it to be honest- think when theyre younger I shall give them as varied diet at possible and then if they voice any preference take it from there- I went vegetarian at 9 and reverted in my 20s never been vegan yet im not sure if I could

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sarahgreen15

My mum wanted to be a vegetarian when she was a child and my grandmother said she could make that decision herself at 16 years old but not before then because of needing a balanced diet and enough protein to grow and needing to be grown up enough to make that decision.. I agree with her and I wouldn’t encourage my child to be vegetarian, I would tell them they could make that decision themselves at 16..

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kikogpe
Mentor

There is a big difference for Vegan and Vegetarian.

A vegetarian can continue to consume animal protein through dairy products and eggs, in which case not eating meat makes no difference, but if parents want the child to follow a vegan diet, the control has to be much greater and watch out for that your child consumes all the necessary nutrients.

But on the question of who should decide this, I agree that it is the parents, as long as they do not obviously harm the child's health, just as parents may decide that their child does not eat fast food, soft drinks, sugary foods, etc.

After all, parents are their children's guides. Every day I see children under 10 years of age, completely obese, is something that breaks my heart and I can't blame anyone but this child's parents. It does not matter the diet, but whether parents will ensure a healthy life for their child.

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OneeyedRaven

thank you this is kind of why I asked the question as yes i realise a huge difference between the two and I was wondering if adults narrowing food choices was a good thing in terms of growth and also freedom, peer pressures emotional relationship with foods etc. Bottom line is a bad diet either dirty vegan or processed meat junk is going to be more undermining to health than one which is balanced and nutrient rich.

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AgnesFaludi

Vegetarian diet is fine, but vegan is a bit more serious, because they do not get enough B12 vitamin and u will need to get vitamins to get it to level.

Some new studies suggest kids who eat less B12 more likely to become drug addicts...

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GlitchHunter

My friend is vegetarian, the husband not. The child is. I guess as the child grow and can ask for specific foods then he can ask to try meat but if the diet is varied enough then there is no need to give them meat if they don't want to.

Another friend was vegetarian for over 20 years since birth then started eating meat so it goes both ways

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PhilipMarc

To eat healthy you don't necessarily have to go all vegan, it depends on the meals.

Watch this movie/documentary if you haven't.

This requires a U.S. IP/VPN.

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OneeyedRaven

Thank you for sharing yes ive seen it - it frightened the fat pants off me. What im getting at is like you have stated veganism is quite extreme- not meant in a negative way- and is it fair to limit growing children or is that just another parental choice like weekend activities, is it selfish or even irresponsible? although im sure smoking sugar and junk is more irresponsible long term.

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GlitchHunter

Well today an article in the paper stated that a child ate only junk food his whole life and now hes deaf and blind.

Unless you get a whole variety of the correct vitamins and minerals. You gonna have a bad time. Regardless what diet you follow

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SaverDeals

I think we were all pushed by our parents to eat a certain way until we were old enough to decide for ourselves, so I don't see why that shouldn't be the same for vegetarians and vegans, o long as the diet is nutritional then there is no problem.

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