Spinoff to Vegetarian Poll

For those of you that are split (vegetarian and SO meat eater or vice versa) have you discussed how you will raise your children? My wife and I have talked about it here and there but I'm curious what others think. It's a pretty big question and kind of parallels decisions in inter-faith marriages.

Re: Spinoff to Vegetarian Poll

There's a little about this on the other thread.

We're interfaith and inter-eating..LOL

I don't think the vegetarian issue even comes close to the religious ones. FH has agreed that we can raise our kids veg, but if they are older and they want to eat meat, then can eat it, outside of the house, or folowing whatever rules FH and I ahve worked out (I find myself compromising more and more). I want to work closely with the docs when I am pregnant/nursing and when the children are growing to make sure they have the right nutrition and they are not deprived of anything. I eat dairy, eggs and fish, so that leaves a lot of choices for the children and I think should be fine and not too restrictive in terms of diet, but I want to make sure that they are getting the right nutrients anyway.

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We haven't discussed it too much, but since we are now expecting I am sure that it will come up. I am for starting the child out vegetarian and then letting it figure things out for itself.

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I am pregnant now and a vegetarian, DH not. I never even thought about making my baby a vegetarian. I would never make that decision for someone.

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Posted by BabyAvocado

Posted by heidla

We haven't discussed it too much, but since we are now expecting I am sure that it will come up. I am for starting the child out vegetarian and then letting it figure things out for itself.

I didn't know you were preggers!! I missed that announcement!! OMG - CONGRATS!!! (Now I have to go check the pg board)

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Posted by heidla
Thanks!!! I just found out yesterday!!!

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FH and I don't plan to have children, but I told him that if we do ever change our minds, I want the children to be vegetarians. I just can't raise children and teach them to do something I am ethically opposed to (of course when they are older, they can make their own decisions). He is fine with that - although it would be difficult when they get older and wonder why daddy eats meat.

Re: Spinoff to Vegetarian Poll

Posted by BabyAvocado

Posted by heidla

We haven't discussed it too much, but since we are now expecting I am sure that it will come up. I am for starting the child out vegetarian and then letting it figure things out for itself.

I didn't know you were preggers!! I missed that announcement!! OMG - CONGRATS!!! (Now I have to go check the pg board)

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We have never really talked about per se-- but I would have my kids eat whatever they wanted-- and I would most likely give them meat off the bat. It's hard enough to get the proper nutrients as a veggie-- I think it's important that they kids get the right amount of everything-- and really, whatever they will eat.

ETA-- Heidi and Natalie-- congrats on your pregnancies! Can I ask how you eat, or are planning to eat to ensure you eat healthy for the baby? Or is it more of just your normal diet?

Message edited 5/3/2006 7:05:17 PM.

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good question. I have to say since my switch to vegetarian I am going to limit the amount of meat my children eat. I choose this because of health reasons, my health was severly compromised b/c of the meat and I know I could have children who suffer from the same thing, os I plan to start them out limiting meat as soon as possible, although I wont deny them ever if they choose it.

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I'm sorry but to compare interfaith couples and their issues to veg/meat eating couples just struck me as a very silly comment.

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Message edited 5/3/2006 9:44:38 PM.

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Tough question. I know DH wants me to eat meat when I become pregnant and I know he'll want us to raise our children with some sort of protein. Sore subject since I'm not necessarily the BEST vegetarian.

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Theres nothing wrong with not eating meat when PG. You can get plenty pf protein from other sources. but vegetarians should try to eat organic if possible when PG because they tend to eat double the fruits and veggies which are filled with pesticides.

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Hmmm... never thought about it.
I'd probably have my child eat meat.....
but i'd prefer them not to.


as per comparing it to interfaith i see no prob comparing the two.... yes they are different... but both are EXTREMELY important aspects of how a child is raised.

its funny, b/c for me the way a child eats is WAY more important than its religion.

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It's a really tough decision. Is there a way to find a compromise? Or does that devalue both points of view? Is it fair to say that maybe you'll only exclude red meat from your children?

I have a problem with the letting them choose when they get older theory. Take religion for example, how many people convert from Judaism or Catholicism after being a Jew or a Catholic their entire young life? Not many. You stick with it because it's what you know. Unless you have a major conflict with it. Like, I've been a meat eater my whole life. I have complete reverence for animals and for life, but I doubt that I would ever become a vegetarian. It can go the other way as well.

This is going to be a tough one when that day comes.

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For me, I don't think it's as important or life-changign as the religion issue and PLENTY of people change from being a veg to a meat eater and back.

I wasn't raised vegetarian, I became vegetarian when I was old enough to choose (13) and brought my mom along with me a few years later.

Eating habits are pretty easy to change. I don't think it involves all of the emotional (and certainly not the ceremonial) aspects of changing religion. I mean, no one thinks their kid is going to go to hell if they don't eat meat, or if they do, but some people might be afraid for a child's soul if they choose another religion, or there would be guilt associated with making the "wrong" or "other" choice. I think with vegetarianism, if one parent eats meat, the other doesn't, the child will see them both as valid choices. if you rais ea child eating meat, it's very easy for them to say "Hey, you know, I don't really want to eat animals", or if they were raised veg to say "That cheeseburger looks good, and i dont see why I shouldn;t eat it" The switch can happen literally overnight, you can be a meat eater one day and a veg the next. This isn't the case with religion, which is seen as a permanent change and requires months and months to change over or chnge back.

Vegetarianism and Meat-eating are big lifestyle choices, but they are easier to make and reverse and carry less weight imo than decisions about religion.

Also, most people I know who are vegetarians of vegans were NOT raised that way, and I also know a number of people who have switched back also.

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Posted by MrChristian

It's a really tough decision. Is there a way to find a compromise? Or does that devalue both points of view? Is it fair to say that maybe you'll only exclude red meat from your children?

I have a problem with the letting them choose when they get older theory. Take religion for example, how many people convert from Judaism or Catholicism after being a Jew or a Catholic their entire young life? Not many. You stick with it because it's what you know. Unless you have a major conflict with it. Like, I've been a meat eater my whole life. I have complete reverence for animals and for life, but I doubt that I would ever become a vegetarian. It can go the other way as well.

This is going to be a tough one when that day comes.

Message edited 5/4/2006 11:26:32 AM.

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