what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

I'm not really a vegetarian..I eat chicken and turkey. DH eats all meat. But, since I don't cook anything but chicken & turkey, he only eats meat out of the house. I've told him he can buy the meat and teach me how to cook it, but he says it's healthier. So, now I am thinking- I don't know how to cook meat- so I will probably just feed the baby chicken & turkey when the time comes. Do you think that's wrong? I mean - when he/she goes to grandma's or wherever, they can have meatballs or whatever- I'm not against it. BUt I feel like I am pushing my eating habits onto the baby. What do you think?

ETS: I changed the post title .

Message edited 9/2/2009 4:48:32 PM.

Re: what do you think of raising a baby vegetarian?

You don't sound vegetarian to me

IMO, if you eat and feed your child a diverse and balanced diet, but omit only red meat, they wont even miss it.

For instance, I was raised with no pork. My parents never kept pork in the house or ate it, or fed it to me. Still today, I don't like the smell of pork, well, except when its smoked, like ... I love Bacon!

Re: what do you think of raising a baby vegetarian?

Good point! I never thought of it like that. Not eating certain things for religious beliefs is totally acceptable.

I'm not vegetarian. But when I say "I don't eat red meat" ppl always say "are you vegetarian?" lol

I guess it's because I already feel guilty that I've converted Dh. And ppl make comments about it. I just don't like meat and really even cooking it would make me a little sick.

Re: what do you think of raising a baby vegetarian?

Re: what do you think of raising a baby vegetarian?

I'm a vegetarian and don't eat any type of meat. My husband eats meat and I cook it for him. I've decided to give my child meat. I think being a vegetarian is a personal choice and he or she can make that choice when they are older. When the child starts going to school, then it becomes an issue. Some kids feel left out or there is really not a lot of substitutes for vegetarians when it comes to school lunch. I've seen it happen, I work at a preschool.

Message edited 9/2/2009 4:47:16 PM.

Re: what do you think of raising a baby vegetarian?

My SIL is a vegetarian (not vegan) & raised my 4 y/o niece completely veg for the first 2 1/2 - 3 years of her life...until she stole a bit of my brother's hamburger & converted herself to a meat eater...after that there was now stopping her Anyways, my SIL was VERY conscientious and made sure to keep her diet varied & very well balanced, making sure that she got all of her vitamins & nutrients on a daily basis. It actually looked like a lot of work to me & I applaud her for it - my niece was a thriving, healthy, chubby-cheeked kid the entire time she was veg. If it's done right, I think it can be a very healthy thing to raise a child vegetarian...

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

Posted by jam11308

My SIL is a vegetarian (not vegan) & raised my 4 y/o niece completely veg for the first 2 1/2 - 3 years of her life...until she stole a bit of my brother's hamburger & converted herself to a meat eater...after that there was now stopping her Anyways, my SIL was VERY conscientious and made sure to keep her diet varied & very well balanced, making sure that she got all of her vitamins & nutrients on a daily basis. It actually looked like a lot of work to me & I applaud her for it - my niece was a thriving, healthy, chubby-cheeked kid the entire time she was veg. If it's done right, I think it can be a very healthy thing to raise a child vegetarian...

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

Posted by jam11308

My SIL is a vegetarian (not vegan) & raised my 4 y/o niece completely veg for the first 2 1/2 - 3 years of her life...until she stole a bit of my brother's hamburger & converted herself to a meat eater...after that there was now stopping her Anyways, my SIL was VERY conscientious and made sure to keep her diet varied & very well balanced, making sure that she got all of her vitamins & nutrients on a daily basis. It actually looked like a lot of work to me & I applaud her for it - my niece was a thriving, healthy, chubby-cheeked kid the entire time she was veg. If it's done right, I think it can be a very healthy thing to raise a child vegetarian...

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

i was raised not eating any fish in our house (other than canned tuna or frozen fish sticks), because my mom doesn't eat it. She's allergic so it was never cooked. With that said, I LOVE fish. I was allowed to pick anything I wanted from menus and was allowed to taste anything I wanted.

I think children should be exposed to everything and anything. I think it teaches them to try new things and learn, on their own, what they like and don't like.

DH doesn't eat A LOT of foods - he makes a picky toddler look agreeable. lol. He is going to have to suck it up b/c I plan on cooking a variety of foods for our son.

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

i dont eat any meat, i go on and off with chicken and turkey, but usually unless im pregnant and have cravings i dont eat any of it..
my ds loves red meat, and so does dh, so i cook it for them..i wanted to see how dd did on her own, and it turns out that so far, she hates chicken..and i wont be trying anything else except for that..
if she likes it later, thats fine..but shes still lil (8 months) and shell eat ANY kind of fruit or veggie..
I plan on raising this baby the same..

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

I don't think anything is wrong with that! IMO, unless someone is abusing or neglecting their child, it is not our place to judge how other mommies raise their children.

My friend is raising her daughter vegan and she is super healthy and happy!

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

My cousin and her 2 kids (8 and 5) are all vegans. She made the choice for them * I think* but I'm not a 100% sure how it all went down. The Dh is only a vegan when he is inside the house; outside the house, he eats what he wished.

I applaud my cousin b/c it's not an easy lifestyle there is so much that goes into it!

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

it's perfectly fine!!

i only eat turkey and chicken--no fish, beef, pork, etc. i will not even physically TOUCH those meats.

if DH gives them to DS he gets them, but i don't serve them. red meat is not a necessary part of a diet

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

I might ask the pediatrician. It might be challenging to get your LO enough iron without the red meat, especially if s/he is a picky eater. Plus if he's only eating meat occasionally, I'm not sure how his digestive system will handle it.

Can you learn how to cook it? I just use a George Foreman grill and that works pretty well for most things. Or if DH makes dinner once a week and it's red meat, that should be good enough. I don't think it's bad as long as LOs diet is rich enough in the vitamins and things that are in red meat.

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

We only eat red meat when we go out as well. We cook a lot with turkey meat, it is better for. I do love a regular burger once in awhile...so I think we will just eat the same once we have a kid.

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

my sister is a total carnivore, however, my 2 year old nephew refuses to eat red meat. He actually refuses to eat anything other than grilled cheese, PB&J, and chicken fingers as an entree. Luckily he loves fruits and veggies. He is doing just fine without his red meat! I wouldn't worry.

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

We really dont eat red meat either. Once in a while we will have steak or burgers but even when I make meatballs i mix the meat with pork and veal. I dont think there is anything wrong with that. Its good to have every once in a while but what you make is much leaner and healthier

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

Re: what do you think of raising a baby to not eat red meat?

I never eat red meat, ever. DH does, but not at home unless he cooks a burger for himself on the grill. DC will not be eating red meat.
They can get iron from green leafy veggies, like broccoli (which they love), and there is also iron in baby cereal. They also take a multi vitamin with iron. I am not concerned.