I really don't understand it. If the child is healthy, then how is this child abuse. And I know some people say "you should force your beliefs on children" but think about it. No matter what you eat, your forcing your beliefs on your child. If you raise them eating meat, you are forcing your its right to eat meat beliefs on your child. I'm so confused.
Also, I did hear about the vegan baby who died. That was because all he was given was soy milk and apple juice, which is ridiculous! There is so much vegan food around, why would you only give your child soy milk. And not even soy formula? I think they found out that the parents had a psychological disorder, so you can't blame veganism for the child's unfortunate death
xxlillyliciousxx2008-08-02T00:32:00Z
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Raising your children vegetarian or vegan isn't abuse. It's a choice, and we are free to make choice on our own terms. If meat eaters say making your child not eat meat is abuse, can't a vegetarian say that making your child eat meat abuse? There could have been several reasons why the baby died. Maybe it had a disorder. There are so many reasons. I don't see why meat-eaters dislike vegetarians/vegans so much. All the vegetarians that i know, including me, aren't going to shove our beliefs down your throats. It's a choice, and you have a choice of eating meat or not. Children now-a-days have their own beliefs and opinions, and it's only going to get worse as the new generation grows-up. I was the only vegetarian growing up in my house hold, but my family was supportive of me, as long as i didn't make faces at their food.
I think, from many of the answers given, that the biggest objection to vegan diets is that people are misinformed or listen to second hand 'facts' that they take as truth. They don't understand where protein comes from. They think that somehow 'meat protein' is better absorbed into the body. They don't know where to get calcium other then dairy. I find it ironic that the people who say it's 'child abuse' to make your children eat vegan are often the same ones telling teenagers that want to go veg that they need to listen to their parents. I also find it ironic when people talk about vegan kids not getting the right nutrients when virtually every American kid is being robed of the nutrients they need. ONly 25% of kids get enough fruits and vegetables daily. The most common vegetable kids eat are french fries. The Average American is deficient in vitamins A, C, K, E, folic acid, magnesium, and fiber. Childhood diabetes and obesity rates are skyrocketing. And yet people try and say that a vegan diet is wrong? It reminds me of that bible verse about taking the log out of your own eye before pointing to the speck of duct in your brother's eye. I am vegetarian, and plan on raising my kids vegetarian.
The majority of the population doesn't understand what veganism is. My father is the same way. He keeps telling me I'm going to whither away and die if I stay vegan.
A vegan diet can be very unhealthy if done incorrectly. Just as any diet can be very unhealthy if done incorrectly. A lot of people associate veganism with malnourishment. So if you're raising your child vegan, they assume the child isn't fed properly.
It's just kind of ridiculous that most of the same people that view raising a child as a vegan don't view raising a child on McDonalds and other fast food as abuse.
yes, I wish they wouldnt force me to eat beans and pork. if parents dont listen to what child wants, then its child neglect.
and there is no vegan culture. you'll get lots of vegetarians. indians are one of the oldest ones that showed to the world how dairy is important and that its very possible to raise children with vegetarianism. I only wish the rest of the world would listen to them. indians and arabians gave us numerals 1234567890 and they are terribly treated and disrespected, while they gave us so much useful knowledge.
Well, I was just reading about another child who was starved to death recently. She was failed by several presumedly meat-eaters (see it's not considered an issue unless veg*ns are involved). Nine people are charged in this death because every one of them turned away while she was being abused:
This case seems to be far more brutal so maybe those who aren't veg*n are more vicious? (see how platitudes can be drawn?)
We raise our children with all kinds of issues including disfunction and religion and the same people who make a big deal about how a child should have a choice to eat meat rarely say that about whether they should have a choice not to, or to reject the family religion.
When my daughter wanted to be veg*n I asked her to research it first because I wanted her to understand her choice but after that I not only supported it, I ended up following her because my own research showed the superiority of the diet in pretty much every way. Essentially, the only reason we'd been eating as we had been was that was just what everyone else did. Questioning things is good. Shows capability of thought and a search for truth.
EDIT TO ADD: My job as a parent is to guide and to make sure she has good food to eat within her choices which remarkably were foods I'd wanted her to eat more of anyway. The other side of being the parent is restricting bad choices. For instance, any junk has to be bought with her own money (amazing how it isn't worth it then) and in the beginning if she wanted pizza it couldn't be just cheese but she had to choose at least one vegetable and extra sauce (she now eats very well -- much better than she ever did pre-meatless -- and is much healthier even though she seemed healthy before; the difference is amazing).
Kids can be remarkably stubborn (as can the "grown" members of the family) and as a parent it's not about winning but raising capable and competent adults who are able to make good choices when we aren't around anymore.
I have told her how impressed I am with her for standing up for what is correct for her.