Better health

By Jill

January 13, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this

My two children (now 12 and 16) have been vegetarian since birth, and are great examples of how healthy and successful a veg diet can be. They never had ear infections, rarely get sick, and will very likely escape the cancer and heart disease that runs in the family. It’s not weird or difficult; what’s strange is parents who give their kids chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and other foods that are known to contribute to obesity and disease. So if your kids want to go veg, go with them! (FYI, fish and chickens are not vegetables and anyone who eats them is not vegetarian and shouldn’t call themselves such.)

By Amy

January 13, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this

My son is 2 1/2 and a strict vegetarian. He does eat some cheese, but we buy no milk or eggs. While he’s only a sample of one, he’s the healthiest kid you can imagine—never sick, no ear infections or strep throat, and very tall and strong.

Luckily, we live in a community where being a vegetarian isn’t uncommon, but we also know that it will get more difficult as he gets older. My spouse and I find it very disturbing to be with other parents as they feed their children a variety of dead animal products, especially when it’s clear that the kids don’t even like them!

While it’s true that many people get their “protein, vitamins B12 and D, iron, calcium and other important nutrients” from meat, eggs and dairy (according to the AP story), these items are easy to get through a vegan diet and a B12 supplement.

So, if you have a child who wants to become a vegetarian, let him or her (and consider doing it yourself). It’s healthier for your child, the environment, and animals. And if you’re a parent raising a vegetarian child, know that there are many others like you and you’re doing the right thing!

By Kelly

January 13, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this

My kids are vegetarian. As is par for the course, they are very healthy. It’s so nourishing and easy to raise vegetarian kids. But it’s not just their health that benefits. My kids enjoy a strong sense of self worth because they also know about the cruelty they are NOT contributing to because we refuse to give money to companies that utilize factory farming techniques.

By CD

January 20, 2009 8:17 AM | Link to this

I raised both my children vegetarian. Both were exceptionally healthy when all their schoolmates were catching every bug around. They are both now grown and the one that is still vegetarian is still a picture of health and has no weight problems at all.

As a vegetarian myself, I can attest to the difference you feel when you eat cruelty free. But you do have to deal with the “but you killed that carrot!” jokes over and over and over…. I just don’t understand why non-vegetarians feel the need to make comments like that.

By mystery poster

January 22, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this

I raised two vegetarian children. I always said that they would make their own decisions on what to eat when they got old enough, but that I did not eat meat and would not cook it.

My daughter (now 22) has experimented some, but is now vegetarian. My son (19) has never eaten meat.

I always viewed it as a red badge of courage that my kids never had a happy meal!