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May 23rd, 2006 at 3:46 pm
I have been struggling with the issue of whether or not to raise my four-year-old son vegan or not. Ethically, of course, I feel that I should keep him from consuming animal products and begin him on the path to enlightenment, but there is another part of me that worries that I can harm him by not feeding him animal products, at least occasionally. I know I am probably feeding into the factory farmer’s propaganda, but is it truly healthy for a young growing child to not consume any animal products. Young children are in need of adequate fat to create the myelon sheaths around their neurons to promote neuronal connectivity, but of course there are other adequate sources of fat besides animals, such as olive oil, avocadoes, nuts, etc. What about protein? Is the only complete source of protein found in animal products? Will my child get rickets without adequate protein sources? Is soy protein, hemp protein, bean protein, rice protein, and the protein found in spirulina adequate, or does my child need more?
Of course the only meat I currenly allow my child is free-range, organic chicken and fish. He also consumes small amounts of organic yogurt. Is this acceptable as a vegan, to feed my child these foods? Part of me feels guilty, but I want to make sure I am doing what is best for my child. I am of the mind currently, that I will make sure I do not experience any negative effects before having my child follow a similar way of eating. If I don’t have any problems after a year, then I think that is good enough proof that it is safe for my child. So if you have children and are raising them vegan I would love to hear from you.
Wow, this is really an important issue. I so very much hope someone who is enlightened on this will chime in with info… It is so cool that you care enough to put it out there and that you are informed enough on this to even question it the way you do…
May i offer this link to you?
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/WELCOME/treatmentguides/veganchildren.html
and also this book link:
http://www.vegfamily.com/raising-vegan-children/index.php?src=vorg
which you can get for half price here:
http://vegweb.com/coupons/19.shtml
Anyway, just as an aside, i don’t have kids (yet!) but i want to raise ‘em vegan when (if!) i do… Other than that, i have a dog that eats vegetarian (not vegan) kibble. Not quite the same as a child, but…
Comment by K • @ May 26, 2006 @ 11:18 pm
I feed all our 3 girls a vegan diet. The 9 yr old is likely on her way to being vegan for life by choice, but the 3 yr old is another story when we’re out.
I highly recommend Dr. Fuhrman’s book, “Disease-Proof Your Child.” I think every vegan mom should read it.
Comment by kaivegan • @ May 30, 2006 @ 1:09 pm
btw, the book should answer your questions… and cares perhaps?
Comment by kaivegan • @ May 30, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
I’m vegan and I will be raising my children vegan too. Even the mainstream medical groups have said that you can raise healthy vegan babies and children. And that you can get all of your protein needs met as long as you eat a variety of protein sources from different plants. Remember that food combining is a myth and that as long as you eat different sources in your diet, your body will get what it needs from each of them.
There are plant sources to get all of the nutrients you need even as a child. I recommend that you look into them because if the issue is health, there are many ways to help your children get their nutritional needs met.
Have you been to vegfamily.com? Look through the “ask the dietician” archives and visit us at the discussion forums where you can talk about these issues with vegan parents.
Comment by Vegan Knitting • @ June 20, 2006 @ 1:00 pm