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Vegetarians/vegans With A Meat Eating Partner – How Do You Solve Child Nutrition Questions?
ByI am vegetarian (but cannot drink milk) and my partner is eating average amounts of meat. We are planning to have children in near future.
How do you solve the nutrition question?
I do not want to have a quarrel at the dinner table each day.
Add.detail: I am vegetarian (since 7 years) because of the health benefits and I want my children to be healthy too. I am concerned about my partner as well, but he is not a baby anymore and will not become sick so quickly.
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1. But so far you get along well all those years, you as vegetarian and he eating meat, why should there be many new misunderstandings
? In a good relationship one should be able to peacefully discuss important things and find a more or less satisfying solution.
2. Most likely you will be the one fixing the meals? So as already pointed out, you can prepare fully vegetarian meals for the kids (especially when they are still small). Your partner will either not notice or he should not oppose much, if he is able to live peacefully with you as a vegetarian since this long (see also point 4 of my answer)
The kids can of course nibble at what dad is having too if they like, but their own meals will be vegetarian in the beginning. When they become older they can decide on their own what they want to eat. But by then they will also be old enough to understand why vegetarian food is good for health and all the other reasons.
3. Get some good books about vegetarian pregnancy and vegetarian children nutrition, so if there are any questions or misunderstandings you can back up all by scientific facts. Here are some examples:
* “Your Vegetarian Pregnancy” – http://www.amazon.com/Your-Vegetarian-Pr…
* “Disease-Proof Your Child” – http://www.amazon.com/Disease-Proof-Your…
* “Raising Vegetarian Children” – http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Vegetarian…
* “Better Than Peanut Butter & Jelly: Quick Vegetarian Meals Your Kids Will Love!” – http://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Peanut…
* “The Vegetarian Family Cookbook” – http://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Family-…
4. Speak with your partner beforehand. Really, do it. Do not hide important things and hope it will stay unnoticed. This would only lead to arguments, because he would rightfully feel deceived. Explain why you want the kids to eat (mostly) vegetarian. If he understands and accepts you as a vegetarian he should be able to accept (mostly) vegetarian nutrition for children
5. It will be probably not possible to raise them fully vegetarian, but it should be very well possible to give them MOSTLY vegetarian food. I doubt that your partner will try to force you to feed meat and animal products to the children each day. First of all you show with your own example that it is good and works good for health. And second, if you can back up your opinion with examples of healthy vegetarian children he cannot deny your choice so easily. There should be mutual respect in a good relationship, and if you explain everything he should be able to understand and at least be able to agree to a compromise.
6. The only problem I can see is when your partner is eating meat and believing this would be “very healthy” or when there are any relatives who think that a child “cannot be denied meat”. Then it could maybe happen that the children are fed meat and animal products behind your back :-/ But I hope not, because this would be deceiving and disrespecting you, the same as feeding the children secretly vegetarian, without discussing the matter first, would be disrespectful towards your partner.
Well, my boyfriend (my daughter’s father) eats meat. And my daughter eats meat. Although, my boyfriend is more of a flexitarian, not really by choice, just because a lot of our meals are vegetarian meals. Luckily, you normally start your kids off on fruits, veggies, and cereal which will buy you a little time. But, I also feel that my daughter should be able to make the choice on her own if she wants to be a vegetarian, which a lot of people in this section will disagree with. My boyfriend only eats meat about two or three times a week, and when he does, I give some to my daughter. But, a lot of the times she avoids it, probably because she is still young. She seems to prefer tofu and other veggie products, which is lucky for me. But, I still give her the option to eat meat if she wants it. Your future child will be healthy on a vegetarian or non vegetarian diet, as long as you provide them will healthy foods either way.
It’s a real toughie. My partner’s a meat eater and I’m vegetarian…. I’ll eat the occasional bit of seafood if I catch it myself. I haven’t been able to raise the kids completely vege… but I make sure all the meat I cook is from a good source. I refuse to buy sausages, or pre-made pies, etc. I won’t bring any pork products into the house. My 5 year old is now following my example – when she asks why I won’t eat meat I just tell her and she gets it. They love marinated tofu, beans, hummous, veges. I often make tapas/meze type meals – then everyone can have a bit of this, bit of that. The kids will tend towards the vege options. I figure pressing the issue will just be stressful. If you’re sneaky enough your partner will hardly even notice the kids are vegetarian!
i would personally, put my kid being vegetarian/Vegan
but if your husband is going to feed it and be with it 24/7 then he could break that.
then when the kid becomes a teen or older child.
let them choose their path.
but don’t be strict.
like no meat at parties and stuff, b/c some parents might not know and such.
and sorry if you have a wife and i put he and husband. i just wrote my case.(i’m confusing myself. hahha)
Ask him what bothers him about a meat-free baby, then find facts to combat it.
Just make him/her eat healthier foods. Should be easy if you do the cooking.