Vegans - got a question for you?

Hey GnosticGoddess, I'm not vegan; my family and I are semi-veg and nutrition as it relates to cutting back meat is more than a passing interest of mine. :) So - my understanding is as follows: Infants shouldn't have solid foods introduced before 4-6 months (some doctors now say 6 months at the earliest). Smooth nut/seed butters can be introduced after 1 year of age, unless there's a history of allergies to such in the family; then it should wait till at least age 3. Avoiding cow's milk and eggs is probably a good idea for the first year, at least. These apply to all babies/infants. Most babies' diets are probably mostly identical for the first 6-12 months, as the first solid foods a kid tends to eat are mashed fruit, creamy rice cereal, etc. (Unless you feed them the commercial pureed meat baby food.) Based on a quick skim of a couple books and websites ( www.vegansociety.com seems to hav a bunch of good info) soybean protein doesn't seem to be an issue - someone more well-versed, please correct me if I'm wrong. So if protein intake is a concern, mashed tofu (for example) owuld be a fine protein source. Also, at two years old, it's probably okay to give him some eggs, as long as his folks don't have a problem with that (since vegans don't do eggs or dairy). If dairy is an issue, feed him soymilk. I have a niece who's just turned three and is allergic to milk protein - shegets all soy-based "dairy." The only other issue, potentially, is vitamin B12. Worst case scenario, they could give him a supplement. Probably best just to make sure he gets enough milk or soymilk. The other thing to remember, I think, is that most Americans (and I'd guess Canadians, too) get far more protein than we need. I don't know about kids, but there's actually research coming out that indicates excess protein in the diet may be a significant contributor to oseoporosis, because too much protein seems to inhibit calcium absorption. ...But I've rambled long enough. :) Hope this helps, ~Sara

I am not vegan, I am vegetarian. I don't eat meat but I still eat cheese and eggs. I know that my friends who are vegan do not feed their children meat. I did not feed my children meat either until they were old enough to make a choice. Most vegetables and beans and nuts are high in protein. Just feed your kids vegetables, beans and nuts and they will receive all the protein they need. Here is a website to visit that talks about foods with protein. http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/nutrition/high-protein-foods.html

I can't answer you question about if vegan's feed their kids meat. I can't imagine that they do because they are so against meat eating. But I had a suggestion for your friend because I had the same problem with a couple of my boys. Try making him a hamburger with all the fixings except the bun. Cut it up and don't give him anything else. The colors attract their attention. And if the child is hungry, he will eat it. If not, try again later when he really is hungry. Often kids will not he the things we prefer because we offer them too much choice. But if they are limited to choices and are hungry, they will really eat it. This may sound cruel to some people but really, a small child can only eat a portion about the size of the child's hand. So, if we give them the other things they like with it, they they are going to fill up on the things they like first. And when he does take one bite, she needs to be sure to praise him and ask him if it is good. Of course because he is hungry, he will think it is good and be proud that mommy is praising him for eating.

I am semi vegan so yes I would let my baby eat meat. My decision to be semi vegan will not have anything to do with my children's decision. I have no kids yet though.

Both my parents were vegetarians and they had us kids eat meat for those reasons.

i think that vegans should let their children decide.....i couldnthave been a vegitarion....i was forl ike 2 years but i needed to bite some cow...lol...i would always let my son decide everything he wants in life to what he thinks he should be to religion, im wiccan and if wants to be.....catholic or jewish or you know what i mean i support him,,, he he wants to eat dirt and not food when he gets older more power to him,,,,as long as he washes it down with milk...to stay strong...lol

meat is not the only source of protein, there is good protein present in pulses and soya bean. I am Vegan and pulses are regular part of my diet, they are liquid and do not choke as well.

I'm not a vegan ... i know that this may get me - reputation in this thread but i like and eat meat. I know the basics of Vegan religion and why they refues to eat meat etc. but for me it is necessairy for every human to eat meat since as the person starting this thread stated - meat contains some essential proteins which are necessairy for every organism to grow properetly! Especially for children

My sister is vegan and her daughter is 4 1/2 and has never eaten meat. She has always been healthy and never underweight. My daughter and I rarely eat meat and she has always been healthy. You don't even need soy products to get enough protien. Dairy, eggs, beans, peanut butter, whole grains... I get an average of 60 grams of protein a day eating just those things for protein and that is plenty. I don't understand why someone would worry about their kid choking on peanut butter but not worry about choking on meat. I would think that if anything the meat would be more of a choking hazard.

I'm not a vegan, but we don't eat very much meat, just chicken and fish. There are so many other, healthier ways to get protein. There is really no reason a child should ever have to eat meat if you know what you are doing.

First of all I have to say that I'm vegetarian, not vegan. I didn't force my son to a vegetarian diet, I'm for freedom and so I let him free to choose. Proteins are essential for children development, but vegetal proteins are enough. Only some particular kinds of people need meat proteins, as anemic people, for instance. I know a vegetarian veterinarian who has two children. He grew up them only with a vegetarian diet, they got no animal proteins, and now they are two beautiful persons. So, I think that it's possible to grow up children with a vegetarian diet, but I didn't do it because of a question of freedom, not of diet or proteins.

no,I didn't feed my babies meat at all. I raised three children from the day they were born as vegetarians, and they are all very healthy young adults now. I know how to cook East Indian cuisine, and in India, millions of people are vegetarians, and for the most part are healthy and have healthy children. Milk is a very high quality protein food, so is soy. There are lots of alternatives to meat..it's just a matter of getting oneself educated.

I wouldn't eat meat as a child. My parents forced me and I grew up resenting them for it and I turned veggie as soon as I was allowed to cook for myself. I am now a vegan and so are my two daughters. They have a balanced diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, pulses and grains. I think they are a lot healthier than a lot of meat eating children. I would suggest the 2 year old has smooth cashew nut butter rather than peanut butter and homous. He can also have tofu and soya milk for protein as these are better sources than dairy products.

We're not vegans either but my wife and I started feeding our daughters minced meat when they were a year old. Right now, my three year old daughter has this habit of turning her head away when we serve her meat (chicken, pork, fish, you name it). As we serve rice along with the meat, we make sure that we "hide" the meat. Most of the time, it works. Anyway, to be sure that she stays healthy, we give her multivitamins as well (like gummy vites!). Now, THAT makes her happy!!!

i think alot of 2yos do not like meat. my daughter is 2 and se would rathr have apples and veggies than eat meat. i think maybe because their taste buds are starting to really taste things and feel textures and meat does not have a nice texture compared to an apple or mashed potatos. also you can get protien from beans,peanut butter, soy, tofu. also if parents are worred about getting protien to their kids and the family is vegan they can always add a bit of protien powder to the babies formula.

Hi GnosticGoddess! Ok I'm not a vegan - I'm a vegetarian. I have a 14 month old girl, and I do feed her meat. Basically I am a vegetarian for very sentimental reasons - I like animals lol! - so I do not see that as a good enough reason to not let her eat meat. I don't think it's right to impose that on her for an emotional reason of my own, and I will let her make up her own mind when she is old enough. If I were vegetarian for a different reason, say perhaps because of religion, then I may have different feelings about the matter as in that instance I would probably believe that I was spiritually harming her by letting her eat meat.

i have a vegan friend and she will not give her kids meat .they eat a lot of seeds and stuff i would normally put out for the birds but everyone to their own i guess . the kids will eventually make up their own minds what they want to eat.

I'm vegetarian, not vegan, but some friends of mine are vegan. My little son eats fish and meat because he must always be free to choose what he prefers. A friend of mine is a veterinarian and vegetarian, he grew his two children with a vegetarian diet, they got no animal proteins at all. So I think that it isn't true that a child must absolutely eat meat. There are particular cases in which a child is forced to eat meat, but it isn't the norm. So, my son eats meat and fish not to introduce animal proteins, but because of a matter of freedom, I'd never impose him my diet.

no,vegans dont feed their babies by meat.theyfullfil their such protein requiarment by cheease,soyabeen,soyamilk,eggyolk,nut and dryfruits.

I'm not a vegan but I have a son who is almost 2 and he's a very picky eater and he doesn't like to eat meat. So, to make sure he gets enough protein I feed him tofu, peanut butter, eggs, etc. He likes scrambled eggs. I would use eggs, tofu, cheese and milk. He gobbles it up!