Which is cruelest to your child, giving them no sugar, or no meat?

As long as you are giving them fruits, leaving sugar out is still ok - since there is sugar in fruits. If you are full vegan, make sure you eat mushrooms too since they contain something you need but only found in meat (can't remember what)... but why would you want to refuse your children sugar treat?

That's unnecessarily cruel since children are children and sugar, as long as it is not excessive, is not bad at all. Why deprive them of a childhood?:P

I do not give my children sugar either. At the moment no one seems to think tat is bad but perhaps it is because they are so young - 18 months. Maybe when they are older people may comment.

I don't know about others,but I could have done without meat,not sugar.I don't count the daily calorie intake,but I know I eat healthy food.I can't do without sugar where it is necessary.However,I can use a 'low calorie sugar substitute' to give up sugar.It's a little bitter towards the end,but that's okay as long as I get some sweetner.

I would really have to say giving them no sugar at all. I have no problems for any kids being brought up as vegans which I really think is ideal if only parents are also the same. Sweets do add zest to a child's life and day and one of my sweetest childhood memories are those of candies and sweets. I believe in taking things in moderation and giving children sweet streats once in a while won't be bad at all.

Not giving meat to children is fine if you are pure vegetarian & want your children to be the same. But whats wrong with sugar? I mean it would be cruel not to allow children to eat dishes with sugar. Eating sugar too much is bad, but a little is fine.

Both are Good, nothing is cruel

I am surprised you used the word cruel I donot see it cruel at all You love your kids,you want what is best for them and we have to make decisions constantly hoping they are the right ones ...If they are being honest most products that are popular with children are being marketed every year with the slogan Less Sugar so soon you may not have to decide that if the products are telling the true I am surprised as to someone actually bringing up the children as veggie types I cannot respond to that because it just does not seem right so perhaps silence is golden No hamburgers,hot dogs,etc UGH and please donot tell me they have veg hamburgers and hot dogs more ughs

Happy Trails

well i have to say i think children should have meats of sorts, i think its a choice to be a vegan or vegetarian and for growing etc i feel they need the minerals and vitamins that meet can give, but its your choice ultimatly, you cant go by what others say

I do not see anything wrong with either things that you are doing. While I am a meat eater it does not mean that everyone should be. Growing up sugary treats were just that treats. Nowadays so many parents think it is a good idea to give their children snacks that are loaded with sugar and other things that they really do not need. I think that if you give children sugar all the time they will have problems later in life with it. I am glad that my parents limited the amount we were able to have, I was not then, because it taught us to think outside the box about how to create a healthy snack that tasted sweet. My all time favorite was one we got out of a Sesame Street cookbook. It was a banana, milk and orange juice in a blender to make what they called a shake. I think that it also had an egg in the recipe but we did not ever add that.

Hi there,
My daughter is a vegetarian by choice. She is 8 years old and she has been a vegetarian for as long as I can remember. Although in her earlier years she did eat chicken and shellfish. She has now gone to no meat of any kind but not gone completely vegan. I think that she needs some of the nutrients of animal byproducts (milk, eggs, cheese) and so I havent explained to her the vegan concept or she probably would convert as well.

We, the parents, on the other hand are not vegetarian although, I try to eat no red meat and eat some chicken, but not much. My husband is a red meat eater and will not change.

My question is this...maybe you can help me. My daughter is very self conscious with the fact that she is a vegetarian. Everytime we go to a restaurant or a fast food place she is always asking if they have vegetarian dishes. She realizes that she is not in the norm of 8 year olds for being a vegetarian. She wonders constantly if there are other vegeterian kids out there who she can connect with. Do you know of any groups of kids that meet so that they can talk about being vegan or vegetarian? She feels like an outsider and would like to connect with other kids like her.

Would like to know your input. thanks!