Most of you know that I don’t post many personal details about our children on my blog. I’ve discussed it here. I occasionally share photos (as with today’s post) that show them as part of our family, but without identifying their faces and features. For the most part, I like to keep them anonymous so that they have their own life journeys apart from my blogging as an author.
Still, I AM a vegan mom of three strapping vegan girls! And, I realize that this is a unique perspective as a vegan author and blogger, and that I have useful information and experiences to share. I receive e-mails and comments daily about vegan parenting. So I know you are searching for more information and insight – either as vegans moving into parenthood… or parents moving into veganhood!
Last week I was struck with the idea to do a series on feeding vegan children. I should mention that I do share many family-friendly tips in my cookbooks, especially in Let Them Eat Vegan. There is an entire section in the back of the book called “Powering the Vegan Family” and “The Plant-Powered Lunchbox”. Plus, I sprinkle advice and tips all through the recipes. But, after a brief discussion on facebook (as well as numerous e-mails these past few weeks), I decided it was time to consider a “Feeding Your Plant-Powered Children” series – here, on my blog.
If I start this series, I need information from YOU. I need to know… what pieces of the puzzle you are missing, what stresses you, what is difficult, what is too time-consuming? I’d like to have a “Feeding Vegan Kids Wish List” of sorts. Tell me where you need help! Is it recipes? Day to day tips? Meal planning and preparation ideas? Social situation advice? Help with ingredient groups (ex: nuts or beans)? Lunch strategies? Snack ideas?
Tell me – What information would YOU like to tap into from this vegan mom of three?
My intuition tells me I am on track with this idea. I will run with this series if the response here is strong. I am off to Summerfest this week, and will work on ideas once I return. So, please comment if this is something you’d like. And, equally important – please share this idea to recruit more feedback. The buttons are above to share to pinterest, fb, etc, so get the word out – so I can get the word in!
Alli says
I echo the above comment about planning for sleep away camps and school lunch. I find it super challenging when my children are out of the home overnight. I have 3 boys 13, 9, and 5. Also, I am finding my boys do not agree with a vegan lifestyle. (breaks my heart) I am noticing that when they are on their own and able to make their own food choices (the older two now earn their own money and go with friends to convenience stores, movies, out to dinner etc.) they are going overboard with unhealthy options because they don’t get them at home. Should I be worried and what can I or should I do about this?
Terri Exel says
Continue to let them choose what they want to eat when they are not at home. I have three boys (8, 12 & 14). I switched our family’s diet 1.5 yrs. ago. I get grumbles every now and then from my 14 yr old. When they are out and about the two older boys choose vegan foods. It’s my youngest that I have the problem with. This kid will take any opportunity he gets to not be a vegan. My 12 yr. old is a numbers and facts kind of kid—all he needed was the info from The China Study & Forks Over Knives and our family’s health history to help him decide to be completely on board with the switch. My 14 yr. old is an animal lover…Even though I provided him with all the facts & figures as I did for #2…the only thing that motivated him was seeing a factory farming video. My youngest was given the same information and saw the same videos…he will still choose a cheese pizza, mac & cheese, ice cream etc. when he is not home. I hope that all three grow up to be healthy vegan eaters. Unfortunately, in the end it’s their choice, and they’ll have to live with the choices they make. That doesn’t mean we stop feeding them the information they need to help them make a more informative decision/choice. 😉
sav says
Vegan KID here. I’m a 17 y/o girl whose family has been vegan for pretty much as long as I can remember. We switched to veganism 10 years ago from vegitarianism, and I do remember going over to friends’ houses and eating dairy, etc. But then as I got older, I started to realize that dairy made me feel a little queasy and I started to understand the animal rights component of veganism a little more, so I stopped eating dairy. The worst thing that you can possibly do is try to restrict them. My parents even let my older sister buy non-vegan products with her own money as long as she was in charge of preparing them. She doesn’t eat them anymore, she decided she would rather go 100%. Be sure to make them their favorite foods and try new desserts, or remind them that you love them no matter what. Don’t be mad if they bring home a chocolate bar, just let them do what they want to do. In the end, you can’t control it. The more you make them want to rebel, the more they will, and remind them of how much good they are doing for their fellow animals.
Buffy says
I have been vegetarian for 6 months. I have switched to being vegan in the last few weeks and have removed all animal products from my home. I have been teaching my kids (13, 10, 3) about the benefits of a plant-strong diet. I would like to be able to prepare them for awkward social situations… give them the tools to make good decisions about food even when I’m not present. Also, ideas for lunches to take to school would be very helpful. Please, please move forward with this idea and share your knowledge with us!!
Naomi says
Hi Dreena! I am seven months pregnant, so this topic, and the timing, is amazing! Thank you!
I would love your perspective on how to deal with unsupportive caregivers and anti-vegan attitudes. I worry that some of our family members might try sneaking meat or dairy into my child’s diet when my husband and I are not there. I’ve also considered compromising some of my values to make things easier, for example, having my child eat a vegetarian diet outside of our home, but worry that: a) it’s not healthy, and b) it would be confusing or even “glamourize” diary.
I am currently toying with the idea of starting a home daycare next year, but wonder how I would approach feeding other people’s children on a daily basis. I fear that offering a vegan menu would scare people away. Do you ever offer non-vegan options for guests or if, say, you were in charge of a meal for a group of non-vegans at someone else’s cottage?
This topic is definitely a gold mine…or maybe a land mine, depending on how you look at it! : )
Thank you for tackling it and I very much look forward to reading your future posts!
Diedhre says
“Is it recipes? Day to day tips? Meal planning and preparation ideas? Social situation advice? Help with ingredient groups (ex: nuts or beans)? Lunch strategies? Snack ideas?”
All of the above! 🙂 Recipes without a lot of ingredients is another. It’s hard when I’m strapped for time with a 6 year old & 4 year old twins to cook recipes that require many ingredients or even worse, when they are hard to find ingredients.
Maybe even meal planning where I can do some prep stuff on Sundays for lunches during the week? I pack 4 to 5 lunches a day and that gets hard by Friday – everyone is just eating a nut butter sandwich by then. 🙂
Marie says
As I have been blogging daily about what our vegan family eats (we have a two-year old and another one due any day now!) people seem most interested in
a) How we get our son to eat all these different foods (since we eat such a variety, I guess)
b) what the recipes actually are!
It has really been fantastic to see the positive responses from friends, family and general readers. People really just seem to want practical advice and suggestions they can implement!
As a vegan parent, I still need help with the social situations, especially the ones that are with acquaintances who don’t know we are vegan initially (such as people who share snacks at the park) or who don’t know what it means to be vegan (“but their isn’t any cheese in these crackers” – but they have whey)