Raising vegetarian children, is it difficult?

[Anonymous]

As a child I ate meat, then around the age of 12 I decided to become vegetarian. It was difficult but now, 10 years later I've progressed and lead a healthy lifestyle. But what I wonder -- in the future -- when I have children, I'd prefer to raise them vegetarian too. Is there anyone here who was raised vegetarian? Or any parents raising their kids veggie? Is it difficult (I mean, not just well nourished but explaining to kids why we don't eat meat?)

[Anonymous]

If you're going to raise your kids to be vegetarians, then you better be one amazing ass cook! You better master vegetarian meals and snacks. It's really going to suck growing up as a vegetarian especially with holidays such as Thanksgiving where a turkey is often eaten or honey baked ham on Christmas. If your husband isn't a vegetarian, there may be conflicts.

I think being a vegetarian is a decision you should make for yourself.

I don't think it's fair for you to make that decision for your children.

[Anonymous]

That's not cool!

You don't have any right to force your children to live the lifestyle you want to live. That's bad parenting. If you want to be a good mom, don't sit there and force your kids to be vegetarian. Imagine how complicated that would make things that are supposed to be fun growing up like birthday parties, going to camp, summer BBQ's, holidays, and more!

[MuffinPumpkin23]

You say "You don't have any right to force your children to live the lifestyle you want to live", but isn't it what everybody wants and does? Don't you want your children to have the same values as yours? Personnally, I do.
Because it would be more complicated doesn't mean it's automatically "bad parenting". And let's see it that way : Maybe for some people, giving meat to your kids is ACTUALLY choosing for them. So just because society makes us feel like we have to eat meat, we "don't have any right" to not give it to our kids? I disagree.

I feel like if you want to raise them that way, it's totally okay! Parenting is about choices you take for your kids, guys...

[Anonymous]

If you want to be a good mother, you don't tell them to be vegetarian. If they see your lifestyle and like it, introduce them to it, if not, accept it.

Just find it funny that so many vegetarians I know are the first ones to rant against Muslims and Christians raising their children in their religion while they have no problem with pushing their own children in a vegetarian or (and that's now really bad for children) vegan lifestyle...

[Anonymous]

I think an adult who chooses to be a vegetarian is great - it's their choice and in *can* be a healthy lifestyle. But personally I don't think I would be up for pushing it on my kids. It's a helluva sacrifice for a kid to make and I'd be afraid they would just rebel against it and end up being less healthy in the end. I think a balanced approach is better.

Kids deserve BBQ occasionally, for god sake!

[davdus]

You can teach them about being vegetarian, sure, however you can't tell them what to be. They are humans, not your dolls