For my last round of sources I am looking to the internet. I am looking through articles about veganism and families or vegetarianism and families to try to find out how families deal with this issue. I found an article called “Forcing Your Kids to be Vegan” by Avi Vince. When asked if she would force veganism on her kids she says, “Realistically speaking, my children are most likely going to eat whatever I cook them. And I cook what I eat. So they will probably eat far more vegies, fruit and grains than any other kids. And I wouldn’t do this simply for my beliefs in being a vegan.” (Vince) The article talks about guiding food choices and not forcing lifestyles. I think this will be a good opinion source for me when I start talking about that side of my argument.
I found another article that focuses on a different aspect of this argument, but it brings up a lot of the same points. It’s called “Vegan: Great For Kids” by Kathy Freston. She has written multiple books about veganism, and seems like a reliable source of information. This article talks about what to do if you’re the average meat and potato parent and your child comes home one day having decided not to eat meat or dairy any more. So this isn’t about forcing veganism on your kids, but choosing whether or not to continue to force them to eat things they don’t want to eat. She talks about how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that our children are in the worst physical shape of any generation in history, and she talks about abnormally high levels of things like cholesterol in high school students.
The last thing I found, which really does seem to advocate for a restrictive vegetarian or vegan diet for kids is an article published in the Environmental News Network. It states: “A medical doctor as respected as the late Benjamin Spock can have a major influence on the dietary habits of a generation of children. Since the publication in 1998 of the seventh edition of Spock's Baby and Child Care, more and more parents are raising their children as vegetarians or vegans.
Spock, who died at the age of 94 just before the new version of his book was published, advised no meat or dairy products for children. In the new edition of his famous book, published in 1946, Spock recommended for the first time a vegan diet -- a diet free of all animal products -- for children as the optimal diet for human nutrition. This recommendation sparked a debate among doctors, nutritionists, and parents about what is the right mix of food for children.” (Vegetarian Babies Boom in U.S.) This is a strong argument on the side of forcing those choices on children. It’s a respected doctor stating that you should absolutely feed your children in this way.
Works Cited
Freston, Kathy. "Vegan: Great For Kids!" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 June 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/vegan-kids-diet_b_877680.html>.
"Vegetarian Babies Boom in U.S." Vegetarian News Network (Sun Valley, ID). N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
Vince, Avi. "Forcing Your Kids to Be Vegan." Mamamia. N.p., 16 June 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.mamamia.com.au/health-wellbeing/forcing-your-kids-to-be-vega/>.
I don't think it is right to force a kid to become a vegetarian or a vegan just because the parents are. It's really important for young kids to get the proteins they need when they are little. Little kids can't take supplements to get extra protein so it sounds risky to just give them all veggies. I find it hard enough to get my kids to eat anything sometimes. It's too bad that a kid can't try different foods just because of their parent’s diet choices. I can relate to this topic because my brother raised his kid as a vegetarian. He's doing fine but the poor kid is scared to eat a hot dog. I like to learn more on why that Doctor thinks its O.K. to raise a kid as vegan. I just don't see how the kids can get all the vitamins and nutrients from that type of diet.
ReplyDeleteI can see both sides of the argument; Vegetarian parents believe that it's the best thing for their kids, and so do us meat-eaters. The real argument for me comes in when a kid is old enough to want to try a meat product and asks for one. Do the parents let them give it a go, or do they stick to their guns? In my opinion, whether vegetarian or not - a kid will grow up into an adult and either fear meat forever, or break down and eat a steak. Either way - I think whatever makes people feel better physically - it's their choice.
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids, but I know they can be picky eaters. If you are the parent making a choice that you think is best for you child, you should know the facts. It is the parents responsibility to keep their child healthy. I think being a vegetarian is better than just eating fast food! but I think at a certain age if a child wants to try some meat, there is no real harm in letting them. You don't have to change your diet.
ReplyDeleteI would say that you shouldn't force your way of life on your children.
ReplyDeleteit is fine to guide your children in a certain direction, but forcing them to eat what you eat seems wrong. It is almost like people who take their children oversees because they want to be missonaries. Guiding your children is one thing but forcing your beliefs on them strips away their individuality forces your own personality on them.
I do not think it is fair to force a food choice on a child. If someone where to come home with a new idea of being vegan, I would only hope that they would come home to open minded parents and family. At the same rate, though very different than food, we already force a lot of things upon children. Religion, customs, and social norms are brought into children's lives without warning. I can see the side of a family member who would consider their child coming home wanting a vegan diet would be disappointing. It wouldn't be what the parents wanted out of their kid, and therefore would force them to eat what they didn't want. However, I can also see a parents who is willing to let their kid make their own decisions about their life and would allow them to do so. There are two types of people, those who force and those who understand.
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