Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 880 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
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Vegetarian Diet? Posted: 06-23-07 11:09am
At what age should a kid start eating
meat?
In my opinion, never! Meat is meant for
animals...are humans reduced to animal
behavior?
Why feed a kid meat when other sources of
protein are available?
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Tylanas
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Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
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Posted: 06-23-07 11:32am
Actually, humans are animals.
Humans are omnivores. Omnivores are
creatures capable of consuming both meat
and vegetation. We have sharp canines for
a reason.
Vegetarianism is a purely ethical
decision, and its not a bad decision, I'm
not saying that at all. But there is no
physical reason that humans cannot consume
moderate amounts of meat.
I do agree that there is no need to be a
glutton and eat three megawhoppers for
dinner. I personally don't eat a lot of
meat, but I know that it can be a viable
source of minerals and protein, and I do
enjoy the taste of it.
I am also anti-abuse, so my consumption of
meat is reserved mostly for seafood and
other animals that must be caught, giving
them a fighting chance. Pork, chicken and
beef all suffer horribly before they are
finally released from torture, and I can't
support that at all.
As for when to feed your child meat...
whenever they are capable of eating it.
I'm sure there's a resource for that, but
I'd say once they can handle semi-solid
foods like fruits and vegetables and
pastas, then start them on a little meat
every now and then.
Proportions are what is important. Also,
if you are vegetarian or vegan, you
absolutely must make sure that your
child is receiving enough protein.
Children need more protein than adults, as
they are growing and developing. What is
healthy for an adult vegetarian could very
well starve or cause developmental issues
in a child.
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Bridget
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 10817 Location: ,
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Posted: 06-23-07 12:59pm
this seems more of a debate on
vegetarianism.
most pediatricians suggest introducing
meat around 7 months, but that's baby food
meat (whether jarred or pureeing it
yourself). then when you introduce finger
foods you can start giving them real
pieces of meat.
i'm not a vegetarian. i love chicken and
beef. my children will eat meat because
that's what i'll be serving for their
meals. i make dinner 7 nights a week, 5 of
them include some sort of animal.
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Mommy35
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Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 3165 Location: Vacationland, USA,
Posted: 06-23-07 13:40pm
Whatever age is recommended is when they
should start. If their parents happen to
be vegetarians, and they know enough about
it to give their child nutritious meals
that don't include meat, than obviously
the child should not eat meat.
The day that the child says, ".I want a
big fat steak" or if the child chooses not
to be a vegetarian while under the care of
his/her parents, the parents should
respect his/her decision and allow it. imo
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HcoBrunette06
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Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 8005 Location: Missouri, United States
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Posted: 06-23-07 14:21pm
why not feed a kid meat? it won't hurt
them, & when they're older if they
decide they don't want to eat it because
of what they do to animals to get it then
they don't have to eat it i guess.
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musikmaker
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Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 1754 Location: Chicago, US
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Posted: 06-23-07 21:27pm
My mother raised me vegan. I can honestly
say that I didn't mind. She did feed us
the meat when we were younger and if we
were at a family function or a friend's
house she had no problem with us eating
meat. I think that she stopped serving us
meat whenever we turned 5 or something.
She always bought us organic though and
she started out with the meat a little
later (I think that she waited until we
were around 2 to start). We only had a few
years of meat eating but I never felt left
out. We found other sources of protein and
our dr was always super amazed at how
healthy we were.
Would I raise my child vegan? No, but I
don't think it's wrong to. My mom is left
over hippy and she felt that was what was
right for her children. Mothers know best
BTW, we almost never, ever even got the
flu!
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vanessalouanne
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Joined: 31 May 2005 Posts: 2268 Location: ,
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Posted: 06-24-07 01:25am
if someone feels strongly against eating
meat and is educated enough in nutrition
to provide their children with a healthy
diet with enough protein then more power
to you in not feeding your child meat.
personally, in our household we love a
good steak and my dad had us eating it by
the time we could chew. its a favorite of
both of my nieces at ages 4 and 18 months.
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Dannzibelle
Supporter
Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 3775 Location: South East, England
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Posted: 06-24-07 04:52am
I was raised eating meat because that's
how my parents were raised and my mum
didn't really think it was a good idea to
deprive our diets of any nutrients while
we're so young. When i was ten i asked to
become a vegetarian, my mum was a bit
reluctant because i was still growing but
i refused to eat it. Even though i'm
veggie i'm going to be giving .Mika meat
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sillyakchick
Supporter
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2688
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Posted: 06-25-07 16:27pm
I grew up in the heartland of america
eating meat pretty much 2-3 meals a day.
my dh grew up on a farm and his dad raised
livestock. We went veggie (although we
eat fish sometimes) and my kids are veggie
too. I think it's healthier and
environmentally conscious. I by no means
expect others to follow my lead. I do
take issue with parents who feed their
kids .Mc.Death burgers every day. That's
just plain not helthy. All things
(almost!) in moderation. But I wouldn't
crucify someone for making their kids
meatloaf, by any means.
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tdr
Supporter
Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 1535 Location: Somewhere else...not here., PA USA
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Posted: 06-25-07 18:10pm
unless it's medically impossible, i plan
on raising my child as a lacto-ovo
vegetarian. eggs, milk, and fish, but no
red meat or poultry. I'm an
ovo-vegetarian, but that's only because
i'm seriously lactose intolerant, and so i
use soy products instead.
I have no problem with marrying someone
who eats meat; i would even go so far as
to prepare it for him. i just won't eat it
myself. i've been a vegetarian since i was
9. seven years later i'm just great, and
my mom and brother are actually
considering following in my footsteps.
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Tylanas
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Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
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Posted: 06-25-07 21:13pm
There are many great things about
vegetarianism; and as long as the parents
are informed and are capable of providing
enough nutrients to the child in an
appropriately modified diet, then all is
good.
it's not the kind of food you eat, it's
not quantity. it's quality.
