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You're a Vegetarian?
Raising Herbivores Among Omnivores
By C.J. Johnson
Keep It Simple
During my 11 years as a vegetarian, I have had countless friends and family members question me on my choice to raise my two sons as vegetarians. Almost every interrogation begins the same: "Do your children get enough protein?" I usually laugh in response and ask them if their children get enough fruits and vegetables. Protein is the main component of my kids' diet. I follow the lead of my finicky toddler when preparing meals. Protein rich foods like cheese slices and veggie hot dogs are his favorite. Don't sweat over your meals -- toddlers prefer simple foods. A typical meal in our home is applesauce, carrot sticks, miniature corndogs and a glass of milk. Many major grocery stores are vegetarian savvy. In the frozen foods section you can pick up veggie versions of hot dogs, bologna, turkey slices, hamburger patties, pepperoni, ground beef, sausage, chicken patties, corndogs and Hot Pockets. All these products can be prepared quickly with little or no fuss.
Meddling Family Members
Occasionally, relatives impose their opinions and beliefs on other family members. Parents of vegetarian children often find their beliefs challenged by relations with more traditional views. But, rather than help, their comments can cause harm. When Phil Welsher of Hillsborough, N.J. and his wife chose to raise vegetarian children, relatives reacted with quiet concern. "No one actually tried to feed the kids meat behind our backs," he says. It was more disapproving comments than anything.
There are ways to alleviate the stress in family relations. Dean Cloward, a child psychologist in Las Vegas, Nev., offers several tips.
- Clarify boundaries in relationships. Seek a commitment to honor those limits.
- Explain to family that pressing the child or the parent will only stress the relationship.
- Parents can assist children by explaining that some relatives don't have the same practices as they do.
