My 19-month-old?s current obsession is birds: the finches in our yard, the ducks at a nearby pond, chickens at the animal sanctuary outside of town. She calls them ?tatas? and squeals with glee every time she sees one and, of course, her joy brings me joy. But in all honesty, what I really feel is relief?relief that I won?t have to explain to her one day how she eats her feathered friends.
I am vegan, and that?s how I?m raising my daughter?which, according to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), is perfectly safe. One day, when she is old enough to understand, I?ll tell her the truth about where meat and dairy come from and allow her to decide what she eats. Until then, it only feels fair that she not be forced to unknowingly eat animals and contribute to their suffering, especially since all of our nutritional needs can be met with a plant-based diet. As the ADA states, well-planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian and vegan diets, are ?appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence, and for athletes.? But just because it?s safe doesn?t mean that it?s simple. As with any lifestyle choice that goes against the cultural grain, raising a child vegan comes with a bushel of challenges. Sure, my husband and I believe that it?s unethical and unnecessary to eat and wear animal products, but we still live in a very omnivorous world. We have many meat-eating and leather-wearing fri...