I had two daughters (ages 6 and 9) when I decided to become vegetarian because I became Seventh-day Adventist and was told the health benefits of vegetarianism. Nobody forced me, in fact many SDAs ar not vegetarian. But I decided in favor of it and immediately set myself to start learning to cook that way. My kids took to it normally (if you don't make a big deal about it but share with them the reasons and the health benefits, they'll go along.) Their dad told it was the end of the world. Now my daughters don't eat meat! (They wouldn't eat it, you see, when they went out alone with him to restaurants and he tried to get them to have it.) Not because I made them, (I wasn't even there), but because they came to believe in it. My daughters are grown women now and are vegetarians. One of them went back to eating meat for awhile and then decided on her own that wasn't for her and came back stronger. The other is a vegan and loves it. She's the one that was 6 at the time. Never has eaten meat ever since and now not even dairy. Don't get tired with your kids. If you raise them right, they will surprise you every time. Principles are wonderful things. Don't make them though, they have to believe in what you're doing. Teach them instead. (I understand about relatives that get in the way, believe me!) Just be patient and stick to it!
This from a grandma to all you young vegetarian and vegan parents,
with love.

Thank you sweet redpot grandma!! That's so great to hear from someone wiser than I. Welcome to VB by the way. :D

Welcome :)

I myself, not having kids, think it is alright to introduce them to anything you believe in, and let them make the decisions on what they want. Forcing them never has solved anything. If they want to eat meat, respect that, and visa versa.

Heck from what I know of my nephews and nieces, they can be so picky.. getting them to eat is often a blessing. :)

welcome and post often

Thanks for your heart felt post redpot. Your very right in the fact that we need to give kids more credit alot of the time. Even my 2 year old asks people if it has animals in it before eating something these days. lol it's very funny to see peoples expressions

I had two daughters (ages 6 and 9) when I decided to become vegetarian because I became Seventh-day Adventist and was told the health benefits of vegetarianism. Nobody forced me, in fact many SDAs ar not vegetarian. But I decided in favor of it and immediately set myself to start learning to cook that way. My kids took to it normally (if you don't make a big deal about it but share with them the reasons and the health benefits, they'll go along.) Their dad told it was the end of the world. Now my daughters don't eat meat! (They wouldn't eat it, you see, when they went out alone with him to restaurants and he tried to get them to have it.) Not because I made them, (I wasn't even there), but because they came to believe in it. My daughters are grown women now and are vegetarians. One of them went back to eating meat for awhile and then decided on her own that wasn't for her and came back stronger. The other is a vegan and loves it. She's the one that was 6 at the time. Never has eaten meat ever since and now not even dairy. Don't get tired with your kids. If you raise them right, they will surprise you every time. Principles are wonderful things. Don't make them though, they have to believe in what you're doing. Teach them instead. (I understand about relatives that get in the way, believe me!) Just be patient and stick to it!
This from a grandma to all you young vegetarian and vegan parents,
with love.

Hey, thank you thats a wonderful piece of advice for a newly vegetarian mum with 2 kids. TY.

we have an omni friend that lives with us. he used to drink cows milk occasionally in our house (i am proud that i USED to buy it for him with his money, but have not in over two months--he drinks our soymilk with his cereal and in his coffee now!!). we have told the kids (4 yr old twins) the reasons why we, as vegans do not drink cows milk. they now always ask if food has cows in it as i have told them that lots of foods have cows MILK in it. so, i will buy chocolate silk soymilk when it is on sale for our friend, will. whenever i buy it they ask if that is wills milk and if it has cows in it. whenever i buy anything that i specify is for will, they ask this--as if he ONLY eats food with cows in it!!!! i tell them the choc. silk is wills milk as i dont want them begging for it all the time as it has soo much sugar.