Child abuse or not?

Abuse is a strong word to use.. I really think it’s up to parents how they choose to raise their kids as long as no one’s being harmed.

I am shocked at the positive response to this tbh. I definitely don’t think it’s child abuse - we all eat meat in my household but I think as long as child is getting their nutrients in, what’s the issue?? Protein is in more than meat. If it doesn’t harm you or hinder you, it’s none of your business.

The world health organisation says a well balanced vegan diet is healthy for all life stages. Eating a varied vegan diet is abuse but giving your child lots of sweets and crisps and processed foods every day is ok? I have worked in schools and that’s what the majority of kids bring in their packed lunches daily… I think everyone feeds their child what they see fit and veganism per se would be the least of my concerns.

I don’t think it’s abuse but I do believe that children should be exposed to a variety of foods and then they can grow up to choose. I have a friend who was raised veggie and when she got to a teenager and wanted to try meat she couldn’t digest it and had a lot of problems. She’s still a happy veggie, but that choice was taken away from her.

Ah come on now you can’t call it child abuse. I eat all meat but would never call someone who gave their child a non-meat diet an abuser. As long as they are feeding their child 3x a day/whenever they are hungry, ensuring they’re not deficient in anything they need, not neglecting or harming them emotionally or physically then no they’re not abusing them. Do I think these parents should be open to allow their own children to make their own diet choices when they’re older? Sure! But are they abusers? No, and I think you know that.

Meat eating diet shouldn't be forced either. This argument fell apart at point of inception because undeniably what you are implying is that a parents views being applied to their child's life/style is abuse because it's being enforced. Then are we going to start calling breastfeeding sexual abuse?😳😳😳 Protein can be obtained from non meat sources and the vegans/vegetarians I know eat such a variety of foods and are healthy and thriving! Edit: I'm a meat eater who abstains from meat eating periodically.

My daughter and I are vegan. It is definitely not abuse. What’s abuse is what happens to the animals to get meat. But I won’t get into that. She’s thriving, never had any health issues, eats such a variety of foods & when she is older if she chooses to eat meat that is her choice. But she will be raised vegan as we are a vegan household. Why would I buy meat and cook separate meals? You could spin the argument around and say you shouldn’t force your children to eat meat and let them choose when older. I don’t get why people get so funny about this it’s weird

I mean you could argue the same about “forcing” your child to eat animals and their secretions before they can make an educated decision? Or piercing a child’s ears? I’m not saying I think that I’m just playing devils advocate. Everyone makes the choices they believe are best for their child, I think the word “abuse” should be reserved for situations where it actually applies

What on earth? Where does the abuse part enter into the picture? If the child was somehow allergic to all others forms of protein and they were thus being deprived of that whole part of their nutrition, then yes. But in the real world, where that isn’t a thing, why does not eating animal products amount to abuse?

Abuse? No. Negligence? Sure. UNLESS it is due to genuine allergies

obviously it’s not abuse

My children and I are vegetarian, I make sure they have a good balanced diet, I was also raised vegetarian, have been since birth!

If they arnt able to get the protein and nutrients through other foods then possibly. That said my daughter didn’t really start eating meat until she was 5 as was super fussy.

Unless they’re begging for meat or dairy and you’re literally keeping it away from them I don’t see how it’s harmful, go them if they’re thriving!

lol no my daughters and i are vegan

i make sure my eldest daughter (youngest has only just started on solids) gets her vitamins, she has a wide range of vegan food in her diet and we are still breastfeeding at 2.5. i definitely don't think i'm abusing her by not giving her meat and other animal products😅 she is happy and healthy, and when she's old enough she can decide if she wants to try and introduce animal products into her diet

I was vegan for 9 years. You force even a vegetarian diet on children it can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, even with supplements. It's selfish.

It’s obviously neglect if the child is malnourished, but the exact same can be said about a non-vegan child with a poor diet, so the vegan aspect has nothing to do with it

It's like saying because muslims don't eat pork, their child is being abused 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ you can obtain literally everything from a vegan diet, and if that child decides to eat meat once they're older it's up to them 🤷🏻‍♀️

As long as a child is eating healthy and getting a good amount of all their food groups (protein, carbs, fiber etc) than I don’t see an issue. A lot of veggies and vegans eat really healthily and make sure they are getting their protein, calcium etc in different forms. Maybe the only issue would be they might not be able to tolerate dairy when they are older if it’s never introduced but that’s really all I can think of. No I don’t think it’s child abuse. That would be not feeding your child nutritious, healthy meals or any food at all.

It is NOT abuse. Please don’t start throwing that word around. As long as they are exposed to lots of different foods, and getting appropriate nutrition and vitamins, there’s not a problem.

If a child has deficiencies then it is abuse but meat eating children can also have deficiencies due to poor diet so that is also abuse. I would rather my daughter be vegan/veggie than addicted to junk food tbf. I am not veggie but I regularly don’t have any kind of meat for dinner and my daughter will eat the same as me until she is old enough to choose a different diet if she wants to

It’s not abuse at all but the child should make their own decision on the food lifestyle they want not it be forced on them

I don't necessarily think its the optimal approach to introducing and weaning on to solids but calling it abuse it quite ridiculous.

@Mou 😂😂

not abuse, I do vegetarian days for religious purposes but I've never made my son do it, his young needs all the nutrition and protein, when he gets to an age where he would like to choose fair enough,

People throw the word “abuse” around way too easily. Would I raise my kid vegan? No. But it is not abuse. No harm is coming to the kid

I think as long as baby is getting all the proper nutrients in order to grow and be healthy that’s all that matters…I’m not vegan or anything but also don’t believe you HAVE to have meat in order to survive

it’s not abuse. maybe you could argue neglect if they aren’t getting all the proper nutrition, but it’s possible to have a well round diet while being vegan. it’s a lifestyle for a lot of people and if they want to pass it on to their children they have to right to do so! as long as the kids are healthy that’s all that matters

I wouldn’t say abuse but I do think for their immune system the should be i introduced to all foods

I put significantly more thought into balancing my 3.5 vegan child's diet than many other parents following a 'normal' diet. Less processed and more varied imo too.

Feed your kids your diet is what I've always learned... I'm severely allergic to red meat so I don't feed my family red meat either

@Robyn same, that’s the case with many vegan parents I know and definitely not the case with most meat eaters.

A child doesn’t have the choice as a baby if they want to be vegan or vegetarian and might later have problems eating meat because they weren’t introduced earlier. It’s not abuse but just because you want to be that way your child should have a choice later in life after trying the foods.

I don’t think it’s exactly abuse, but if they end up malnourished then that’s when it starts being abuse

From my experience most vegans are extra conscious of all the food groups and eating more balanced/nutritious foods compared to a lot of meat eaters

@Layla Caron this is exactly why my little boy eats meat, despite me being vegetarian and mostly eat vegan. I ate meat a few years ago after years of not eating it and it made me so sick!

If you’re doing it properly then no but if your child is lacking certain vitamins or nutrients and you still refuse because it’s not the diet YOU want then yes. And I also feel like if you make your child feel bad if they do try it or accidentally eat it with another family or friends then that’s wrong too. But most people who are vegan do their research and know how to balance their meals properly

My daughter is 9 months, also easts EVERYTHING. But I don’t think a child being vegan/ vegetarian is abuse! As long as your child is healthy, getting all the right nutrients and vitamins then I don’t think anyone should judge what they feed their child. Obviously if someone was giving their child lots of caffeine, ridiculous amounts of sugar / salt, living off takeaways for every meal ect I’d be concerned and if they were a close friend / family I’d say something. Not sure why people think it’s abuse if they’re a vegan/ vegetarian household but if meat eaters and “forcing” their child to eat meat is ok?😅 Though as a child my mum was vegetarian, became vegan in last 5 ish years, and we were on a meat diet as my dad and then stepdad ate meat anyway.

@Tiffany factually incorrect. If you are taking the right supplements and offering well planned meals then this will not happen. Also, are you saying nutrient deficiencies cannot happen on a meat eating diet? Chicken nuggets and chips all the time - would that be okay because it is meat? Ridiculous

Abuse no, but maybe violation of autonomy.

Of course it’s not abuse 😂 From the other perspective you are ‘forcing’ your child to eat meat, before they even understand what it is. It’s so easy to eat a well balanced vegan diet, and most vegan parents are very thorough in their meal planning etc.

@Carmen I'd ask a dietician and pediatrician.

My cousin decided at a very young age to be vegetarian and is now vegan (in her 30s). Her parents always supported her. We eat a mixture of vegetarian alternatives and real meat. Although mostly vegetarian recently. My 10 year old is not keen on eating animals and we respect that. We spoke to the school nurse recently regarding his limited diet (beige foods) and she said it's fine as long as he gets all the vitamins needed. So no I don't think it's abuse. But I think the parents should respect it if the child becomes older and wants to eat meat.

@Jade how is it any more of a violation of autonomy than giving them meat? or is doing anything for a child who can’t do things for themselves “violating their autonomy”? i’m vegetarian but i was raised eating meat and i wish i could’ve never had it in my body. that definitely feels like a violation of autonomy but until they’re old enough to say “i do/don’t want to eat _____” the parent just has to do what they think is best and make sure the child has the nutrients they need.

@Redss but a baby can't decide so do we starve them until they can communicate their preferred diet.

@Robyn As a meat eater I agree and trying to sub out meats with legumes now is a battle 😤 with older children.

@Anita if you want to 🤷🏽‍♀️

As long as they're getting a source of b12 and they're healthy then no. My daughter has a mostly vegetarian diet despite me being a meat eater because my diets terrible. I can't always afford meat so her meals are 95% vegetables. She's happy and healthy and isn't that keen on meat anyways

@Marilyn negligence how?