Dining Out As A Vegan Mom in A Meat World (VIDEO)

We took the boys to a Mexican restaurant last week and I figured they would order a wrap or tacos without issue. I was wrong! All 3 of my son ordered a burger and fries. *shaking my head* I suggested some vegan options but when the protesting started, I quickly gave up.

Being their mother, I know I have the upper hand in meal decisions but I often wonder how that would play out long term. Will denying them a burger now make them want it more later? I try hard to respect other people's choices because I appreciate it when the same is extended to me.

With that being said, I feel very uncomfortable supporting the meat and dairy industries (see this post for more information on my views). I don't like giving these industries any of our money.

*Sigh*

In a perfect world there would be many juice bars and vegan restaurants all over America.  Unfortunately, that isn't the case....

For the time being, I'm willing to compromise.  They can order what they want and I will continue to teach them about the food industry, health benefits, and hopefully they'll use that information.  As you can see in the video above, Alvin (at 8 years old), made the connection between how we eat and how it affects our planet. I will take that as a step in the right direction.

My Struggle with Transitioning My Kids to Vegan Eating

I struggle a lot with whether or not I should be more proactive in ensuring that my kids eat only vegan meals, even though we eat a lot better as a family than we did just two short years ago.  Like I mentioned in a previous post, it's routine for my boys to eat a vegan diet at home, but when I send them out into the world, that's a different story.

My two oldest sons spend about two weekends a month (and holidays) in Maryland with their dad, who is not a vegan/vegetarian.  They have an awesome dad, and enjoy their visits, but often return home vomiting or complaining about stomach aches since eating on those visits is very different.  My kids don't eat meat or much fast food here, so their little bodies go into shock when those foods are reintroduced. 

The logical response may be to pack their food for the weekend, but I know in the long run this biweekly task isn't very realistic (at least 8 meals and snacks would need to be packed).  Or, I could ask their dad to not give them any dairy, eggs, or meat, but that may be overwhelming being that he isn't a vegan. Also, since I refuse to allow anyone to tell me what to feed my kids, I owe him the same respect as their father. 

I know my children weren't born into a vegan household, but that still isn't an excuse for me not to teach them about food as I learn. One of the major reasons a vegan lifestyle is important for our family is for health reasons, but there are a few other concerns I have that cause me to battle myself about them consuming animal products.

Some of those ethical reasons are:

Knowing that much of the grain production in this country is being given to cattle raised for food opposed to starving humans is unsettling to me.

Knowing that nearly 70% of deforested land in the Amazon is exploited for grazing, resulting in destruction of fragile ecosystems and excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is unsettling to me. Source

Knowing that diseased animals are being exploited and forced to live in tight quarters to line the pockets of food companies in bed with the government is unsettling to me.

I wish I could write this with a clear solution for other families that may be going through this very thing, but as of now, I don't have any solid answers.  

I guess the point of this post is to show that everything isn't always perfect when adapting to this way of eating; especially when you're a blended family.

Thanks for reading! Any suggestions or feedback is greatly appreciated.  Leave a comment below or connect with me on Facebook or Twitter.

Want to see me cook delicious vegan meals with my family?  Subscribe to my Youtube channel to stay up to date.

Are Your Kids Vegan Too?

I was talking to one of my Twitter buddies the other day about how I handle my kids eating non-vegan food at school or any other time.  

This is the post that initated that conversation

At home, my kids eat a mostly vegan diet and I pack a vegan lunch every day for school.  They eat what other kids enjoy...cookies, cakes, French fries, pizza-just without dairy or meat.  I also make sure to have plenty of fresh fruit, veggies, nuts and seeds on hand, so they can snack on these items after school and on the weekends.  

Up until very recently, Theodore (my youngest son) was still eating grilled cheese sandwiches on the weekends, and Simon (my oldest) had an ice cream cake for his birthday earlier this month.  

When the boys aren't with me, I let them make their own food decisions.  I educate them about the importance of eating plant-based food, but ultimately I can't watch their every move.  It is my responsibility to provide the information but just as important for them to make their own decisions.

We've only been on this journey for about 20 months and I'm so amazed at the progress we have made as a family.   We still have a lot to learn (and they still reject plenty of recipes lol) but overall it has been a positive experience.

While sitting outside earlier today (the weather was gorgeous!), Alvin wanted to know if I would make cupcakes for his class on his next birthday.   I said yes and he asked, "Will they be vegan?" I nodded and his response, "Good."

Need help transitioning your own family? I would love to hear from you. Follow me on Twitter or leave a comment below.

Something On My Mind

All 3 chipmunks received high marks on their report cards for the 1st semester of the school year. Woo hoo!

Simon

Theodore 

Alllvvvinn!!!

Each award ceremony lasted for about 30 minutes as food was being given away for students' performance:

1) Ice cream coupons for "caught being good" acknowledgments 

2) A cookie party for the class with the best attendance for the semester (Theodore's class won for 1st grade)

3) CiCi's pizza certificate for honor roll students (all three chipmunks earned)

I couldn't be happier for their accomplishments, yet at the same time concerned with regard to the food being given away and the message it was teaching our kids.  It felt like winning an award was cause for eating fatty processed food, dairy, and meat as a celebration. 

This experience made me think of my upbringing and how food was such a big part of my school day.  We had holiday/birthday parties, vending machines with junk food (starting in middle school), and lunches that didn't spare the salt, sugar, and dairy by any means. 

I also remember my 4th grade PE instructor lecturing us on the importance of eating more fruit and vegetables, exercising, and drinking more water. This was short lived of course, as we would go back to our homeroom classroom that were fully stocked with soda, cookies, and candy to give away as treats or prizes.

I can't help but feel that we're shown at such a young age (not just by the school system) that eating a lot of dairy and junk food is a normal part of life, causing many to carry on those habits as they get older.

If you haven't already, I challenge you to do some research on the food industry.  Watch a few documentaries (Foodmatters , Food, Inc. , Earthlings-very graphic, Forks Over Knives), and read a few books (By Any Greens Necessary: A Revolutionary Guide for Black Women Who Want to Eat Great, Get Healthy, Lose Weight, and Look Phat , Sistah Vegan: Food, Identity, Health, and Society: Black Female Vegans Speak , The Remedy: The Five-Week Power Plan to Detox Your System, Combat the Fat, and Rebuild Your Mind and Body , Diet for a New America ).

Keep in mind that the food industry is big business (especially dairy and meat), and profits opposed to true health is more important.Therefore, it's important to rely on your own research and not just what the USDA says about health.

Speaking of dollar signs, check out this article about Congress making pizza a vegetable. 

Pizza is a vegetable? Congress says yes

Thank you for reading.

You Have to Start Them Early

Alvin juicing grapefruit, apple, and ginger root

He used too much ginger root and it was very spicy. lol