VEGAN PARENTING
I’ve been vegan for several years now, and although I’m not at the point where I’m considering children... it seems to be a point other people have felt the need to raise with me. According to the British Dietetic Association, ‘veganism is healthy at all stages of life’.
I wondered about the experience of vegan families in Scotland. So I interviewed two vegan mums Hannah and Sarah-Jane who were happy to share their family lives with me. Both have small toddlers and live in Scotland in full vegan households. L: Do you think Scotland is an easy place to bring up a vegan family? H:I live on the island of Mull, I’m guessing it’s easier on the mainland, but we are all perfectly happy. SJ: It is definitely getting better each year. The big cities have enough cafes and big supermarkets have options. There is a need for more affordable family centred options at soft plays and kid friendly locations. L: How did doctors approach your pregnancy/ being vegan parents? H: Drs and NHS staff have mainly been supportive. Only a couple have given me the impression that they didn’t advise it, with one bluntly stating it was not recommended. SJ: I was vegetarian during my 1st pregnancy and that was accepted. After omitting dairy from my diet to continue breastfeeding (baby had a milk allergy) there was a sudden panic from the doctors and health visitors! With my second pregnancy I had been vegan for 2 years and I think a lot had changed in even that short time. L: Do you send your children to nursery? Were they accommodating to the diet? snackmag.co.uk
H: He’s due to go in a year. I will make sure they are fully informed, not just regarding diet, but also with teaching/ethics/morals/beliefs/providing alternatives so he never feels left out. SJ: They have always been understanding and inclusive. They are good at checking labels or asking if they are unsure. If they have a particular activity they either get vegan ingredients or make it a whole nursery task. She takes her own packed lunch. L: What kind of vegan diet do you feed your children? H: We ‘eat the rainbow’, I try to give him as wide a variety as possible, mainly home cooked food... processed food is probably 1% of his diet. Fortified plant milks and yoghurt with added iron, calcium and b12. Healthy fats such as nut butters, seed butters and avocado. He also has vegan multivitamins just to be on the safe side. SJ: Like any children, each day is different and varied! Both are ‘good eaters’ in that they will eat most things without complaint. L: What were people’s opinions on you being vegan parents? H: I’ve had some uninformed comments come my way but I soon set them right. This can be extremely hard if you are an exhausted new mum and already have enough to struggle with. SJ: Being vegan gives people free reign to pass