Work in Progress: Raising health-conscious children



When my daughter was born, I made it a part of my mission to really prepare myself to cook delicious and healthy vegan meals for her and now, for my son too. It is important to me that my children love to eat at home and as a family. I often envision my house being a haven for wonderful international cuisine, fresh baked vegan desserts, fresh juices and smoothies, herbal teas, healthy and fun snacks, fruits and veggies taken from my own garden; I fantasize about the kitchen being the heart and soul of our home.

I have been vegetarian for about 8 years now and I have recently recommitted myself to also being dairy-free. I am raising my children to also be meat and dairy-free; it was a decision I made very consciously and I am extremely excited about it. And while I am blessed to be surrounded by a community of mostly vegetarians, outside of it, I often get asked about the choice to live on such a "strict" diet and raising my babies to do the same.

Many times when I say to someone that I am a strict vegetarian, the question I get asked the most is, "What do you eat?!" The funny thing is that it is usually asked with this notion that there isn't anything left. I try to maintain the principle that possibilities are limitless in all aspects of my life, including food and food preparation. So, while I have eliminated many things that I deem unhealthy for myself and my children from our diets, I am that much more motivated to expand my own experience of vegan cooking and to make it a part of our family tradition.

Eating for most people, including myself, is about the pleasure that is recieved from eating certain foods. I know that many people struggle with eating healthy because, "healthy foods" are usually associated with being bland, boring, and unappetizing. I was very fortunate to transition to a vegetarian lifestyle in Tallahassee, amongst a community of vegetarians and vegetarian restaurants that made the most delicious foods. I felt like I had truly experienced the beauty and pure goodness of food for the first time there. I have always had a love for food but, now that I am vegetarian, that love has magnified.

Because of my experience, part of my mission is to somewhat disspell the myth that vegetarians and vegans only eat nuts and berries and take no part in actually enjoying the taste of food. I believe that while the primary goal should be to invest our time and energy into engaging healthy eating habits, I also believe that it can be done in a way that is enjoyable and pleasing to the soul.

I was inspired to write this blog after I watched Oprah's special on veganism. She and 378 of her staff members went vegan for a week. I thought this was an extremely powerful show for several reasons. One, veganism is seen as this extreme lifestyle and it was great that Oprah made it something that was approachable and easier than one might presume. Two, although the show was about veganism, they were more concerned with promoting the idea of health awareness, which I am a strong advocate for. I loved that they talked in depth about getting educated on what you are eating. And three, I know that when Oprah introduces an idea on her show, many people are inspired to change, worldwide. I knew that people all over would be motivated to either take the 7-day vegan challenge or be inspired to change something about their diets or lifestyle.

I don't believe that veganism is a lifestyle for everyone. But, as a mother, I am more concerned with perpetuating the idea that we have to be committed to teaching our children healthy eating habits. Investing in our health and our children's health takes awareness, work, sacrifice, committment, and discipline. I am met with challenges with raising my daughter to be meat and dairy-free already. At home, it is easier to control what she eats. But, when we are at birthday parties, holiday gatherings, or with my family or friends that don't subscribe to the same diet, it can be a bit challenging. It is easier to feed children things that are convenient, accessible, cheaper, and that appear to be more fun and pleasurable but, in the end it could be doing them a disservice. So, even with the challenges, I continue to push forward.

Where there are challenges, there are also benefits that make it worthwhile. My daughter isn't quite 2 and I already see amazing rewards. Anyone who knows my daughter can vouch for how much she loves food. And that is really an understatement! I know that many children are picky eaters, which can present a challenge that I myself haven't dealt with but, I do think that simplifying children's diets early on and introducing them to a host of fruits and vegetables, can be the start of a wonderful foundation.

My daughter eats cooked vegetables of all kinds, some live vegetables, fresh juices, herbal teas (that are safe for babies); she'll even drink tea with garlic in it, like a champ! And she absolutely loves smoothies. I think that I did get a child that just really loves food but, I think that it is also the level of exposure. From what I have seen, many children are only introduced to a few vegetables and fruits and are given junk food more often (including sweets, fast foods, and processed foods), which is a detriment to getting them comfortable with the taste of healthier foods. Especially since in this society, healthy foods are often swallowed up by the promotion of more "kid-friendly" foods, which usually have far less nutritional value.

And that's where my passion and committment comes in. While I do want my children to have a healthy and strong foundation, I also want them to have fun with their food and enjoy it. I know that there is a way to do both and I am currently experiencing it daily. I subscribe to vegan blogs, I research delicious recipes, and I make traditional recipes into vegan friendly ones. And the more I find, the more I realize that being vegan is not as daunting as it is presented. I have found a vegan substitute for just about every favorite meal or dessert that I have and have opened myself to a new wealth of knowledge.

Being committed to a life of conscious and healthy eating helps us, our children, and it can do wonders for the environment. I do think that cutting back on meat, dairy, and processed foods, is a necessity in this country for several reasons but, ultimately it is a personal choice. I am just here to promote the idea that our personal choices should be made with awareness and if we are continually presented with information about concerns with our food consumption, we have to make responsible choices, especially for our children and their well-being. It is a constant work in progress but, the road to a healthy life, can be so much sweeter than you can imagine!

Stay tuned for much more on this topic...

Interested in learning about vegan cooking, check out these websites:

Vegan Blogs I Enjoy:

FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Sinlessly Delicious- http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/

Naturi Beauty Blog: http://naturibeauty.com/blog/ (this blog is a wonderful resource for cooking both vegan and non-vegan foods, as well as other goodies, such as all natural beauty recipes)