Raising Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World: A Complete Guide for Parents [Paperback]

Erin Pavlina (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 1, 2003

Raising vegan children in today's society is much easier when you can draw from the experiences of other parents. Filled with advice gleaned through interviews with hundreds of vegan families, this book promises parent-tested answers to your most pressing questions.

Topics covered include: Transitioning children to a vegan diet, school and daycare dilemmas, nutrition and health, social situations, mixed marriages, traveling, instilling compassion in children, and more!

Editorial Reviews

Review

...fills a previous void in literature; the social aspects of being vegan. A great help for any vegan parent. -- Vegan.nu, January 2003

A comprehensive resource for vegan families. Filled with in-depth information, practical tips, and helpful suggestions for every situation. -- Peggy O'Mara, Editor and Publisher, Mothering magazine

I recommend this book most highly. It gifts us with a beautiful vision, and a healthier future for us all. -- Michael Klaper, M.D., Author, Pregnancy, Children, and the Vegan Diet

No problem is too difficult for the author to solve. She makes it all sound so achievable. -- Vegan Voice Magazine, March - May 2003

This book ... goes beyond the basics to help parents successfully navigate life as vegans in any stage of parenting. Indispensable! -- Melanie Wilson, Editor-in-Chief, Vegetarian Baby and Child magazine

About the Author

Erin Pavlina is the Editor of VegFamily.com magazine, a monthly ezine covering all aspects of vegan family living.

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: VegFamily.com; 1ST edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972510206
• ISBN-13: 978-0972510202
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Much needed vegan resource August 16, 2005

By Cathe Fein Olson VINE™ VOICE

Bringing up children in the healthiest way is a daunting task for any parent, but vegan families have special concerns. From wondering if your children will get adequate nutrition to questions about whether they should take a trip to the zoo, vegan parents may feel pressured to compromise their beliefs.

"Raising Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World" defines a vegan as someone who doesn't eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or any food not of plant origin, such as honey. It also states vegans avoid wearing clothing made from animal products. They don't use cleaning products or cosmetics made from or tested on animals. They also avoid amusement where animals are confined, such as zoos or circuses. The book cites compelling reasons for a vegan lifestyle. The number one being the mistreatment of animals used for human consumption. It also lists health benefits of omitting animal products from your diet.

This complete guide for vegan parents deals with issues that arise at each stage of a child's development. You'll get advice for feeding children from toddler age to teens that ensures they get required nutrients. Tips are included for avoiding hidden animal ingredients at home and while eating out. You'll learn that beans are sometimes made with animal fat, soy cheeses may contain casein or rennet, and even bread may contain whey.

Parents learn how to choose a day care or preschool that will cater to their child's special diet and how to constructively deal with problems that may arise. When children enter school, a new set of potential issues arise. This book gives advice on dealing with teachers and school staff, handling bullies and teasing, school parties, field trips, fundraisers, and dissection. Pavlina also gives advice on explaining vegan choices to children.

Vegan parents wondering if their children will still be able to socialize at birthday parties, scout organizations, holiday parties, and summer camp will be reassured by Pavlina's commonsense suggestions. Even traveling is not a problem when you are prepared for any eventuality. In fact, much of Pavlina's advice is useful to non-vegans. She shows the wisdom of "being prepared for the worst but hoping for the best" - words any parent can live by. Pavlina encourages dealing with problems that arise in a constructive manner. She gives excellent suggestions for educating others about animal rights and positive ways to put "compassion into action".

The last section of the book gives recipes yummy enough to tempt any palate. You'll learn to make French Toast, sandwiches, snacks, muffins, and cookies without animal products.

"Raising Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World" is a must for vegans and indeed a valuable tool for any parent. It's a reference book you will use again and again.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anyone raising vegan children! May 9, 2003

By Jessica Fordham

It's about time someone wrote a book just for us vegan parents. My children are still very young and I've been searching for a book that will help me get an idea of the challenges we are going to face once my kids get to school. This book answered every question I had, and then some!

The book was also a fast read, not all scientific and authoritative. Just good, honest, practical advice and tips. I read the book in just two sittings; in fact, I couldn't put it down once I started because the writing flowed really well.

Highlights include:

-- How to explain to teachers and day care workers what your child's needs are.

-- How to deal with doctors, friends, and family who might disagree with your chosen lifestyle.

-- Great ideas for how to transition children to veganism, no matter what their age is.

-- A pretty decent nutrition section that covers the most important nutrients your kids need, and written in a format that I understood easily.

-- A chapter that includes great travel tips if you're vegan.

-- My favorite chapter, the one on Social Situations. She covers everything like birthday parties, holidays, summer camp, finding other vegan families in your neighborhood, etc. I found so many of those tips useful in my daily life.

-- I enjoyed the chapter on compassion in action, but felt she could have taken that one a lot further than she did.

Overall, though, a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it to parents who have vegan kids. I plan to re-read it often as my children get older and start to encounter new situations.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for vegan and vegetarian parents May 18, 2005

By C. G. Brown

Answers questions you may not have considered (especially for those of us with young babies who are just trying to figure this stuff out). Guides you in ways to address daycare/school issues and makes you feel like you're not alone in dealing with the 'food issue' when your child is in someone else's care. It's easy to read and very helpful in detailing ways to answer some of those ridiculous questions that people always ask about...I highly recommend this book.