Babysitter: "I’ll starve the child because I can’t be bothered to feed him healthy fruits and vegetables."

July 27, 2008

I think the most difficult things about veganism and vegetarianism is when the vegan or vegetarian can’t prepare his or her own foods and must rely on omnivores, some of whom are not at all accommodating. For example, when the veg*n is a child, hospital patient, or prison inmate and the care-giver or guardian is an omnivore who doesn’t understand or doesn’t respect vegetarianism or veganism.

Having been a vegetarian child and also a vegetarian “hospital” patient I know first-hand about some of these difficulties: having to constantly defend your habits, and having to ask for or demand fair treatment. Now that I’m vegan, some of these things are even more difficult, though luckily for me, I’m no longer a child or patient. But now I’m also seeing veg*n life from another angle: my vegetarian sister and her vegetarian son experience some of the frustration.

Today, my nephew’s babysitter complained that she didn’t want to watch him because he “doesn’t eat anything.” She complained that he doesn’t eat chicken and so she couldn’t feed him.

Ugh, I just wish it were easier for people like my nephew. And I hope experiences like this don’t mean he’ll grow to share my resentment of omnivores.

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under -Kids, children, nephew, omnivores, vegan, vegetarian, vegetarian kids 

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Comments

2 Responses to “Babysitter: "I’ll starve the child because I can’t be bothered to feed him healthy fruits and vegetables."”

  1. Judith on July 28th, 2008 6:52 am

    I think that omnivores are often so meat-centered that they have no idea what to do, however much they may want to. I think when dealing with this brand you have to provide the food. Kids like many choices, a bit of each, as a rule, so many different little things would be my suggestion.

    Some of those veggie sushies maybe? Grapes, little wraps, nuts and seeds, thermos of soup?

    Or maybe a handout: suggestions for easy meals for the veg kid. Hmm…I like it…

  2. Elaine Vigneault on July 28th, 2008 11:40 am

    Generally Mary does provide food, but on this day it wasn’t Mary’s day, it was Joe’s day. He doesn’t provide food for Joey.

    But… I think the babysitter just didn’t want to watch Joey and that was her excuse. I don’t think it was actually related to vegetarianism so much as the fact that vegetarianism is ‘different’ and difference is used to justify personal desires. Example: “Cows are different from us so that’s a good reason to eat them.” “Vegans are different from mainstream so that’s a good reason to make fun of them.” Et cetera…

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