As parents, we all want what’s best for our children. It’s innately human. If you ask most parents what they desire for their child’s future, the response is somewhat universal—health and happiness.
Whether you’re currently vegan or thinking about transitioning your family away from animal products, you likely already know the amazing benefits of a plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle. If not, check out these plant-based doctors for more expertise! Not only is a plant-based vegan diet great for your health, but it demonstrates compassion for animal welfare and brings incredible environmental benefits for our planet.
However, vegan parenting can come with its own set of unique challenges. If you’re currently on this journey, you may have already faced questions or critique. You may feel discouraged or confused with where to turn.
Well, rest assured! We’ve put together our top ten valuable tips for raising vegan kids that are happy, healthy, compassionate, and thriving!
1. Know Your Why
With any decision, it’s important to refocus on your family’s values and priorities. When you know your why, the rest falls into place. A vegan lifestyle reduces our risk of disease and optimizes our well-being. It prevents animal suffering and reduces our environmental footprint. Plus, with all of the resources and recipes available, you can enjoy incredibly tasty meals all while living with kindness and compassion—the perfect values to share with your children!
2. Be Patient
Whether you’ve been vegan for a while or have only recently transitioned, chances are that you’ve received doubts or questions from non-vegans in your life, especially when it comes to vegan parenting. While there is no one-size-fits-all response, it is important to have patience with those around us. Sometimes, we have to let them see it to believe it. When your family thrives on a plant-based vegan diet, no one can stand in your way.
3. Do Your Research
Any child’s diet should be well-researched and planned. Yet, a vegan diet is often most highly scrutinized. However, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that a well-planned vegetarian or vegan diet can be healthful and appropriate for all stages of life, including for infants and toddlers. For more information on meeting your child’s nutritional needs, be sure to check out the Plant-Based Juniors book! It’s one of our family’s favorite resources.
4. Plan Ahead
A little preparation goes a long way when raising a vegan family. Whether your child is off to school for the first time, or on their way to a friend’s birthday party, it’s important to consider how to help your child enjoy various events with same-age peers while still upholding your family’s values and priorities. Don’t be afraid to ask what’s being served on your child’s upcoming social calendar. In doing so, you can ensure that there is an equally delicious vegan option available for them to enjoy. These vegan treats will surely be a hit!
5. Educate Early
There’s an important misconception to clear with others early. As vegans, we are not forcing our children to eat a certain way. Rather, we are teaching our children about their food choices and the impact those choices have on their health and the world around them. By teaching our children about veganism, we naturally teach other values such as compassion, kindness, empathy, and how to treat other living beings. This should always be developmentally appropriate and tailored to their needs and understanding. This includes family conversation, books, visiting local vegan community events and farm sanctuaries. These conversations often result in new learning and navigation for us, as parents, but nonetheless are ever-evolving to meet the needs of your family.
6. Get Involved
Finding opportunities to engage with your local vegan community is a great way to involve your children. Volunteering at a local event, participating in community activism, or visiting a local farm sanctuary can be a chance for the entire family to learn and grow together. Teaching children to speak out against injustice encourages them to be thoughtful and informed citizens of the world. Check out more tips for meeting vegans near you!
7. Variety is Key
Raising vegan kids doesn’t mean you’ll be immune to the occasional fuss over mealtime. However, exposing your children to a diverse range of whole, plant-based foods can be incredibly beneficial for not only their health but also for the variety it offers them and the curiosity it sparks. Your kids will be amazed at all of the hidden veggies in these creamy vegan pasta recipes—Yum!
8. Find Your Favorites
As a family, make time together in the kitchen. But, if you have the opportunity, be sure to check out your nearby family-friendly vegan establishments too! Here in Minneapolis, Minnesota, our family loves visiting nearby Stalk & Spade, which offers a family-friendly atmosphere and lots of events for kids to enjoy!
9. Progress Over Perfection
While sometimes hard to admit, we don’t always have the answers on how to navigate each and every unique situation when it comes to vegan parenting. With parenting in general, we are bound to make a mistake or two along the way. Raising vegan children adds an especially unique component to the mix that’s uniquely challenging yet incredibly worthwhile. Whether new to the journey or a longtime vegan, the key to lasting change for your family is progress over perfection. Incorporating new changes for kids can be difficult, but starting important conversations and allowing opportunities for exploration of new foods can be a meaningful step in the right direction. Remember—you’re doing great!
10. Have Fun
Perhaps the most important thing to remember on this beautiful journey of vegan parenting—enjoy it! You are the greatest role model for your child. By prioritizing your family’s values of kindness and compassion, as well as valuing your own health and well-being, you are well on your way to raising happy, healthy vegan children. So, in case you need a reminder, it’s ok to make a mess. By letting our littles help in the kitchen, we’re sharing lessons that will shape them for the rest of their lives, even if there’s pancake batter on the ceiling. Have fun!
In case you need further encouragement, your family can thrive on a vegan diet.
By defining your why and moving forward with intention, you can make small but mighty changes that will make a lasting impact for not only your health and wellness—but for the ones you love the most. Enjoy the journey!