The kids have been lacto-ovo since birth. Recently my 11-year-old decided to add fish to his diet at school, caving in to peer pressure and limited options in the lunchline. We are on food stamps and he is in the free lunch/breakfast program. We simply can't afford enough food to pack a lunch every day right now, especially with food prices skyrocketing. They were supposed to have a salad bar in the cafeteria this year, and he was really looking foreward to that, as he loves fresh vegetables, but they still don't have it ready. The lack of vegetarian options beyond peanut butter and jelly or american cheese on white bread finally got to be too much for him and he started eating fish sticks. I really don't know how I feel about this. On the one hand, I feel strongly that vegetarianism is a personal choice, and in alowing him the freedom to make his own decisions. On the other hand, I'm concerned that the values he was raised with, that used to be very important to him, may be slipping.
^ and this very well might happen. When I was 11, I tried to be and do everything just like my dad, but the older I got, the more I wanted to become my own person. The older he gets, the more he is going to make his own choices, and those decisions might not necessarily be what you yourself would do.
THat was the age my son became omni, full blown. Since I'm veg and his dad AND step dad are not, I think he sees veg as feminine on some level. YOUR son might be looking to fit in, or the sandwich choices do suck. Can you send just an entree and he can get the rest of the lunch at school? Seriously, I'd rather my kid eat fish than American processed cheese food, whatever that really is!
No, we tried that, and the school gave us a hard time. If I send any food with him at all, he's no longer eligible for the free lunch program. Use it or lose it I guess, and we can't afford not to.
I was on the free-lunch program a few times growing up. They REALLY make it difficult if you have any type of food issues! I am deathly allergic to pork, and I had a friend who was allergic to fish. Not even for allergies would they make exceptions. Looking back I suppose we could have fought it, but as children all we were concerned about was what we were going to eat that day. We found a few friends who COULD eat the meat, and swapped for one of their side-dishes. The lunch-ladies were none the wiser, and we kept from getting sick. Maybe your son could do the same? love, mom
Nowadays they have to accomidate food allergies and dietary needs like vegetarianism by law. We just had to get a doctors note. The problem is that the only alternative they provide are the nutritionless white bread sandwiches.
That's a good question. They're probably just as devoid of any nutrients or other redeeming qualities as the American processed "cheese" they give him. Ugh! I just wish they'd get the goddamned salad bar done. That would solve everyone's problem. He really does like salad.
american cheese on white bread , who can live on that,, do u know what it does to your body, :banghead: , and yes,, let him deside what to eat.. its a humans right to eat meat,, you need it, and its for shure not helty to ust eat veggis.
You should learn how to speak, and know what the hell you're talking about before you give advice, it's perfectly possible to live healthily without meat.. or i'd be have been dead a long long time ago.
Why are you posting on a vegetarian board? Looking for converts? Or are you just ignorant? Respect that this is a vegetarian board, educate yourself, or clear off!
:iagree: Ill take this mans advice, he sounds intelligent Bah who am I kidding. I could never master the whole forum sarcasm thing
Ok, I'm ashamed of this board. JB is not a native speaker and you chose to insult THAT before his content. JB, I disagree with you, heartily. I've been veg longer than you have been alive, I'm guessing, and what problems I have are not diet related (aside from a sweet tooth). It is possible, and seems easy after a while, to have a perfectly healthy diet without flesh or animal products like eggs and milk.
It seems to me it's just because of the conditions... limited food choices... nothing more. Once this can be fixed, he will probably return to pure vegetarianism...
Uhm, I was insulting the content. I have nothing against people who arent native speakers of English, believe me. I worked in languages and Im planning to become a language teacher one day. Im sure no-one here cant empathise with that. It was solely his MESSAGE I, very understandly, found completely ignorant. People snap out so easily here huh? The others who commented Im sure were just insulted by the message too...again, understandably. People dont always give their best answers when theyve been insulted by pure ignorance This board has gone WAY downhill though
