Kids and Meat Question

[The Monkey Mama]

My kids have always known where their meat comes from since they were old enough to ask about it. Even my 3yo knows where it comes from.

We talk about how pork comes from pigs, beef comes from cows, and chicken comes from chicken.

For me, I always felt it was important that they know and respect where their meat came from. They have never had a problem with this.

I grew up on a farm and I grew up eating animals we had raised. I was a vegetarian for 7 years and then a vegan for 2 years as an adult and started eating meat again when I was pregnant with my first and had trouble getting enough protein.

So, I understand both sides of the issue very well

.

I want my kids to always respect the life that was given for their nourishment and to be grateful.

I don't think you should be scared of telling her where her food comes from.

Kelly

 

[skand]

We tell our kids the same as everyone else. It's there for our food. It's the same as in the store, only we know our birds are being fed right, handled safer, etc.
They think it's an added bonus that we get all aspects of our birds. From thier momma hen having the egg, hatching and raising the chick, all the way to the dinner plate.
We've never lied to them about it. In fact, as it may seem cruel to some, we've even told them, if we didn't kill this deer, then we wouldn't even have enough food to eat dinner.
So long as you explain it on her terms (when she asks), and do it in a way that she can understand, you should be okay.
Our 6 year old even insisted on helping daddy last night with her ringneck pheasants.
I don't think it traumatizes them, it gives them a broader knowlege of what's going on.
Kinda like, if ya don't teach them to wash dishes, they won't understand the need to have clean dishes. Maybe? lol

 

[coffeelady3]

Quote:
She knows that beef comes from cows, pork comes from pigs part. It the "comes from" part that she hasn't figured out yet. As far as she knows the cows could grow the beef in their gardens and give it to people!

It seems the best course of actions is to continue being honest with her, don't push the subject, and when she figures it out on her own be there to answer her questions. Ugh! Why does parenting have to be so complicated!


(And Skand-I can't WAIT until she's old enough to do dishes!)

 

[crazyhen]

I and most of us came to a realization on our own. I see no need to impose our feelings about a food on them. Let them enjoy their meat. They will as teens come to a conclusion on their own. Its not being dishonest. If they ask , tell them otherwise let it be. Jean

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I know this is a subject some people seem to handle with such ease.....I have never been able to myself. I have always been uncomfortable with eating meat but love it at the same time, which I suppose is why I have trouble talking to my kids about it.

My 3 boys are 11, 8, and 7. All three are very sensitive, caring, empathetic children. Since they figured out the origins of their food we have gone temporarily vegetarian on numerous occasions. They will just announce one day that they can't eat meat anymore and we stop until they tell me they are ready to eat it again. I wish you the best of luck. It is hard.

Oh, and one thing that has helped us, even though we don't grow any of our own meat I find humane sources of meat as an alternative. All of the pork and beef we currently consume comes from a friend who pampers and spoils her animals. The kids feel better knowing the animal was treated well. They still get upset that the animals had to die, but it does make it much easier.

 

[wyliefarms]

My kids ages are 12, 10, 7, 4, 2. All help raise the animals we eat. They know where the meat comes from and they will ask if this is one of our chickens we are having for dinner. (This question is always from the younger ones.)

When we go to someones house, they will occassionaly even mention to me afterwards that the meat wasn't as good as our meat. (mentioned from the older ones.) store bought vs. home grown.

If my kids have a question I answer it truefully at there level of maturity.

Don't worry about telling your kid everything right now. As she matures, she will ask you more questions. They always do!

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

Quote:
For the month before our pigs get slaughtered they don't get any corn. We give them accorns, root vegetables, pumpkins, apples, more accorns. So our meat tastes very different than store bought. My 7yo was convinced that the chops from a friends house were not really pork at all. Really thought that the grocery store put the wrong tag on them. lol

 

[luvzmybabz]

My son is 5 and knows the the turkey we have now is thanksgiving dinner. He gets really hyped up about the holidays and so I went with it about how great it is that we can harvest our own dinner. He is looking forward to it, I am still a little weary about having him there but he really seems to want to experience it so I will let him.

 

[SandraMort]

I have the opposite problem. My husband and kids are vegetarian, I am not. All three of my kids (10, 7 and 3) know that the rangers are 'meat birds' but I'm not entirely sure the toddler knows what I mean when I say 'turn it into yuckymeat'.

 

[Wildsky]

Kids get the idea eventually - same as anything else I let them start asking the questions before I give them any info they might not want.

My daughter knows we intend to eat a couple of the ducks, at first she was not toooo sure - then she told us it was OK as long as we didn't eat Chestnut (one of the drakes has a name - but they ALL look the same)

Edit to add: My daughter is 5, or a week away from 5