Omnivores seem to take offence at the fact my children are being raised as vegans. I have had people tell me it's just not right and try and make out like I'm a bad mother. The most insulting part is when they say my children don't get enough vitamins. Before going vegan, I never really questioned what vitamins we were taking in as a family. I would give the kids multi vitamins now and again and chuck some fruit and veg in their lunches, but it wasn't until I started to see things on the internet regarding the egg and dairy industry that I started to question what we were putting in our bodies and it opened my eyes to the devastation this was having on animals and our planet.
I have been vegan now since the end of 2015, having previously been vegetarian for 17 years. My son had already chosen to be vegetarian at a young age, as he explained he loved animals and didn't want to have any part in hurting them. My daughter soon followed. Both of my children questioned what veganism was and how it was different to being vegetarian and I have been honest and explained it in different ways, dependant on their ages. I told them that I didn't eat meat because I loved animals and this was the same reason I was now vegan. I explained that some of the animals die for dairy and eggs, just like in the meat industry and they processed the information for themselves.
I had already stopped buying dairy milk for the rest of the family and we were out grocery shopping one day and my youngest told me not to buy any more cheese or yoghurts as she had decided to go vegan. My partner (the childrens dad) isn't vegan and at the time he couldn't understand why I was, why I couldn't just stay veggie and I didnt want to push veganism on to my youngest, so I just told her to have a think about it. Well she was adamant that she loved animals, like mum and she didn't need eggs or dairy. She has been vegan since and she is a little star. She is still only 10 years old and hasn't been exposed to all the truths of the industries devastations, but for her own reasons she is vegan.
My son, having been veggie for some time at the point his sister declared she was a 'vegan warrior', asked some more questions and took a few days to think about it, then came to me and made the same declaration (not the warrior part); he has also been vegan since. I am so proud of both of them and the compassion they feel and the willingness to learn more and be brought out of their comfort zones is amazing.
So after our little Vgang formed in the house (dad excluded- for now), I started to research more and more about vitamins needed in a vegan diet. I knew how to handle protein intake, having been veggie for so long, but I had read some articles about vitamin B12. It was mentioned that my children growing up on a vegan diet wouldn't get B12 in their diets and so would not grow properly, it could affect their learning etc. Now this is one of the things those offended omnivores I mentioned, throw at me now and again. So after doing lots of research, discussing it with doctors and nutritionists, I'm confident enough to say my kids get more than enough of every vitamin and mineral needed to grow.
It is true that B12 is found naturally in animal products (as micro-organisms) and generally isn't found in plant foods, but it is packed in so many vegan foods like fortified breakfast cereals, dairy free milks, yoghurts and nutritional yeasts (that can be easily added to meals). I make sure we eat enough of these foods, but also purchase B12 vitamins for the family. Most foods label the amount of B12 in each serving and most vitamins cover the daily intake. B12 is required in smaller amounts than any other vitamin; 10 micrograms of B12 spread over a day appears to supply as much as the body can use. Even if you take in more than this, the body will only process what it can. It is recommended to take in between 1.5 to 3 micrograms per day- easy!
I was shocked to discover the effects of dairy milk on the human body, after being brought up to believe I needed it for calcium. This was one of my biggest concerns when my children went vegan. Again after more research and discussions with professionals, I discovered cows milk robs human bones of calcium. Animal proteins produce acid when they’re broken down, and calcium is an acid neutraliser so to neutralise and flush out the acids, our bodies have to use the calcium that the milk contains—as well as some from our own stores. So every glass of milk we drink leaches calcium from our bones. It has been proven that people who consume the most cow's milk have significantly higher fracture rates than those who drink little to no milk and also that later in life people, especially women suffer with Osteoporosis. The amount of saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol in cheese is also eye opening!
P.S Soya milk doesn't give you man boobs! 🤣
Now in the UK, the recommended intake of calcium for adults is 700 milligrams per day and you can can get all the calcium you need from a vegan diet. I believe we take in much more calcium since going vegan, as it is found in dairy free milks, tofu, green veggies, chia seeds, almonds, figs etc. Also if you were concerned in any way, there are so many vegan multivitamins that cover most of the necessary vitamins needed for your little ones and they can be found anywhere. I usually order the kids from Amazon and buy the larger tubs (just because they last longer).
To finish up, since going vegan my family is more aware of the nutrients they take in and they've taken in more calcium, B12, Iron, Vitamin D and protein than they ever did as omnivore's. So for anyone that's offended by my children being vegan, hope this helps! 😊
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