vegan families?

[veganmommy]

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[Erin Pavlina]

Hello Veganmommy!

My husband and I live in Los Angeles, we've been vegan since 1997. Our daughter, Emily, is 3 and she's been vegan since conception. I'm pregnant with number two, a boy, due in August.

Our extended family was against our veganism at first but have grown very used to it now. They're fairly respectful of our chosen lifestyle.

Our daughter has been very healthy, though she does get colds occasionally, but they only last maybe a quarter of the time as mine used to when I was a kid and eating the SAD.

We live in a very supportive community and have lots of vegan restaurants to choose from (yum!).

Please feel free to stop by my website, listed in my signature. We have a new section full of playgroup listings (http://www.vegfamily.com/playgroups/) so if you're looking for other veg families in your area, it's a good place to start.

Nice to meet you!

[veganmommy]

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[Erin Pavlina]

HI Renee, glad you found VegFamily already.

Yeah, I know there are a lot of vegan families here. I usually find them in the Good Eating forum.

[Andrea0408]

Hey all..add us to the list. Well, sorta! The kids and I are vegan...only have been for about 4 weeks..(LOL) but were vegetarians for almost a year. Wish I could say that they had been vegans since conception, but we are currently TTC, and if baby three ever decides to bless us with his/her presence, he/she will be vegan for sure!! Dh was veggie with me, went dairy free, and started eating poultry again..:( He is working off meat again, though, so we should be a "vegan unit" again soon..lol!

Veganism is looked at as radical and crazy where I live now, and am looking forward to moving back "home" to the central coast of California (San Luis Obispo area) within the next 18 months. I am realizing how important an understanding, like minded community really is!

BTW, Erin, I love your website, and will be ordering your book next week..:love A good friend of mine referred me to your site several months ago...and now it is set as my homepage so that every time dh goes online, he is reminded of his eating habits..

Happy to meet you all!:D

[Erin Pavlina]

Andrea, how sweet you made VegFamily the homepage. That's great. :)

The book will be a great help to your family situation, especially chapter 2. I'll look for your order soon.

[dandelion]

I don't visit these boards very often, but wanted to say, "hi". Our family's been vegan for about six years. And yes, the kids are exceptionally healthy! (The downside is that my kids each got a one-day cold recently and didn't know how to blow their noses. :) ) People thought we were nuts where we used to live where even those who called themselves "vegetarian" ate fish regularly and chicken on occasion. But we now live in a college town which is entirely different!

Extended family doesn't really understand, but they respect it and can see how good it's been for us. Some have even adjusted their diets.

(I checked out VegFamily a couple of times, but haven't returned since I found an article quite offensive. :( )

[callmemama]

Hi veganmommy,

I wish I could say ds was vegan since pre-conception!! But at least, he's been vegan since birth:) We dropped dairy first, then meat and eggs. I was pleased that dh has gone along with this!! We've been vegan for a little over 2 years. I don't know any other vegans (except at vegfamily:)). I did meet one veggie at LLL, but I think she's started eating FISH! We don't live near extended family, so while we don't have any support, we don't have any active opposition - almost as good, don't you think?! As for community support, well the midwest is NOT a vegan mecca!

[veganmommy]

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[svb]

Hi all, I just wanted to chime in. My family is vegan as well. My hubby and I have been vegan for 4 years and were veggies for nearly 20 before that. We lived in the Midwest and went vegan after seeing all the calf cages lined in rows right out front of dairy farm after dairy farm. We were faced with hardcore reality for those poor babes and just said NO from then on.

My Dd Hattie is quite healthy so far (10 mos old), having gotten a cold or two so far. My family has grown to accept if not respect our choices; my in-laws are still a p.i.t.b. about it, but since we live in Germany it's not a problem.

As far as supportive communities go...if there's anything I miss about America, it's the vegan awareness, products and people. I have one vegetarian friend who caved and gave her kid meat b/c of her dh. I've never met another vegan here.

Good thing I've got my hubby and hattie. Nice to meet you all!
Staci vb

[callmemama]

veganmommy,

We're in MO:o We don't eat out AT ALL!! But we're lucky to have a couple of natural food stores within an hour's drive - whew!

[radish]

hi!

i *was* a good vegan b4 pregnancy but included fish and some dairy and am trying to rid myself of the "habit" 10 weeks after giving birth

dh eats fish but no meat/dairy, still wears leather shoes/belt but im working on it!

our dd, zoe, will be raised vegan for sure!

?????
does everyone consider veganism diet *and* lifestyle...a lot of people think its just diet. i feel like such a nitpicker when i try to explain the difference.

i know some vegans who dislike the "labels" but i feel it is important to make a clear definition....

what do you think???

[Yooper]

I'm here! Dh and I have been completely vegan for about 2 years. I was veggie for 10 years before that. However, I was alergic to milk, considered fish an animal, and did not buy eggs, so diet-wise I have been largly a strict vegetarian for about 10 years. The official conversation took place when we started eliminating hidden ingredients and household product purchases.

I am due in August and of course the baby has and will remain vegan until he/she is old enough to decide differently.

Our families think we are nuts and my mother has even casually threatened to call child protective services. They will try to slip non-vegan foods to baby so we are going to have to be very dilligent. MIL even lied to dh once, telling him that something was vegan when it was not. He was sick for days.

Our community is even worse. We are the only vegans in town. There are a few fish eating "veggies". The restaurants are impossible. We do not eat out. This is a huge hunting area. The only thing saving us is a really great co-op and a buying club that we belong to.

We are having a home birth. That was decided after my former OB called me "reckless and selfish" for eating vegetarian. He does not even know I am vegan. He claims that "every pregnant woman NEEDS meat". Grrrrr.....

Yooper

[veganmommy]

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[radish]

i realize that veganism is a long road for many people and and i am just grateful that there are others who are making an effort and doing as much as they can.
well said!!

our home/life is pretty strict as well...althoug i did find a local beekeeper who gave me 2 jars of yummy hunny!!!

next ???
would u eat hunny or wear wool if you knew the animal was humanely treated??

i do/have -- however --- i would not cnsume animals humanely treated...make any sense?

[kimmysue2]

I am not vegen. I am a vegetarian before there was the word vegen. I eat dairy but not like tons. I was raised this way so I never have an issue. Though the people are work tend to tease me about it. They like to say You know why your son is whinning he needs a STEAK. They are kidding.

[Yooper]

We are pretty strict in our house. We do not eat honey or wear wool although we do have items from before our vegan days that we continue to use and will do so until they wear out. I have no idea how I am going to handle schooling for baby bean. We have had to take back a few baby shower gifts because they contain wool, leather, or lanolin so it has already started. People just do not get it most of the time. I had a coworker come to my office the other day with a box of donuts asking if I wanted one. I told her "no thank you, I do not eat animal products". She said "But there is not that much in there, surely you can have just one." Ummmm, no, I cannot. I take that back, I CAN, I just do not WANT to. Besides donuts are nasty. Also, my coworkers got together and elected a spokesperson to come to my office to challenge me about breastfeeding. According to my coworkers, it is not vegan. I tried to explain it, but they just do not understand. Milk is milk in their minds. Now they are saying that I "cheat" for some things. Sometimes being vegan includes it's own constant entertainment....

Yooper

[FreeRangeMama]

Hi,
I have been meaning to post here for a while, but seem to keep forgetting (I'll blame pregnancy while I still can :) ). I am Laurie, SAHM to almost 2.5 yo ds and 31 weeks pg with #2. Dh and I have been vegan for about 5 years (and were veggie for about 6 or 7 years before that). Ds has been vegan since birth. We do use some wool, but only if it is given to used (hand-me-downs) or if bought second hand. We don't buy new (or support new-bought wool). We also avoid all other animal products. I have gotten a little lazy about label checking and grilling people about hidden ingredients in the last year or so, ds is allergic to some foods and it is such a challenge to find things he can eat sometimes that it gets to be a little much sometimes. I imagine it'll get easier again when he is not running around the store and I am not so pregnant :) We live in an area nicknamed "feedlot alley" and "honk if you love Alberta beef" bumperstickers are on every other vehical so we are a rarity here. At least there are lots of vegetarians so we are not totally alone.

Laurie

[glad2bhome]

Wondered if you all had read "Compassionate Souls" by JoAnn Farb. She is vegan and wrote a great book about conscious parenting, including non-vaxing, homebirthing, homeschooling, veganism, etc.. I can't follow her path completely but found the book inspiring! I like to pick it up again whenever I need a good read.

~Melissa

[Erin Pavlina]

Family members who threaten to call social services really burn me up. One wonders how they would feel if someone called social services on them for raising kids who eat meat, laden with toxic chemicals, antibiotics, hormones, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, etc.

In the years I've been Editor of VegFamily magazine I've received 12 phone calls/emails from moms who have HAD their children removed from their homes just because they were being raised vegan.

If someone is threatening to call social services, take it seriously. Most of these calls were made by well-meaning relatives who just wanted to "scare" their daughters-in-law into feeding the kid some milk. Unfortunately, once that call is made, it cannot be unmade and you are "in the system."

If anyone is ever having a problem with this, let me know and I can help you.



Anyway, one of my favorite comebacks when people say that being vegan isn't healthy is to say, "If that's true, then why do you think vegans outlive meat-eaters by an average of 17.9 years?"

That usually gets them thinking...

[veganmommy]

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[glad2bhome]

Veganmommy, have you thought of sending catalogues (book and toy) to your family? It's helped us! Does PETA have any children's books they recommend? Just a thought.

~Melissa

[veganmommy]

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[Heatmiser]

This is my first post. I am a vegetarian. My husband is vegan. I am gradually becoming more of a vegan too. Our family meals are vegan for the most part. I occasionally make a vegetarian patty for me or my nine year old daughter who sometimes eats real chicken when we go out to restaurants or to visit relatives. I'm not a purist, but I'm trying.

My family would not be at all accepting of it if I were to convince Charlotte to become a vegetarian at this point in the game. Everyone is so convinced by the RDA food pyramid scam. Who can eat that much food in one day or, god forbid, that much dairy? How do you debunk a myth that has become so much the standard for healthy eating? Any thoughts on this?

[Erin Pavlina]

Debunking the food pyramid...I know that the four food groups was a product of the Dairy Council. You can see them proudly proclaiming it on the literature.

I don't know if the food pyramid is the same way though. I would check to see who created the food pyramid.

There's a vegan food pyramid here http://www.nutrispeak.com/veganpyramid.htm

I wouldn't bother with the food pyramid though. Most people probably dont' know what's on it anyway. I would just talk about the health aspects of a diet free of animal products.

[Heatmiser]

Thanks for putting that link here. I didn't know such a thing existed. That's super helpful. :D

[Erin Pavlina]

No problem. If you have any other questions about where to find resources to back up your lifestyle, let me know. I'm a wealth of useful links. :)

[heidismom]

It was so nice to find this thread here! While we live in a pretty supportive community, there's definitely alot more vegetarians out there rather than vegans. I've been vegetarian for 15 years; and our family went vegan 1 1/2 years ago - daughter's been vegan since birth. :)

I totally relate to veganmommy's issues about family and gift giving - grandparents try, but can't quite figure out that it's more than just what we eat/don't eat... For example, my dd loves animals and she was given a book last week about farm animals... good illustrations BUT "The male turkey, called a tom, has very fancy feathers... Most turkeys are sold at holiday time for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners." We CANNOT read this to our dd!

Thankfully, I think our families see that our diet IS healthy and well-balanced. DD has never been sick, whereas other babies (cousins) are repeatedly sick with colds, allergies, etc. I'm not worried about anyone sneaking meat or dairy onto our plates. Yoopervegan, I'm so sorry your family has done this! And I agree with your idea to let child decide for his/her-self when old enough. I'd hate to have my child rebel against me because I was too strict about anything (ha ha - my parents had/have such the rebel in me!)

Oh! If there's any vegans in Central TX we'd love to do potluck picnics sometime and hang out with other vegans!

Laura
Momma to my Heidikins 12.12.01

[veganmommy]

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[heidismom]

Yes, we are pretty lucky in Austin by way of restaurants, but still don't eat out often. There's one vegan/macrobiotic/community place, and maybe 5 or 6 vegetarian, including "ethnic" options. Not bad for Texas.
My partner and I visited Durango maybe 10 yrs ago - he's an avid snowboarder. In fact, we've discussed moving back to CO; we lived in Boulder and Fort Collins for a couple of years. And we did meet lots of ex-Texans up there!

We've got one book with great photos we do use, but we read it with our own perspective on "farm" and zoo." It has two page spread, lots of animals, and then the label "Zoo animals" or "farm animals." Our Austin Zoo is a rescue - exotic pets and animals saved from cruel owners. Bears from Baylor University (mascots), tigers from drug dealers, etc. This is our "zoo" and we talk about how it is important to care for these animals because they can't be returned to wild. And our "farm" is like Farm Sanctuary, another rescue non-profit in NY/CA. I guess, we'll gradually educate our dd about why we chose veganism... right now it's a matter of being "nice" and "respecting" our animal friends (we want "happy cows") and NOT any violent images of factory farming or slaughter. Unfortunately it's hard to escape the fact that our society is horribly cruel (in so many ways) but it's nice to try to shield our children as long as we can...

Congratulations on new babies arrived or arriving soon!!!

[veganmommy]

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[BinahYeteirah]

bs"d

Hello, all. I am sort-of vegan [hangs head in shame]... I was vegan for 6 years, but today am more, umm, flexible. I hope I'm welcome anyway :). I always cook only vegan foods and don't buy leather, silk, honey, etc. Dh is a meat mouth, though, so sometimes things slip through. I tasted meat a couple times during my pregnancy, and often find myself tasting my dh's feta cheese, etc. (Thanks for listening to my confessions.) I also started using wool diaper covers, although the ones I have are all second-hand and I do not plan to relanolinize, so I feel I am not contributing to animal torture with the used wool. I like them much better than the plastic-y PUL covers, I must say. So do you use used animal products? I would never wear leather (too gross to think about), but I often buy my clothes at thrift shops and don't consider the fiber content then. If fact, I consider it a plus, since it is good for the environment.

Despite my veggie shortcomings, IKWYM about family and friends trying to feed us meat/buy us weird gifts. Every time we go anywhere, people always serve meat, because dh must be "starving" for it!

[heidismom]

Welcome Binah (despite your "veggie shortcomings")!!!

It's always so much harder when your partner isn't of the same mind. I was veggie a longtime before going vegan, and my partner was such a meat eater. I swear he'd order steak everytime we ate out! But it was actually him who wanted us to be a vegan family - he made the announcement late one night soon after our dd was born. He'd stumbled upon peta.com and had spent an hour watching videos and reading articles. At the time, i thought he'd be over it in a couple of weeks, but he was truly converted. Yeah! Have you tried really educating your husband (i.e. graphic videos of animal cruelty) about a vegan lifestyle?

We do have some animal products (shoes, sweaters, etc.) in the house from pre-vegan days. Wish we could afford to throw out and buy new animal-friendly replacements, but can't. We buy almost everything at thrift stores, so I know I'm not financially supporting industry if I happen to get wool or silk or leather - but I try not to buy. Also, I've been avid vintage clothing collector for fifteen years and have some leather shoes, wool dresses and hats, etc. from 1920's - 40's. Don't wear very often but don't think I could ever bear to part with these items. Historically, they didn't have synthetic fibers/plastic alternatives that we are so lucky to have now. And yes, buying second hand is a great way to recycle!

*edit requested by member weird edit button issue*

[veganmommy]

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[lunar forest]

I just found this thread. :)
I have been vegan for 2 years, and veg. for longer than I can remember. I became when ds was born and could not have dairy (as if that is odd, or something.)
Ds has been vegan for most of his life (other than in the womb.)
Dh is NOT vegan *sigh* he's not even veg., but he's getting there!

I was raised ap and all, so I always ate very healthy! (Dh, was abotu the opposite.) Becoming vegan was no biggy for me, especially because I needed to for ds. I am much more educated and passonet about it now! In fact, I try to avoid the subject most of the tiem because I get so emotial when trying to explain it.

Here's my confession:
Since we've been living with family (their Veg. but supportive of our vegan lifestyle,) I've not been eating completely vegan, and feeling aweful about it. I'm pregnant, so my feel is if I'm craving something that I need, I will eat it (i.e. protien, vitemins, iron, etc.) The problem is that I'm not always eating it in the best form (eggs, ice cream, etc.) Certainly not everyday, mind you, but it's just not good. I dont' have any self control! If there is ice cream, I will eat it. I need to by myself some sorbet and keep it around. Candy bars are a problem, too! I wasn't eating much surgar before, either, but that's changed.

My worry is that soon ds is going to start getting into these foods too, and that is NOT ok with me. My father doesn't have a problem with us being vegan, but he doesn't take it seriously. He keeps trying to give ds pork rigns! Even if we ate meat and all we wouldn't give him those nasty things! It really P.O.'s dh.

I need to be eating better in general, but the last thing I need is to be eating animal things! :rolleyes:

Another thing that's been borthering me is that dh has to use animal products for work. He's a floorlayer, so he needs knee pads, (leather) work boots (leather) and many of his tools are leather. I don't think there is anything we can do about it. :angry

We do have a sheep skin, which we love, but it was a gift. We also have some wool things here and there. Most any animal products we have are from local animals that we know were/are taken care of lovingly, and were not harmed, but rather relieved in making these products. (If sheep and alpaca are not sheerd they could die in the heat.)


This post is so long I'm sure no one will read it, but one last thing:
What do you all think of honey?

[lunar forest]

Sorry for all the typos etc. in my last posts!

[veganmommy]

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[lunar forest]

Originally posted by veganmommy
hello lunar forest. what a beautiful name you have. i think i have read some of your posts in the learning at home section? i have been reading a bit over there and hope to have time to introduce myself there soon. Thank you for the warm welcome, VM! :love I do frequent the learning at home forum. :) I hope we run into each other there, too!
have you had any luck resisting the non-vegan foods in your house? there are some really good soy ice creams out there. I have been doing a lot better, and I found that for me, having my own goodies, or what have you, really helps me to control myself. This is what I like to have around: Sorbet, (though dh really likes it, so it doesn't last,) Soy Ice Cream, (and tofuti cuties mmm!,) Oats Cream, fruit and Juice popsicles, a fair trade chocolate bare in the freezer, etc.
For snacks:
Fresh fruit, carrot sticks, grahmcrackers & peanut butter, anything I've backed, (spice muffins... mmm!) Hummus & flat bread/pitas/chips, TOFU SCRAMBLER! Yum! This is my favorite (and ds's, too!) so it makes a great snacky treat when everyone else is having something.
I just thought I'd share those because I always like to get new ideas from other people. :wink

my husband has been searching for a good pair if work boots.... i could let you know if i come across any. Please do!
...by continuing eating honey i felt like we were just making excuses in the same way people say "i could never be vegan because i could never stop eating cheese." and once we finally read some info on bees and honey we made the decision to quit. If you could share what you've read I would love that!! I'm also looking to better myself, and to further my 'radicalness,' but I need to be convinced that there is a good reason. Right now I know very little about bees and honey, and I would love to be educated about it.
I'm a silly unschooler; I just want to learn all the time.... what is wrong with me? :wink
Oh, and I always laugh at the cheese thing. I was there, I said it, to vegans :rolleyes: and now being on the other side I can see how amusing that is.

[callmemama]

quote:
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Oh, and I always laugh at the cheese thing. I was there, I said it, to vegans and now being on the other side I can see how amusing that is.
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And I used to say I could be a vegetarian if it wasn't for BBQ!! I never dreamed I would be vegan someday. Last week I bbq'd tofu for the first time:o Now if I could just come up with a bbq sauce that we like without all the "junk" in it!!

[heidismom]

Hello lunar forest! Congratulations on being pregnant! It's amazing how hungry that growin' babe can make a mother-to-be. I remember taking a large grocery bag to work everyday so I would have enough to eat during the day! You're doing the right thing by keeping pantry/freezer stocked with vegan treats so you won't be so tempted.

It's hard when the household is not your own - we spent 6 months of this year living with my in-laws, who are fairly health conscious but meat-eaters. They adjusted their eating habits for us and went vegetarian, so at least we never had to smell bacon frying or see meat in the fridge. I'm really glad they were willing to be flexible... the cool thing is, after we moved out, my father-in-law said it felt weird to be cooking meat in the house, so they continued with the veg kitchen (they do still eat meat at restaurants occasionally so not really converted, but at least more conscious than before).

And the cheese thing is a silly excuse - but honestly it's the one thing I do miss on occasion. Does anyone have a favorite store bought non-dairy "cheese" they love? Most the ones available here have casein and/or don't melt well.

Veganmommy, I'd also appreciate some links with info on bees and honey. It's something we're currently trying to eliminate, but I haven't done much research on it.

:) Laura

[Erin Pavlina]

Try www.imearthkind.com for vegan cheese that melts and tastes great. They are selling it in the stores now too. I love it!

[veganmommy]

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[heidismom]

Erin, thanks for the cheesy link. :) It's not in our area yet and shipping is too high for our grocery budget... but I've got the info and am going to ask our co-op to order some.

And YES! There are so many good reasons for being vegan! Thanks for putting it so well, Veganmommy.

Vegan VIttles is one of our faves, too. In fact it was our first vegan cookbook. She's got lots of great info in the front. Another favorite is How It All Vegan by Tanya Barnard & Sarah Kramer. It's fun but also very informative. I really like their A to Z List of Vegan No-No's in the Appendix (also available from PETA). It's mind-blowing how extensive the use of animal products is in our culture! Most people have NO IDEA what's in the food they eat or products they use. I'm so glad we are learning to live differently.

[LaurenS]

We have been vegan for about three months. I have been a vegetarian for well over 14 years. My husband was a vegetarian for about three years. Our baby is nine months old, so obviously wasn't vegan from conception. Anyway we finally did the vegan thing.



So I am looking into supplements. Since I am breastfeeding, I presently take Rainbow Lite Prentatal Vitamins. I had assumed they were vegetarian (which I shouldn't have done) and now reading about vegan vitamins, have found that they aren't even vegetarian (the Vitamin D is animal derived). So I need to switch to a different prenatal vitamin. Any suggestions? Also I have read that B12 in a multivitamin can be destroyed by other vitamins. And that a B12 losenge is better than one that you swallow for absorption issues. Any advice on this issue would be greatly appreciated as well. There is so many different viewpoints. I just feel like I better get a good B12 supplement first but will run out of multi's soon.



Any long -time vegans want to take a new one under their wing?



Thanks



Lauren

[kimmysue2]

Oooo Thanks for the Vegan Cheese link. I have been trying different vegan cheeses and not finding one I like.