People For Animals - India's largest Animal welfare organization by Maneka Gandhi

Why do Non Vegetarian Parents panic when their children decide to become vegetarian? Apart from being nutritionally good for the child, this article is about the enormous psychological effect on the child of taking such a decision and being allowed to see it through.

Adults walk up to me and say these things:

“My daughter reads your pieces and she wants to become vegetarian. I said nothing doing; we are not having a separate kitchen for you. So we forced her to eat meat and now she has thankfully forgotten what you said.”

“When my son told me he wanted to become vegetarian, I said, Maneka Gandhi is not a doctor and I took him to our doctor who said no, he won’t get enough vitamins. So we said no. My child became vegetarian for a few months after listening to your speech but since we were all eating meat, she then started eating it again, thank God. When my daughter wanted to be veg, I told her go and live in Maneka Gandhi’s house because this is my house and I won’t allow it.”

“I told my children that we are Muslims and it goes against the religion to be vegetarian. I told my son, I am cooking and I can’t cook extra food just for you. If you want to make your own food, you are welcome. So he didn’t become vegetarian.”

“My son told his friends that he wanted to be vegetarian but they said that’s only for girls. So he didn’t. I also told him it’s a sissy thing to do. I am supportive of my child’s vegetarianism but a lot of my friends roll their eyes upwards when I tell them about it. So I get annoyed and take it out on her.”

“I know it’s healthy but if I encourage my children to be faddist from now on, what will happen to them later. It’s just not convenient for us to have a vegetarian in the house.”

“My daughter suddenly told me she was going to be vegetarian. I thought she’s gone mad.  We ignored her for a few days and then it was O.K.”

I am sure he will become anaemic if he becomes vegetarian. As it is he is always sick. We should be broadminded and practical in our outlook. It won’t hurt to eat a piece of meat once in awhile, while they have reinforced their power on their children, do they realize that they have crushed the first major independent decision that their children have made. This is just an ordinary decision but one that will impact their entire life.