0:00:00.359,0:00:05.619 Parents who raise their children vegan are often[br]criticized for “forcing their beliefs” onto their kids. 0:00:05.620,0:00:10.800 Or worse, accused of brainwashing their children [br]and robbing them of their freedom to choose. 0:00:10.800,0:00:13.920 Well today, the brainwashers answer back. 0:00:18.360,0:00:23.300 Hi it's Emily from Bite Size Vegan and welcome[br]to another vegan nugget. Raising children 0:00:23.310,0:00:28.870 vegan is a surprisingly controversial practice.[br]From concerns about malnutrition to projections 0:00:28.870,0:00:34.250 of social isolation, sometimes the hardest[br]part of being a vegan parent is fielding questions 0:00:34.250,0:00:39.730 and criticisms from family, friends, doctors,[br]and total strangers. 0:00:39.730,0:00:44.480 If you’re familiar with my channel, you’ll[br]know that I have a video series just for kids, 0:00:44.489,0:00:49.440 including several interviews with real vegan[br]kids. Well today I’m excited to launch my 0:00:49.440,0:00:53.870 vegan parents series featuring some fantastic[br]vegan families. 0:00:53.870,0:00:56.440 So let’s meet the parents, shall we? 0:00:56.440,0:01:01.790 There’s Jesse from the Bronx in New York[br]City, NY, father of Zachary, who’s 2 and 0:01:01.790,0:01:05.500 4-year-old Jesse Jace, whom you can meet in[br]my vegan KIDS interview series. 0:01:05.500,0:01:10.580 Martin and Katie from London, England, parents[br]of Sam, who’s 17, Jamie who’s 15, and 0:01:10.580,0:01:13.890 4-year-old JoJo, another [br]KIDS interview series star. 0:01:13.890,0:01:19.280 Shantelle from Cambridge, MA, mother of 8-year-old[br]Izzy, who lays down some serious wisdom in 0:01:19.280,0:01:20.810 my KIDS interview series. 0:01:20.810,0:01:26.840 Raffaela, from Lisbon, Portugal, mother of[br]5-year-old Vasco. Since my pronunciation leaves 0:01:26.840,0:01:30.650 much to be desired, desculpa, let’s let[br]him show you how it’s done: 0:01:30.650,0:01:32.869 Vasco: Hello, I am Vasco 0:01:32.869,0:01:34.170 Much better 0:01:34.170,0:01:40.330 Melissa from Ann Arbor, MI, mother of two[br]young adults ages 21 & 18 and 4-year-old Reuben. 0:01:40.330,0:01:45.310 Ellen from Maui, Hawaii, mother of 1-year-old[br]Sandy and 4-year-old Elvis, another show-stopper 0:01:45.310,0:01:47.270 in my KIDS interview series. 0:01:47.270,0:01:51.400 Crystal and Eric from Virginia, parents of[br]14-year-old Jordan, 8-year-old Alejandro, 0:01:51.400,0:01:55.460 both of whom feature in the KIDS interview[br]series, as well as two young adults who are 0:01:55.460,0:01:56.780 19 & 21. 0:01:56.790,0:02:01.150 And finally Theresa, mother of 10-year-old[br]Amina and Kara, mother of 11-year-old Jude 0:02:01.150,0:02:05.979 and 9-year-old Gala, with the whole lot them[br]hailing from Brisbane Australia and appearing 0:02:05.979,0:02:07.640 in my kid’s interview series. 0:02:07.640,0:02:12.970 In addition one of Kara’s three grown children,[br]India, chimed in as a vegan-parent-to-be 0:02:12.970,0:02:16.920 Since some of the Skype connections were a[br]little rough you can always turn on the captions 0:02:16.920,0:02:17.739 and read along. 0:02:17.739,0:02:22.400 In this interview series, these parents will[br]be answering a number of questions and responding 0:02:22.400,0:02:27.700 to common concerns about raising vegan kids.[br]And I thought what better place to start than 0:02:27.700,0:02:32.780 asking for their responses to the accusation[br]of making kids vegan by force. 0:02:33.380,0:02:37.840 Jesse: Well, I feel that it’s quite the[br]contrary. When you raise your child eating 0:02:37.840,0:02:41.660 meat, you’re forcing your beliefs on them[br]because you’re not telling them what they’re 0:02:41.670,0:02:46.959 eating. You’re giving them food-like items,[br]like hamburgers and hot dogs, and chicken-shaped 0:02:46.959,0:02:52.849 fingers in the shapes of hearts and stars.[br]You know, we have animals around him and he 0:02:52.849,0:02:57.700 has no desire to eat the cat, no desire to[br]eat the dog. In its purest form, he wants 0:02:57.700,0:03:03.530 to eat fruits and vegetables. So, at an older[br]age, if he really decides of his own free 0:03:03.530,0:03:08.370 will that he wants to eat animals, he’s[br]more than welcome. But, you know, right now 0:03:08.370,0:03:12.440 we’re just allowing, we’re giving him[br]choices and he’s more than happy to stick 0:03:12.440,0:03:19.819 with the vegan options. I feel it’s not[br]forcing him at all. I’ve taken him to social 0:03:19.819,0:03:26.629 events, and he never, ever once thinks about[br]eating meat or eating animals. If anything, 0:03:26.629,0:03:33.330 he asks me, “Wow, those people are eating[br]meat,” and he thinks it’s insane. So, 0:03:33.330,0:03:38.379 I think it’s quite the contrary. When we’re[br]out and about, he never says, “Daddy, mommy 0:03:38.379,0:03:43.019 please I want to eat chicken,” like that[br]doesn’t happen. He’s happy, he’s healthy, 0:03:43.019,0:03:46.480 so I don’t see it as you’re forcing your[br]child in any way. 0:03:46.480,0:03:51.099 Martin: I think people have to remember that[br]you’re not forcing anything, what you’re 0:03:51.099,0:03:55.730 doing is actually closer to their nature.[br]You’d have to be disturbing their nature 0:03:55.730,0:04:01.209 more to redirect them towards meat, dairy,[br]and eggs. I think people get confused that 0:04:01.209,0:04:06.940 just because it’s the majority it doesn’t[br]make it normal. What we’re doing is allowing 0:04:06.940,0:04:10.379 them to be in-touch with their nature and[br]keeping them there. We don’t have to lie. 0:04:10.379,0:04:15.700 Now we make sure we are absolutely truthful[br]about everything. And they’ve made their 0:04:15.700,0:04:20.079 own informed decision, we haven’t forced[br]anything upon them. We told them, this food 0:04:20.079,0:04:25.259 comes from these animals or we educated them[br]and they all responded with wanting to go 0:04:25.259,0:04:32.729 vegan. And that was contradicting, especially[br]for my teens. Thirteen, fifteen years of information 0:04:32.729,0:04:37.020 telling them otherwise. So, I think people[br]have to realize they’re forcing more negative 0:04:37.020,0:04:41.759 stuff on their children by saying eat this[br]stuff which causes this harm to your body 0:04:41.759,0:04:43.809 and causes harm to animals and the planet. 0:04:43.809,0:04:49.199 Shantelle: I think the same could be said[br]about a traditional American diet. I think 0:04:49.199,0:04:53.789 that if you are giving your child hot dogs[br]and hamburgers and chicken, isn’t that forcing 0:04:53.789,0:05:01.039 your beliefs onto your child, as well? So,[br]you know, I always tell Izzy, if you decide 0:05:01.039,0:05:05.499 when you get older you want to eat meat – which,[br]he’s always like, no way – never! That’s 0:05:05.499,0:05:14.309 your choice, but I want you to have the information.[br]I want you to know how this impacts your body, 0:05:14.309,0:05:19.389 this impacts the world, this impacts the lives[br]of the animals that we share this world with. 0:05:19.389,0:05:24.770 Because the world is not ours. The world belongs[br]to all of us. So, you have to respect everything 0:05:24.770,0:05:30.110 that is on earth with you. So, if you can[br]decide that you want to eat meat down the 0:05:30.110,0:05:35.499 line, and you feel comfortable with that,[br]you know, I’ve done all that I can do. But, 0:05:35.499,0:05:42.369 you know, my goal is to give you the information[br]and lead you down the path that I think is 0:05:42.369,0:05:48.869 best for you, as your parent. So much of it[br]is about just educating your children and, 0:05:48.869,0:05:53.719 I feel like with veganism, the only thing[br]we’re trying to do is make the world a better 0:05:53.719,0:05:58.529 place. Anybody that tries to fault you for[br]that, I feel like they may need to take a 0:05:58.529,0:06:04.479 look at themselves a little bit and try to[br]ask themselves why they feel like it’s so 0:06:04.479,0:06:10.069 offensive to try to live cruelty-free and[br]be healthy. So, I think that’s a bigger 0:06:10.069,0:06:12.919 discussion than anything else. 0:06:12.919,0:06:21.439 Raffaela: Accusing parents of forcing their[br]beliefs upon children doesn’t make much sense 0:06:21.439,0:06:29.719 to me, because all parents – vegan or not[br]– will use their beliefs as guidance to 0:06:29.719,0:06:40.779 raise their children. That is kind of a normal[br]process. But, in case of veganism, we are 0:06:40.779,0:06:51.639 not using our beliefs. We’re using our knowledge.[br]These are two very different things and this 0:06:51.639,0:07:00.889 knowledge is so valuable for them, that it[br]would be very stupid for us not to use it. 0:07:00.889,0:07:05.550 Melissa: Raising their child with meat is[br]forcing your beliefs upon someone else. 0:07:05.550,0:07:09.979 I was forced to eat meat as a child. That was[br]a belief that was put on me, so. 0:07:09.979,0:07:12.939 Ellen: To me, it just doesn’t make sense[br]that you would think that it would be brainwashing. 0:07:12.940,0:07:19.300 Because all that we’re really doing is informing[br]them of the truth. There’s nothing brainwashing 0:07:19.300,0:07:24.219 about it. The opposite is more brainwashing[br]than the other. You know, to lie to them and 0:07:24.219,0:07:29.889 to tell them that something is pork, not pig,[br]You know, to say that it’s beef, not a cow. 0:07:29.889,0:07:36.409 That’s more diluting the truth than just[br]simply saying, this is a cow. And we never 0:07:36.409,0:07:41.629 try to talk to Elvis like, you need to feel[br]this way, you need to think this way, this 0:07:41.629,0:07:46.449 is how we think. I always respond to his questions[br]with like, well, this is how I think. 0:07:46.449,0:07:51.139 You can decide for yourself. If you’re raising[br]your children in something they naturally 0:07:51.139,0:07:56.199 think on their own, be kind to animals. Something[br]that they naturally don’t want to hurt animals, 0:07:56.199,0:08:00.860 they don’t want to see animals suffer. And[br]also to respond to their questions, and to 0:08:00.860,0:08:05.199 just speak about the topic, in a way of like,[br]“this is how I think, you can do your own 0:08:05.199,0:08:09.299 research, you tell me how you want to do the[br]research, what do you want to learn about.” 0:08:09.300,0:08:15.860 In no way is that brainwashing by any means. [br]We don't make Elvis eat in a certain way 0:08:15.860,0:08:20.180 When he asks, people say,[br]“oh do you want to try this?” 0:08:20.180,0:08:25.120 Like his friend was eating keifur the other day – do you[br]want some? And he said, is it vegan? And she 0:08:25.120,0:08:28.860 said no, there’s milk in it, and he was[br]like oh, no thanks. He didn’t say like, 0:08:28.860,0:08:33.760 oh, well I’m not allowed, or my mom doesn’t[br]let me. He was like, no I don’t want to eat that. 0:08:33.760,0:08:42.440 As parents, it’s our duty to raise our children on the foods that bring the most health. 0:08:42.440,0:08:46.960 We’re doing our children a disservice[br]if we’re getting them addicted to junk food, 0:08:46.960,0:08:52.620 and food that is not healthy for their bodies.[br]I think it’s important to raise our children 0:08:52.629,0:08:56.349 to not feel like they have to be like everybody[br]else. This is what everybody’s doing, so 0:08:56.349,0:09:00.620 you should be doing it even if it’s unhealthy[br]for our bodies, even if it is harming animals 0:09:00.620,0:09:06.100 that don’t want to die. We should be encouraging our children to be who they are, as individuals. 0:09:06.460,0:09:13.800 Eric: I thought that’s what parents, I mean[br]I’m not supposed to force something… you know, 0:09:13.810,0:09:19.500 We raise them to what we think is what’s[br]best. And people won’t understand it unless 0:09:19.500,0:09:25.580 you’re a parent, then you know that, everything[br]I do is what I think is best for them. 0:09:25.680,0:09:32.100 Our beliefs of treating others how we want to[br]be treated. I don’t see how there’s anything 0:09:32.100,0:09:39.399 bad as far as raising them to not have the[br]mentality of hurting animals and eating them. 0:09:39.399,0:09:44.079 Crystal: Other parents think that, if you[br]eat meat – there’s a disconnect – you’re 0:09:44.079,0:09:46.319 not hurting animals. They’re food, so… 0:09:46.319,0:09:48.899 Eric: We’re extreme because we’re vegan. 0:09:48.899,0:09:53.759 Crystal: Yeah, we’re different, we’re[br]hippies, and what else? We’re aliens. 0:09:53.759,0:09:56.290 My mother-in-law says we’re not ordinary people. 0:09:56.290,0:10:02.449 Theresa: Yes, I had one friend tell me that[br]I’m forcing veganism on Amina , and she’s 0:10:02.449,0:10:06.939 only doing it because she’s scared of me[br]and doesn’t want to lose my love, and approval, 0:10:06.939,0:10:10.899 or whatever. And then I said, you know, I[br]never got an option when I was a child. 0:10:10.899,0:10:16.699 I never got an option to go vegetarian or vegan,[br]meat was forced on me, dairy was forced on me. 0:10:16.700,0:10:21.220 Are you giving your children a choice?[br]That’s what I asked her. And then later 0:10:21.230,0:10:25.079 on, I told Amina that she said that and Amina[br]laughed pretty hard because there’s no way 0:10:25.079,0:10:29.279 I can force anything on her, she has a very[br]strong mind, she’s very strong-willed. 0:10:29.279,0:10:34.990 India: Someone has said to me before, you’re[br]just going to raise it vegan, it doesn’t 0:10:34.990,0:10:39.250 get a choice. I just said to them, if you[br]raise your children eating meat, then did 0:10:39.250,0:10:43.689 you ask them if they wanted to eat meat? Did[br]you ask them if they wanted to be a Christian, 0:10:43.689,0:10:49.500 or did you ask them if they wanted to wear[br]clothes? Parents just bring their children up... 0:10:49.500,0:10:52.600 Kara: …by your own standards. You bring[br]your children up by your own standards 0:10:52.600,0:10:54.640 India: By whatever you think is right, that’s[br]what you should do. 0:10:54.640,0:10:58.740 Kara: And, you know, what I like to say is[br]when I’m against cruelty, I’m not going 0:10:58.750,0:11:05.220 to allow my children to be cruel to animals.[br]No way! I want them to be better people than that. 0:11:05.220,0:11:10.740 I bring them up vegan so that they’re[br]helping the animals, and the planet, it’s 0:11:10.740,0:11:14.020 for their health. Why wouldn’t I teach my[br]children that? 0:11:14.029,0:11:20.700 Theresa: You teach your children tolerance,[br]to accept all ethnicities, and all cultures, 0:11:20.700,0:11:28.260 and to accept all lifestyle choices, and be[br]kind to everyone. But as soon as you suggest 0:11:28.269,0:11:32.969 being kind to animals, everyone loses their[br]s---, you know. It’s really crazy. 0:11:32.969,0:11:37.459 If you educate your children, and are honest about[br]where your food comes from, I doubt that any 0:11:37.459,0:11:42.610 child will willfully choose to continue eating[br]animals. 0:11:43.000,0:11:47.320 I hope you enjoyed hearing from all of the vegan[br]parents! Be sure to check out the video description 0:11:47.320,0:11:52.899 below for links to their social media accounts so[br]you can follow each family’s journey. 0:11:52.899,0:11:57.290 I'd love to hear your thoughts on raising kids[br]vegan in the comments below! And stay tuned 0:11:57.290,0:12:00.189 for more to come in the vegan parents series. 0:12:00.189,0:12:04.149 If you liked this bit of a brainwash, do give[br]the video a thumbs up and share it around 0:12:04.149,0:12:08.360 to help other families. If you’re new here,[br]I’d love to have you as a subscriber. 0:12:08.360,0:12:13.100 I put out fresh content covering all aspects[br]of veganism every Monday, Wednesday and some 0:12:13.100,0:12:16.910 Fridays. To help support Bite Size Vegan’s[br]educational efforts, please see the support 0:12:16.910,0:12:22.470 links below or click on the Nugget Army icon[br]or the link in the sidebar. Now go live vegan, 0:12:22.470,0:12:25.810 force some compassion on someone, and I’ll[br]see you soon.