Should you raise your child as a vegan? Middle Eastern mothers discuss
A vegan diet eliminates all animal products, extending beyond vegetarianism to exclude eggs, dairy, meat, and fish. However, veganism can be misinterpreted. For some, it means a plant-based or non-dairy vegetarian diet, while veganism encompasses a lifestyle that avoids all forms of animal exploitation for entertainment, food, and in the production of items like clothing and cosmetics.
Vegan parents have different opinions on whether a vegan diet should be imposed on their children, with some notable cases of parents being accused of malnourishing their kids. However, medical experts generally agree that children can be raised healthily on a vegan diet, provided that their nutritional intake is carefully monitored and supplements are given for essential minerals that might be lacking without animal products.
Assile Beydoun, a 32-year-old from Lebanon, is the founder of the Dubai Vegan Community and mother to 5-year-old Jude. They both adopted a vegan lifestyle three years ago, while her husband, Maher, still consumes meat.
"I founded the Dubai Vegan Community to support those who want to adopt a vegan lifestyle in Dubai. I don’t claim to be an expert, and I don’t judge others—I ate meat for 30 years! I believe it’s important for us to research for the sake of our planet and our children. Assile told Gulf News
Raising a vegan child can be challenging due to societal pressures. Family, in-laws, and friends might tell your child they can eat meat behind your back and even give it to them. Events like birthday parties can also be difficult for children. The social aspect is the hardest part.
Psychologically, I don’t want my child to feel different, as that can be traumatizing. It’s about educating him on why I made this decision for myself and allowing him to make his own choice.
“Animal names are often altered when they become meat to make it easier for people to accept eating them—like cow becoming beef. I don’t mind if my son eats meat, as long as he understands its origin. He was born into a meat-eating family, but now we’re on this journey together.”
Joumana Saber, who has roots in Lebanon and Palestine, established The Hippy Deli, a vegan food brand. She is also raising her daughter, Tara, as a vegan.
Aware of the health risks associated with many animal-based foods, I am committed to providing my daughter with optimal nutrition through a plant-based diet. Joumana told Gulf News.
"I can’t pinpoint exactly how it happened. I had been a vegetarian since my early 20s. During my pregnancy with Tara, I became more conscious of veganism and decided to raise her as a vegan.
"Vegan activists were becoming more visible on social media. One activist, James Aspy, highlighted the issue of baby calves being separated from their mothers so that their milk could be harvested for human consumption. Additionally, documentaries exposing the cruelty of dairy farming influenced my decision to avoid supporting such practices.
"I wanted my actions to reflect my values, and with my husband’s support, we chose not to feed Tara any animal products. Children are naturally compassionate towards animals, and I didn’t want to take that away from her without her understanding.
“Furthermore, knowing the health risks associated with many animal-based foods, I wanted to ensure my daughter received optimal nutrition from a plant-based diet.”
My husband has a varied diet. Over the past year, he has cut down on his meat consumption, but despite witnessing animal slaughter, he still chooses to eat meat. I don’t try to change his mind; instead, I aim to inspire him.
"When I expressed my desire to raise our child as a vegan, he didn’t oppose it. In fact, he was supportive, understanding my long-standing vegetarianism and my values.
"We agreed on some guidelines: I wouldn’t use words like ‘murder’ or ‘kill’ that might scare her. We also decided to ensure she wouldn’t feel superior to others because of her diet and that I would support her if she ever wanted to try meat.
"So far, she hasn’t asked for his food. Occasionally, she wants something that looks like her food, such as chips, but he explains it’s not vegan and doesn’t give it to her.
“His support in raising her vegan is one way he shows his respect and support for me. I believe one reason he supports me is because she is so healthy. I make sure not to isolate her from people who eat animal products, as her entire family are meat eaters, and she needs to be accustomed to it.”
"When I first started, I was eager to share my journey, and I think I sometimes came off as rude or pushy. People thought I was being egotistical, but that wasn’t my intention. I always remind myself that veganism isn’t about being perfect – it’s just one way to live better. I believe we all need to identify our own values and ensure our actions align with them.
"Whether it’s avoiding animal-tested beauty products or buying local produce, as long as everyone is contributing to leaving a better planet for the next generation, that’s what matters to me. Ideally, everyone would be vegan, and we’d be working towards animal liberation, but I know that’s not a realistic goal.
“It’s important to me that Tara doesn’t judge others for their choices. I want her to be compassionate towards both animals and humans.”
What to feed a vegan toddler:
Joumana offers her suggestions for vegan meals for children:
Breakfast:
Porridge topped with banana or mango
Vegan cereal with coconut or rice milk
Toast with za’atar, avocado, or hummus
Fruit smoothies
Acai bowls
Homemade nut butters
Lunch and Dinner:
Any vegetable stew in a tomato sauce with legumes, served with rice, quinoa, or bulgur wheat
Sandwiches with vegan cheese
Homemade vegan pizza
Brown rice noodles with tahini sauce, flavored with lemon, spices, and nutritional yeast
Cassie Gibson is the mother of Jacob. Although she and her husband are vegan, they are raising their son with a non-vegan diet.
"Michael and I became vegan on New Year’s Day 2019. We’ve had a few days where we’ve eaten a bit of cheese… It’s challenging to stick to a vegan diet when you’re not at home. "Even eating a small amount of cheese feels wrong to me now, almost as bad as eating steak. It’s about the welfare of animals in the dairy industry. Male calves are slaughtered at birth, and mother cows are separated from their babies, causing them to cry. Cassie told Gulf News
“But it’s also about the environment and our health. We feel much healthier since becoming vegan, and I don’t want to jinx it, but none of us have been sick or had a cold all year.”
Letting him choose "Jacob isn’t vegan. He tried red meat a few times when he was younger but didn’t like it. He eats salmon, canned tuna, and chicken because he doesn’t like lentils or chickpeas, so he doesn’t get much plant-based protein.
"He’s great with vegetables and loves meat alternatives like Quorn and vegan sausages.
"I don’t stop Jacob from eating anything he wants, like at a party. He’s not vegan, and I think he should be free to be a years old.
"I believe he should make his own dietary choices. However, my husband thinks the quality of meat isn’t great these days and that we’re not doing Jacob any favors by giving him chicken and salmon. If it were up to Michael, Jacob would be vegan now.