Uh-Oh. I think I just tuned my son into a vegetarian

Well, OK, there are worse things I could do to him. So, I am not that concerned. But here is the story:

We were at Chicken Shack today and he ordered the kid's meal (he is about to turn 6). The kid's meal consists of two drumsticks, fries and a drink (I know, I know, but at home, he consumes loads of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and dairy, I promise).

About halfway through his meal, he asked me why they call them "drumsticks." I explained that it was based on the shape. Then I said: "It's just another name for a chicken leg." And he got quiet for a minute. It was then that I realized that he never completely thought through the notion of "chicken" as in food and "chicken" as in birds. He then said "I am eating a dead chicken?" Ho boy. "Yes," I said.

What followed were a series of questions about how the chickens are raised and how they are killed. He also refused to eat any more of his lunch. I'm guessing he will start asking similar questions about steak (which he loves) and other kinds of meat.

Like I said, I am not overly concerned. If he refuses to eat meat from now on, I can adjust. My wife thinks I am too much of a carnivore anyway. And I am not really looking for advice. I just wanted to relate the story.

You said you weren't looking for advice, but when/if you are - there's a whole veggie group. For info and support. If you want it.

Thanks

Let him choose today or let him choose later. Just don't steer him. Be honest and answer his questions, but don't fill him with either our (veggie) nor their (carni) propaganda. I don't think a 6 year old needs that.

Just be honest about where his food comes from. He'll make his own choices in time.

BTW, you'll probably never hear this from a vegan/AR activist again.

Also, I think that it's awesome that you'd accept his choice as you've set forth.

I will honestly answer any questions that come up. In time, he'll decide what he decides.

Mostly when she doesn't like dinner...she loves he veggies. When she eats meat, I ask what happened to being a vegetarian. Her response: "I'm a vegetarian every day but______" (insert whatever day it happens to be).

It's a very good sign about the sort of man he's going to be some day.

To be fair though, they do taste damn good. :\

towards being a veggie -- someone actually telling me I was eating a dead animal and me finally making the connection between "food" and "formerly alive animal". After that, I continued to dabble in meat that looked nothing like an animal (hot dogs, bologna, hamburger), but it was another ten years before I had finally made the final break.

Sounds like your son is a thoughtful soul, and that you are being honest with him when he asks questions -- that's all you can do!

My daughter tried vegetarianism a couple of times starting in elementary school. Ribs were her weakness that broke her veg, but ~9 grade she was watching me debone a chicken and was so repulsed that she went veg. She has eaten fish on occasions but no poultry or red meats.

My son went veg in college, after a year he went vegan.

I find it a bit of a pain to make dinners when we are all together but I make sure they have a good meal even if I have to cook two different entrees. My wife and I eat considerably less meat these days due to their influence.
Thanksgiving this year is going to be just the four of us and all vegan, already trying to figure out what to have.

Lots of great ideas on food from that group.

Case in point: the Vegan Turducken.

http://vegancooking.tribe.net/thread/b8459a98-2714-4513-8f6f-f3a77875b68b

I seem to remember them posting their experiment

I can't say enough good stuff about these two: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7685.0 http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=6966.0 which I serve with garlic mashed taters, stuffing and yams on thanksgiving. Usually I also make a pie.

My wife and I can't stand tofurky. Back in my brothers hippy veg stage he made a stuffed pumpkin but my son hates squash/pumpkin/yams. We were thinking of stuffed artichokes.

Garlic mashies are a must. I'll have to try the gravy, in the past we got a mushroom gravy from Whole Foods.

On years I don't feel like going to the trouble I do a seitan shepherd's pie, the instructions for which lurk somewhere in a dusty corner of my DU Journal.

But I agree with flvegan, let him decide but just be honest. No that you were asking for advice. LoL.

The all went through that stage of realizing where meat comes. I think they have to be a certain age where they can truly make that connection between the live animals they see and the food that is eaten.

Of course, the parents didn't put any pressure either way.

Seriously, sounds to me like you have a tike to be very proud of, no matter how this turns out. He made a connection on his own, he asked intelligent, compassionate questions, he made a compassionate decision. You should be proud of your efforts to make such a fine young person. I'm quite sure you are already proud of the littl'un! :)