Also, it might be a good idea to have a talk with your pediatrician or doctor about your new lifestyle choices. Many doctors (even the great ones) just don’t have the knowledge base to fully support your decision. Maybe you could go in armed with the nutritional facts you’ve learned so far or a book you recommend and start a discussion.
Did you know that in America, doctors receive only a few hours of nutrition training during their many years of medical school? Don’t believe me? Check out this NY Time Article written by a doctor. Shocking, in my opinion. It doesn’t really support the famous Hippocrates quote "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food" now does it?
In my own personal experience, I give my older two kids the freedom to choose if they want to be vegan or not by allowing them to make their food choices on their own (for the most part). They seem to be trained now to ask if there are any animal products in foods they’re uncertain of. I do remind them to be kind if someone next to them is eating meat or peeling a cheese stick. No need to make anyone feel badly about their decisions. I honestly don’t think my vegan kids feel left out. If anything, they feel proactive and proud about making a personal decision that has such positive effects on the world.
Here are some recommended readings if you haven’t already picked them up:
The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone
Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin (don’t let the name fool you, there are some great facts, recipes and tips in there!)
The China Study by T. Colin Campbell (he also was a huge part of Forks Over Knives, the documentary)
The Food Revolution by John Robbins