Eric C. Lindstrom - The Smart Parents Guide to Raising Vegan Kids: Lessons for Littles in Plant-Based Eating and Compassionate Living

DISCLAIMER: The information in The Smart Parents Guide to Raising Vegan Kids is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained within is for general information purposes only. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this book with other sources and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician or pediatrician.

Copyright 2018 by Eric C. Lindstrom

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Eric C. Lindstrom

Cover photo credit by iStock

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-3346-6

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-3347-3

Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to the

361,481 babies born each day

around the world.

May they all be raised vegan.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Y ou hold in your hands a book that will empower and inspire you to raise happy, healthy vegans. It can feel overwhelming to think about transitioning your family to a vegan diet, but Erics down-to-earth (and fun) writing style will give you confidence and comfort.

As a vegan mom myself, Erics book resonated with me on so many levels. For one thing, I love what he has to say about children being born compassionate (and vegan). I still remember my college days, working with children who often asked about my veganism. When I explained, quite simply, that I didnt eat animals or their products because it hurt them, they would almost invariably reply, I want to be vegan, too! (You guessed itthis usually didnt go over well with their parents when they found out.)

My daughter, now fifteen, has been vegan since birth, and although I havent forced it on her, shes never wanted to stray. Perhaps this is why shes been a self-directed, dedicated vegan all her lifeshe simply needed the basic facts: that we thrive on plant-based foods, that animals suffer when we eat them, that dairy isnt healthy for humans, etc. Ive encouraged her to think for herself, and just by doing that, veganism has always been the sensible, compassionate choice for her.

It doesnt hurt that her mom is a vegan cookbook author and cooking instructor, of course, but even in our household we have some challenges. In fact, Erics book renewed my inspiration to take more control in the kitchen. My daughters version of teenage rebellion means eating more vegan junk food and fewer veggies, which I dont love. However, there are things I can do to improve the situation, and ultimately, Im just happy shes not eating McDonalds and pepperoni pizza like I did at her age.

Speaking of which, its interesting to me that my daughter has avoided the health issues I used to have. For example, I had strep throat so many times growing up that I became immune to every antibiotic on the market. I also lived with constant headaches, low energy, anemia, and other health issues I just assumed were normal. The fact that I grew up eating a Standard American Diet, and subsequently stopped having those health issues upon going vegan in 1991, is pretty telling. With her vegan diet, my daughter has yet to suffer from strep throat, and I can count the number of headaches shes ever had on one hand. Coincidence? Maybe, but I doubt it. Her vitamin levels have always been high, as have mine since going vegan.

Its also pretty cool that humans seem to have a natural preference for plant-based foods. (Hear me out!) If were not conditioned to eat animal products, our taste buds prefer vegan food. I remember trying meat and dairy a few times after my first attempts to go vegan in 1990. The longer I ate a vegan diet, the less I enjoyed my old favorites. Eventually, foods I never thought I could give up (BBQ chicken and cheese sticks, for example) began to taste differenteven disgustingto me. My daughter has accidentally eaten animal products a few times, and she said the food tasted gross and didnt want to eat any more. Reverse that theory and give a nonvegan kid something vegan (such as an apple fritter or some potato pancakes) and youll probably just get an enthusiastic request for seconds.

As Eric quotes from an anonymous speaker in the book, Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate. So much of teaching our children actually boils down to being role models. More than listening to our words, children copy our actions. We dont need to be perfect, but as Erics book suggests, lets strive to be examples of kindness, compassion, and healthy vegan eating. Part of why I can occasionally get my daughter to eat her veggies these days is because I eat mine. In fact, she often drinks a Modified Mom, which is a less intense version of my kale-carrot-strawberry smoothie.

Can you get kids freakishly excited about healthy vegan food? Absolutely! Ive found that with my own daughter, as well as with the hundreds of kids Ive worked with over the years (most of whom werent even vegetarian), its all about delicious, fun food that leaves them feeling excited rather than deprived. Youd be amazed at how many meat-eating kids love vegan food! I vividly remember a young girl telling me, upon trying my recipe for Raw Cinnamon Rolls, that her brain suddenly turned on. Vegan foods are such a giftfor our planet, our bodies, and the animals.

So, if youre thinking about trying veganismfor yourself or your whole familyor youre already vegan and just need renewed inspiration, youll find plenty in this book. Peruse the recipes, suggestions, and stories, and then go for it! And keep in mind, if a diehard foodie like me went vegan in 1991 (a year with zero decent vegan cheese on the market), you can do it in this vegan-friendly era! And always rememberyou dont have to be perfect. Youre already awesome for reading this book, so now go forth and be even more awesome, one bite at a time. Youll be so glad you did!

TESS CHALLIS
Author, vegan chef, and One Degree coach

INTRODUCTION

The future is always beginning now.