So your child has just declared that he or she is no longer going to eat meat, this will either freak you out or make you squeal in excitement depending on your personal preferences.
If you’re a meat-eating family then here are some tips to handle their decision.
Here’s 5 ways to tackle the issue
1. Embrace their decision
If you’ve been forcing your child to choke down meat then you can rejoice in their decision to kick it to the curb. Maybe they just don’t like the taste of it, maybe they are concerned they are actually eating Peppa Pig, whatever the reason don’t question it just roll with it. If they can’t explain why they don’t want to eat meat anymore then the chances are the decision might not be a permanent one.
Tip: Invest in a good vegetarian cookbook or get surfing the net to find recipes to make tasty dishes kids will love.
2. Get stuck into healthy alternatives
Look at their declaration as an excuse to get kids eating plenty of protein-rich alternatives such as beans, lentils, tofu, spinach and nuts. You’ll also need to increase their vitamin C intake as this helps the body absorb non-meat iron. Strawberries, oranges, broccoli, capsicum and kiwifruit and all packed with goodness.
3. Educate yourself
The biggest mistake that newbie or reluctant vegetarians do is just serve their kids the normal dinner they would usually do but just leave out the meat. This is not a balanced meal that a vegetarian needs. Do some research, jump online and find a support group or if you’re really stuck get in touch with a dietician, especially if you children are older and are extremely active.
Hint: To make sure they don’t feel left out at events, parties or school activities make vegetarian versions of sausage rolls, burgers and pizza. 
4. Start growing your own vegetables
Why not see this new way of life as a chance to start your own vegetable and herb garden, it’ll save you money in the long run and also teach children about how to care for plants. There’s plenty of options at large hardware stores and they sell mushroom and cherry tomato kits as well as many more.
5. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em
While red meat is packed with protein and B12, it’s also quite fatty and high in saturated fat and cholesterol. If you have to make vegetarian meals for your kids then why not ditch the meat for awhile and see how you go. It might suit you and could bring down those supermarket bills.
Sure it might take a little getting used to, but by embracing and not fighting your child’s decision to become a vegetarian it will show them you respect their decision and they will love you for that.
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