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Raising Vegan Kids in a Non-Vegan World
By Julia Feliz Brueck

The Baby and Toddler Vegan Feeding Guide  by Julia Feliz Brueck is a to-the-point guide for parents looking to raise their little ones safely on plant-based diets. Evidence-based information and dietitian approved! Book trailer below.

Raising a vegan child in a very non-vegan world is certainly no easy task – not because it’s not doable. Remaining strong in one of the most vulnerable times in our lives because of the pressure to conform to what the majority of society deems we should do is no easy feat.

I’ve now been in the midst of raising two little vegans since conception for over four years. Early into that journey and years later I still feel confident that:

“One of the best and most important decisions I have made is choosing to raise both my sons with vegan values. As a vegan of almost a decade, I want to pass on the same values that have made me question my everyday life choices and choose to make my impact on other living beings as small as possible. Apart from helping them develop a connection to other living beings, the most natural way to help them start their own vegan journey is through what they eat.

It feels good to know my sons can reap the many benefits of a healthy vegan diet and at the same time, grow up to know that their food choices are the kindest to humans and non-humans alike. I truly believe this is the best start a child can get – one filled with awareness of where their food comes from because they have the knowledge of why we choose to eat plant-based foods. Raising them with this knowledge will aid in their ability to maintain and nurture the compassion that every child is born with.

Raising strong, healthy, and compassionate children is one of the most important legacies we can leave behind as vegan parents…”

As I sit here, a couple of years after penning the above section as the opening to my Baby and Toddler Vegan Feeding Guide (2017), I can say that my two little ones are happy, healthy, and learning their way through life with vegan awareness while enjoying fully plant-based foods.  I would be lying if I said the pressure to conform didn’t make me doubt myself on days when a well-balanced meal was rejected or thrown on the floor. However, I have learned to realize that the doubt and feelings of insecurity are absolutely normal for the majority of parents – and in about everything we do as we learn to navigate through parenthood.

While the world is still playing catch-up with the many benefits of raising plant-based children, the most important thing vegan parents must do is make a commitment to follow evidence-based sources and of course, ensure that our children’s meals are as varied and wholesome as they can be. Feeding vegan babies and toddlers doesn’t need to entail overly complicated recipes. In fact, my kids both love food as whole as possible without heavy sauces or spices.

The truth is, it’s OK to feel insecure and it is more than OK to ask for support and also help with questions. We have a wide range of resources and support, such as the fact that major dietetic organizations across the globe have come out in support of vegan diets at all stages of life – including childhood. One such resource is the position papers from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which discusses  evidence-based research:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27886704

And if you find yourself needing a vegan mom friend, think of me on the other side of the globe also navigating the same journey as you are. If you need some reassurance or know someone that might need a little support, I’ve done much of the heavy lifting in the Baby and Toddler Vegan Feeding Guide, which has been described as “…a good practical and encouraging guide for vegan parents…” by Ginny Messina, The Vegan RD. The guide is simple, evidence-based, and a quick read to deliver the most important bits of information and tips needed to ensure you are on the right track.

I’ll leave you with this: remember to breathe, take a few minutes for yourself at least once a day, and remember that you are doing just fine.

Julia Feliz Brueck Bio:

Julia Feliz Brueck holds undergrad and graduate science degrees and is a decade long vegan, mother of two, as well as a published vegan author & illustrator working under the Sanctuary Publishers label to create books that will inspire more people to adopt vegan lifestyles on behalf of nonhumans while supporting marginalized communities through every book sold.

Sales from the Baby and Toddler Vegan Feeding Guide go towards supporting the organization Chilis on Wheels, which helps to feed warm vegan meals to humans and non-humans in need.

Buy Baby and Toddler Vegan Feeding Guide from Amazon or from Julia direct at Sanctuary Publishers.

Julia just released this Vegan Bill of Consistent Anti-Oppression bill and if you find it useful, sign, and pass it on?

Learn more on www.sanctuarypublishers.com and connect with Julia via Facebook: Julia Feliz Brueck or Sanctuary Publishers.

In September 2018, Julia hosted a Vegans of Color conference in Dublin, Ireland. Here’s a little about it: https://medium.com/@jd.feliz/an-intro-to-consistent-anti-oppression-veganism-8eaeadbdf446

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