Parent breaks children’s veganism against ex’s wishes, internet weighs in

The internet has shown support for a parent who decided to introduce animal products into their children’s diet after their ex made them follow a strict vegan regimen.

Reddit user u/ThrowRA-Vegan876 shared their story in the popular thread “Am I the A*****?” where their post quickly gained traction, garnering 5,200 votes.

In the post, they explained that they and their ex-partner, Venus, were together for over a decade, starting when they were just 15. During that time both attended a vegan lifestyle and agreed to raise their children, Mercury, 11, Jupiter, 9, and Mars, 7, as vegans, a practice Venus was also raised with.

“About three months ago I slowly started reintroducing meat into my diet, and I’ve felt so much better since then. I haven’t had to buy a lot of vitamins or carefully plan my diet to ensure I get every amino acid or avoid deficiencies , and my food bill went down,” they wrote.

They started researching and discovered that children raised vegan sometimes grow slower and need supplements for nutrients like B12, calcium and iron.

“None of my boys have hit puberty yet, which may be okay, but ever since I started puberty around age 9, I’ve been worried about Mercury,” they added, referring to their concerns about the growth of the children.

The children were all in the 5th to 15th percentile for height and weight, prompting them to seek medical advice. After consulting with a doctor, the parent was advised to try reintroducing animal products into the children’s diet to see if this would have a positive impact on their growth.

After informing their ex about the change, tensions rose. Venus, reportedly furious, threatened to take them to court to obtain full custody of the children.

“She calls me cruel and she tells our boys to refuse to eat animal products and says I’m forcing them. If this isn’t true and every time they’re over, they love trying new things.” foods like real milk, eggs, etc. some of which are not tasty, which is fair,” they shared, concluding their post with the question: “AITA?”

Expert advice

Psychologist Caitlin Slavens offered her expertise Newsweektaking into account the complex emotions involved.

“It sounds like there is a lot of emotion and personal history in this situation, which is not surprising as it involves major changes in the children’s eating habits and beliefs that both parents have had for years.”

She encouraged a focus on “creating a supportive and informed environment for the children” and suggested parents work together to reduce tension.

Slavens pointed out that while it is responsible to consult a doctor, it is also essential to involve both parents in decisions that affect the lifestyle of their children, especially when it comes to a core element such as power supply.

“One way to approach this is to suggest a joint conversation with the GP,” she advised, allowing both parents to hear recommendations firsthand and work together on a plan.

A collaborative approach, she noted, could reduce the chance of children feeling torn between their parents.

Caitlin recognized that Venus’ reaction might stem from a sense of being blindsided. By allowing Venus to express her position openly, parents may be able to prevent conflict from impacting their children.

“Finally, if direct communication tends to lead to conflict, consider engaging a family therapist or mediator who can help initiate a structured conversation,” Slavens advised, emphasizing the importance of supporting of the children’s health and the sense of unity in the family.

Reddit responds

Redditors were quick to back the parent and show support for their approach.

“NTA. I recommend getting medical documentation for the inevitable custody battle coming your way. It’s weird that only she gets to decide their diet, and I really don’t see a court forcing her diet on others,” Redditor said. Remote-Passenger7880.

“NTA. You also have the right to feed the children. When my children are with their father, they are probably fed more unhealthy things, but I give them a well-balanced diet. I keep my mouth shut because he is not. ” is having a hard time, and he’s doing his best,” another user added, reiterating the importance of balance and perspective in co-parenting decisions.

Newsweek contacted you/ThrowRA-Vegan876 for comment. We were unable to verify the details of the case.

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