Some people may have noticed that I have (somewhat?) quietly almost completely stopped eating meat. I’m kind of surprised about what a hot-button issue this choice is, but for me it is because of many many reasons. In fact, this is such a multi-layered issue for me that I typically stumble all over myself whenever I am asked (usually mid-dinner) why I do not eat meat. I just don’t have a quick and easy answer for this and I am usually assuming that the person on the asking-end of this question does not want to hear my manifesto. So, alas, I usually end up muttering something incoherently as the person asking goes on chewing their food and rolling their eyes.
And really, I don’t know if I want to even go into here- b/c that isn’t really what this blog is about. I’ll just tell you this- it is about having a conscience for the way animals are treated, trying to minimize my environmental footprint, wanting to avoid additional (and unnecessary!!) doses of hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics, feeling good after I eat, AND JUST REALLY LOVING VEGETABLES-FRUITS-GRAINS-BEANS-NUTS.
The other question I also get often is: Do you ever eat meat? The answer to this is: yes, rarely, and I am very selective. Also, I don’t miss it b/c (like I mentioned) I LOVE plants!! So no, I do not consider myself a “strict” vegetarian/vegan, but I do lean that way- especially in social/public (less-controlled) environments.
Ok, so all of that is just kind of ramblings about myself (but I really do get a lot of questions, so maybe that helps?).
HERE IS THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS POST:
Yes, I am pretty much raising Geneva on a diet that does not incorporate meat (for the reasons listed above). She does drink (organic) milk and eats cheese, (organic) yogurt, and (free range, organic) eggs. This is how she eats at our house and when I am in control. I do not mind if grandparents, etc. give her a little bit of meat if they want. When she is older, she will have more of a choice, but for now, I am filling her with the most nutritious, safe foods that are available to us.
AND YES!! She gets more than enough Protein!
Let me just give you a little break-down.
To know how much protein a 1-3 year old child needs, you multiply their weight by .81. Geneva weighs about 25 lbs, so she needs about 20.25 grams of protein per day.
With just her breakfast and her daily milk, she gets this amount (21.2 grams to be exact). After her yogurt (daily snack) and whatever she eats for lunch and dinner, she gets at minimum 30 grams per day. And that is on the very low side to accommodate for those days whenever she acts like a toddler and does not eat well at one of her meals. And, those are just plain numbers, not taking into account protein complementarity, which would make her actual protein benefit higher.
And, if you want a few more details:
Her breakfast is a 1/4 c. of oats, 1 T. peanut butter, and 1 tsp. nutritional yeast. = 9.2 grams of protein.
Are you wondering how I know all these inane details? Well, it is because I read the book Super Baby Food (by Ruth Yaron), which has everything (and more) that I would ever need to know about infant/child (and adult) nutrition. I am also a self-professed-majorly-obsessed-nutrition-nerd. :)
2 comments:
Ruth use to teach at The University of Scranton. It certainly is a small world.
Wow, I didn't know that! They must have it Going On over there at "The U" because her philosophy and book are wonderful!
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