Go to mobile version
isachandra ([info]isachandra) wrote,
2007-05-21 11:26:00
  • Previous
  • Memorize
  • Share
  • Next

Meat Eating Parents Starve Baby!

Enough with this vegan parent baby killers thing already. I probably get 10 angry emails a day about it, all of which I ignore along with the emails about canine teeth, lack of protein and instructions directly from god to eat meat. But this op ed piece by Nina Planck really bugged me. I wrote a response to it elsewhere, but I'm posting it here for good measure.

For starters, Nina Planck, is not a doctor or even a nutritionist. She is a business woman whose business is selling meat and dairy to people, including her book about why meat and dairy are good for you.

There are plant sources for DHA yet she chooses to omit that fact. She does say that plant sources for essential amino acids are "inferior in quantity and quality" but offers no evidence of this. Probably because there is actually no evidence of this. Humans can synthesize enough DHA from eating plant sources rich in Omega-3s, like flax seeds. So if the mom is eating her omega-3s and breast feeding, DHA levels should be sufficient and free of mercury and other toxins that a fish-heavy diet would surely contain. However, I'm not a doctor, so here is an article about vegan pregnancy and infancy by someone who is.

She says that this has happened three times in four years, but I can think of only one other case where the parents actually were actually feeding their child cod fish liver oil and so this seems to directly contradict Nina's assertions that fish oils would have saved the baby. It also contradicts the very notion that this baby was fed a vegan diet.

Also, how many babies starved at the hand of omnivorous parents in the past 4 years? I bet that Nina doesn't have those statistics at hand. "Meat Eating Parents Starve Baby" doesn't make a very good headline. Also, how many vegan babies did not die of starvation in the past 4 years? Again, that would probably not make a very sexy headline either.

Finally, I just want to add some anecdotal evidence into the mix. The vegan children that I know have all been vibrant, happy and healthy. If anything good can come of this recent tragedy it will be that some responsible reporter somewhere in the world will decide to do a story about them.


Who are these elusive happy, healthy vegan mom and baby?

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Comments allowed for friends only

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    switch
     
    Help
  • 152 comments
Previous
← Ctrl← Alt
Next
Ctrl →Alt →

[info]calypso72

May 21 2007, 15:37:42 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you for posting this. I was infuriated by the original story - the baby didn't die because the parents were vegan. The baby died because the parents were neglectful, stupid, and probably insane!

There are numerous living, thriving examples of vegan children, including my own. Why doesn't Nina Planck pick on the parents of millions of children who grow up on McDonald's Happy Meals, Cheetos, and Coke and end up with a lifetime of health problems from obesity, diabetes, and heart failure?

There needs to be a response to this on the pages of the NY Times Editorial page, and I think it could come from someone like you (or me, if I calm down enough to write something sensible).

[info]calypso72

May 21 2007, 18:25:24 UTC 5 years ago

P.S. Here's my vegan kid, about to have her 5th birthday cake (vegan, of course).

061224_Birthday-8

[info]hallucinas

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]ghd_mk4

1 year ago

  • Loading...

[info]girl_xxx

May 21 2007, 15:38:11 UTC 5 years ago

proof of another healthy vegan baby, just in case you needed more ;)

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

[info]tinctoris

May 21 2007, 16:01:53 UTC 5 years ago

That shirt is amazingly awesome (and the baby too!)

[info]girl_xxx

5 years ago

  • Loading...

Anonymous

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]isachandra

5 years ago

  • Loading...

Anonymous

4 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]girl_xxx

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]lavajin

5 years ago

  • Loading...
...and 2 more comments... from [info]nataliejenox, [info]elbertffrench Expand

[info]eeka13

May 21 2007, 16:23:42 UTC 5 years ago

> There are no vegan societies for a simple reason: a vegan diet is > not adequate in the long run.

Really? There aren't? So, all the places in Asia and South America and Africa where people traditionally eat exclusively plant foods are something completely different, just because they might not identify as "vegan" per se?

And yes, you (or someone) needs to write letters citing the various sources about heathy ways to raise vegan children. I've also noticed, for what it's worth, that the US papers are focusing on the "because the family was vegan" aspect, while non-US ones tend to focus on the "because they didn't feed their damn baby" aspect. Sensationalism sells. Guh.

[info]kivioq

May 21 2007, 21:03:35 UTC 5 years ago

I was thinking the same thing. Most of the country of China (is that a big enough society?), where eggs and dairy are rarely eaten and meat is traditional but not always affordable and rarely eaten in the villages, would laugh at that statement of hers.

[info]bailey_ugg

1 year ago

  • Loading...

[info]eeka13

May 21 2007, 16:27:33 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, also, I was planning on making a post on my blog (1smootshort.blogspot.com) asking people to provide pics and blurbs about their healthy vegan babies and children, to have a more concrete place to point people to when I mention "all those healthy vegan families."

Happily, I see that people are starting to do this here, and I'm guessing your following is a lot bigger than mine (and you're more known specifically as a vegan activist)...so would you be willing to make a post asking people to contribute pics and blurbs of their families for people to link to to rebut the "there are no healthy vegan children" assumption?

[info]isachandra

May 21 2007, 16:34:24 UTC 5 years ago

Great idea.

[info]bailey_ugg

1 year ago

  • Loading...

[info]suthrncan

May 21 2007, 16:38:10 UTC 5 years ago

Man, I can only IMAGINE how much bullshit is in your inbox everyday!!!

[info]satinworship

May 21 2007, 17:02:44 UTC 5 years ago

Babies are made out of fish oil? Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

[info]constintina

May 21 2007, 23:14:08 UTC 5 years ago

I had the exact same thought while reading.

Who knew?

[info]saabisu

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]satinworship

May 21 2007, 17:04:25 UTC 5 years ago

Also, since I have no babies, i'll give a link to page full of vegan kids. Some of which have grown into vegan teens!

[info]satinworship

May 21 2007, 22:28:14 UTC 5 years ago

Why didn't anyone point out that i'm stupid and didn't leave the link?

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/realveganchildren

[info]isachandra

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]seaweedgirle

May 21 2007, 17:07:06 UTC 5 years ago

I'm 7 months pregnant, vegan, and planning to have the baby vegan. This news story has gotten my parents all in a tizzy. Since they're NYT readers, it'll just be a matter of time before I get a phone call about the op-ed piece. Urgh.

[info]butsu

May 21 2007, 17:32:05 UTC 5 years ago

you shouldn't worry. just follow your heart

[info]seaweedgirle

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]growing_rose

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]devenydylom

3 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]butsu

May 21 2007, 17:29:31 UTC 5 years ago

kudos!

thank you very much for sharing this and giving your opinion, too.
everyday I can see parents complaining to one another about how much (or little) their kids eat and I think to myself "don't give them poo and they'll eat well!"
I've seen enough evidence that veg*n diet is far more sustainable (if can I use the word in this context) and children are generally more happy, content and calmer.

[info]bug_fashion

July 11 2010, 14:34:53 UTC 1 year ago

Re: kudos!

gucci handbag
discount gucci bag
gucci bags
cheap gucci purses
gucci purses
gucci purse
discount gucci sunglasses
gucci sunglasses
coach outlet
coach outlets
coach outlet online
coach outlets online
coach handbags
coach handbag
discount coach handbags
discount coach handbag
coach bags
coach bag
discount coach bags
discount coach bag
coach purses
coach purse
cheap coach purses
cheap coach purse
coach wallets
discount coach wallets
yves saint laurent
yves saint laurent shoes

[info]alithio

May 21 2007, 17:30:32 UTC 5 years ago

thank

that article really bugged me, as well. I'm glad to hear an intelligent and informed response!

[info]bug_fashion

July 11 2010, 14:36:00 UTC 1 year ago

Re: thank

discount gucci handbags
discount gucci handbag
gucci handbags
gucci handbag
discount gucci bags
discount gucci bag
gucci bags
gucci bag
cheap gucci purses
cheap gucci purse
gucci purses
gucci purse
discount gucci sunglasses
gucci sunglasses
coach outlet
coach outlets
coach outlet online
coach outlets online
coach handbags
coach handbag
discount coach handbags
discount coach handbag
coach bags
coach bag
discount coach bags
discount coach bag
coach purses
coach purse
cheap coach purses
cheap coach purse
coach wallets
discount coach wallets
yves saint laurent
yves saint laurent shoes
discount gucci handbags
discount gucci handbag
gucci handbags
gucci handbag
discount gucci bags
discount gucci bag
gucci bags
gucci bag
cheap gucci purse
gucci purses
gucci purse
discount gucci sunglasses
gucci sunglasses
coach outlet
coach outlets
coach outlet online
coach outlets online
coach handbags
coach handbag
discount coach handbags
discount coach handbag
coach bags
fashion bug
fashion purse
fashion sunglass
gucci bag

[info]nostomach

May 21 2007, 17:52:53 UTC 5 years ago

I can't believe the NY times would post such a ridiculous and uninformed article. Anybody with 2 brain cells should be able to figure out that the baby didn't die because of veganism, it died because it was starved! Even the judge who delivered the sentence said "this isn't about vegetarianism or veganism, it's about the fact that the child was not fed". End. Of. Story.
People will go to any lengths to prove how "immoral" and "ungodly" veganism is.

[info]kinoimpulse

July 15 2010, 06:47:43 UTC 1 year ago

Полность согласен с nostomach!

_________________________________
Периодически хочется смотреть фильмы онлайн в хорошем качестве.

[info]knitfish

May 21 2007, 18:24:30 UTC 5 years ago

it bugs me how people get off writing such blatantly uninformed articles. It's as though Nina just formed her own very biased opinion and put it out there like fact without offering any evidence to back it up! And the sick part is people who aren't vegan will likely take it to be truth and not question why she would even be writing an article like that.

~Nessa

[info]mogwit

May 21 2007, 18:37:59 UTC 5 years ago

Hmm. I worked for Nina Planck's parents last summer, and I read her book. I was not so fond of her scientific claims, despite the fact that she acknowledges early on that she is not a scientist.
What I did like about her book is that she encourages us all to think about what we're eating.
But this article is kind of icky.
If I have children, I am not sure how I will raise them. I do not want to make dietary choices for them that might affect how they could comfortably eat later in life.
Have you read Nina Planck's book? I'm happy to talk about it with you if you want.

-a veggie (not vegan, but open-minded and also accepting of most peoples' diets)

[info]thesleepyvegan

May 21 2007, 18:40:30 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you for posting this. I was really upset when I stumbled upon this op-ed in yesterday's NYT. I like your reply. Did you send it in as a letter to the editor, by chance?

[info]isachandra

May 21 2007, 18:57:34 UTC 5 years ago

I didn't send it in as a letter, I don't feel like I worded it to be "Times Friendly", but I am sure they are receiving a lot of letters from well informed vegans.

[info]boobalah

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]saabisu

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]aprilstarchild

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]boobalah

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]aprilstarchild

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]sexylibrarian

May 21 2007, 19:28:45 UTC 5 years ago

Weird, I wrote about it today too: http://foodieduo.com/

I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian, but I still thought it was bunk. Small world.

Anonymous

May 21 2007, 19:29:47 UTC 5 years ago

More pictures of beautiful vegan children, with commentary, are at:

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/realveganchildren

[info]polyhymnia

May 21 2007, 20:06:18 UTC 5 years ago

I was looking for the same link that Anonymous posted, but anyway, just wanted to say, that article outraged me. It contains totally false claims, which should not be excusable even in an Op-Ed. The problem isn't veganism but malnutrition.

I read a Miss Manners column today that was equally disappointing if less outraging: someone's company party was going to be hosted at a vegan couple's house, and everyone was annoyed because there will only be vegan food. It did sound like the couple was kind of on the annoying-food-police side, but VEGAN FOOD IS YUMMY and my reaction would have been "Go to the party, eat the food, and enjoy it, because it'll probably be really good. You don't need to eat meat every night."

[info]franklanguage

September 5 2007, 14:40:52 UTC 4 years ago

You may not need to eat meat every night, but most people eat dairy and eggs every night, and feel hampered if they can't have their cheese fix.

[info]polyhymnia

4 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]urbanvegan

May 21 2007, 20:21:22 UTC 5 years ago

I hope you write a reply to the NY Times. I wrote to the PCRM about this. They just told me they are going to write a response.

This is clearly a case of neglect--we've seen many issues of kids (sadly) starving to death, but they are never labeled "Omnivore kids starve to death." Hopping all over the vegan stereotype is just too easy--epecially given her business ties. This is all people will remember.

Thanks, Isa.

[info]isachandra

May 21 2007, 22:01:14 UTC 5 years ago

This attention could turn out being a good thing for vegans after all! I think the vegan response is likely to get a lot of attention. It may be a flash in the pan bump for Nina Planck's book sales, but ultimately it won't make much of an impact. Why am I so optimistic? I have no idea.

[info]mama_amia

May 21 2007, 20:31:45 UTC 5 years ago

They're totally right. My kids are completely brain damaged from lack of Fish Oil. And they totally don't get enough protein! OMG! I should probably just feed them the SAD diet of mac and cheese and pizza! Unnatural cow products and refined flours and sugars must be better for them!

Whatever. People are idiots. I'm not going to write a letter, but being someone that is involved with health care (I'm a nursing and midwifery student), has actively studied vegan nutrition and children's nutrition, has had two active, amazingly healthy and bright children vegan from conception (one 5 and one 2 1/2), and has ready access to scholarly articles regarding nutrition, I would be happy to insert scientific data and fact-check any letter.

Here's a pic of Lydian (2.5) and puppy (who is also vegan):

And a picture of av very goofy Eva (5):

[info]vomiiiiit___

May 21 2007, 21:36:22 UTC 5 years ago

Aww. Your daughters are adorable!

& no one can say they aren't healthy, by looking at them. Your 2 1/2 year old is a lot bigger & healthier LOOKING than my boyfriends 3 1/2 year old niece. She still wears 12 month old clothes. & all she eats is ice cream, pizza, chicken nuggets & cereal.

I think that vegan parents are a lot better at feeding their kids what they need rather than meat eaters. Most parents now just throw something in the microwave or go out to Mcdonalds. Vegan parents usually actually COOK food. Wow. That seems SO unhealthy.

[info]isachandra

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]mama_amia

5 years ago

  • Loading...

Anonymous

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]dang_argyle

May 21 2007, 21:05:49 UTC 5 years ago

cute pics of vegan kids! yay!

isa, it's stupidly ironic how you have to end up defending this, like it's your fault personally or something. "see, see how evil and dumb you people are!?"
um, it's call being smart vs. being stupid. right? right!
-AJ

Anonymous

May 21 2007, 22:51:08 UTC 5 years ago

Gahhh

I blogged about this when I read a news article about the parents - it was a sad story, but a story of ignorance not the dangers of the vegan diet. If you ONLY feed your kid sips of soy milk, what do you think will happen? Also, I've been trying to find out if this woman was breast feeding. Nature (usually) gives the ladies enough to feed the babies.

If anything good comes out of this, it's all the adorable pictures of vegan babies!

[info]bloodmoonrising

May 22 2007, 01:23:33 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you for posting about this. When I first read the article a few days ago, besides being somewhat pissed off, I was also wondering about how intelligent vegans would respond to this tripe.

[info]bug_fashion

July 11 2010, 14:38:14 UTC 1 year ago

jewelry boxes
jewelry armoire
online jewelry
kays jewelry
silpada jewelry
wallet reviews
coach wallets
mens wallets
fat wallet
wallet holster
leather wallets
coupon wallet
wrist wallet
badge wallets
fossil wallets
gucci bags
clothing & fashion
style lists
gucci handbags
gucci bags
china tourstailor
gucci bags

[info]eschewsyou

May 22 2007, 01:31:15 UTC 5 years ago

so did this women breastfeed? is breast milk not vegan? i mean hello it's what a six week old should have been subsisting on.

[info]vegankids

May 22 2007, 01:47:22 UTC 5 years ago

My first vegan baby was a robust 8 pounds 9 ounces. She is now almost 4, in the 90th+ percentile for weight and height, and her doctor agrees she probably has the healthiest diet of any of his patients.

My second vegan baby made his entrance at 11 pounds 11 ounces - clearly his vegan experience in utero halted his growth, huh? Now almost 2, he is still off the charts for both weight and height (he was 32 pounds at 18 months). Obviously vegan children fail to thrive...

I wish I could figure out how to post a picture. You'll have to take my word for it; they're really cute. LOL
Krista






[info]narkivity

May 22 2007, 02:16:54 UTC 5 years ago

it's ridiculous. there are stereotypes about vegans being fat, since our diet can in fact be high in fat. at the same time, we get called malnourished and anorexic (i know i do!) the fact that a plant based, balanced diet is the healthiest around seems to escape everyone.

and what you said is exactly what i said to those sending me the article- how many omnivore families have children die of starvation? i'd like to see that. or how many omnivore parents have raised their children to be obese, diabetic and prone to health complications? that's the bigger issue here, if you ask me.

[info]criticalcupcake

May 22 2007, 02:34:54 UTC 5 years ago

it's ruby and michelle!

[info]bug_fashion

July 11 2010, 14:37:11 UTC 1 year ago

laurent fashion
prada bags
coach bag
discount gucci handbags
discount gucci handbag
gucci handbags
discount coach bags
discount coach bag
coach purses
coach purse
cheap coach purses
cheap coach purse
coach wallets
discount coach wallets
yves saint laurent
yves saint laurent shoes
bean bag
laptop bags
plastic bags
sleeping bags
tote bags
shopping bags
diaper bags
space bags
fun bags
messenger bags
payless shoes
dc shoes
zappos shoes
dsw shoes
balance shoes
keen shoes
born shoes
sas shoes
merrell shoes
clarks shoes
pandora jewelry
jewelry stores
tiffany jewelry
designs jewelry
brighton jewelry
Previous
← Ctrl← Alt
Next
Ctrl →Alt →
Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Facebook Twitter More login options
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…