So Your Kid Wants to Go Vegan… What Next?

Young climate strikers may have some new requests for the dinner table — here’s how thoughtful parents can respond

Photo by Bob Blob on Unsplash

Congratulations, your kid or teen walked out of school last month and joined the global Climate Strike, chanted about saving the planet, and then came home wanting to go vegan, just like Greta.

First of all: Well done! You’ve raised a smart and compassionate little human.

Now just try not to freak out. Though it can seem like a daunting endeavour, removing all meat, dairy and eggs from your kids’ meals — fear not. It can be done, and done safely, and can have a hugely positive effect on the planet.

With more and more research pointing to animal agriculture as a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, ocean degradation, deforestation, and wildlife and biodiversity-loss, your kid is right in thinking going vegan can help the planet. In fact, forgoing the consumption of animal products can reduce one’s carbon footprint by up to 73 percent, and cut one’s water footprint by at least half (both depending on where you live). One University of Oxford scientist, Joseph Poore, says the effects are “far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car.” And if we all went…