https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:35:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174293 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 09:50:31 +0000 BananaPancakes 1174293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in a house where meat was raised and slaughtered for consumption, and it never phased me in the least. We just weren't allowed to name the animals that we had that would be eaten later. And my husband hunts much of our meat, so it will be a very open topic in our household. He's already watched fish, dove and duck being cleaned, and if my husband harvests a deer this year, then we'll let him watch that cleaning process, as well. It's best that he make an informed decision when the time comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174272 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 09:41:21 +0000 Silva 1174272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we plan to raise the majority of our own meat (and purchase the remainder from a friend- likely we won't do pigs because we rarely eat pork), so hopefully our kids will be exposed to the entire process. </p> <p>I think its important to be cautious when talking to my children about my own food values. I buy local whenever possible, and mostly organic- but I don't want my child to turn up their nose at food at other places (for example, my parents don't buy organic). Although I feel like I have always had a very healthy relationship with food, I am scared of my children developing anxieties about food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174270 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 09:41:09 +0000 sorrycharlie 1174270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is one of those things you deal with when it comes up. I don't remember any specific conversation with my parents about slaughtering animals, lol, but I obviously knew/know where meat comes from. I also don't think I ever bothered asking people why they weren't eating things. If I ever did (thanksgiving?) I"m sure they would've just said, "not in the mood for turkey right now" or something...it never seemed to be an issue at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174263 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 09:37:13 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1174263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure how much my 2yo understands... We're Hindu so we only eat chicken and fish, and so the names are the same (unlike beef, etc) and he pretends to eat his toy fish (and giraffes, etc, we just don't have toy chickens!), and has seen pictures of animals eating other animals (thanks for the national geographic books in-laws!) but we haven't introduced the whole process intentionally. I don't think he'll be upset by it when he does understand, he tells us he's going to eat the fish in our fish tank all the time :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174141 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 08:55:56 +0000 LuLu Mom 1174141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will be honest with them, both DH and I were raised on farms, showed animals, ect. I think in our region of the US these things come easier to kids. We will explain that "papa's cows and pigs gets sold to help feed families" just like we were taught. "The baby chicks are raised in the chicken coop to help keep our tummy's full" I don't think it's morbid, it's part of our life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174118 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 08:48:25 +0000 regberadaisy 1174118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's extremely important to both of us that they know where ALL food comes from. That it's not just prepackaged from a super market. So we will be showing them. </p> <p>No visits to slaughter houses though. ;) </p> <p>I'll let the know meat comes from an animal but no I'm not going get all political and talk about meat packing, animals in closed quarters and hormone injections.</p> <p>We grow our own vegetables, herbs right now. And my cousin in law actually has a farm about an hour away where they will be growing CNG produce and raise livestock so I look forward to bringing her often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174101 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 08:44:15 +0000 Lindsay05 1174101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We hunt our own meat so they will know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174090 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 08:38:51 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1174090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like some of the others, we are involved in the process. We used to raise our own pigs, now we buy from a friend. One interesting aspect of farm life to me, ours anyway, is the relationship with death. The girls see dad move dead pigs on occasion, and some of their first games have been playing at moving dead pigs (Ellie did it with playdoh at age 2.5, and Lorelei will do it with plastic pig figures and our toy bobcat (skid loader)). We see the dogs hunt and sometimes see them kill things like mice, shrews, or bunnies. We take our pigs to the place where they are killed and processed (we don't watch that part, but both girls know where that is and what is done there), and Eric hunts pheasant so they have seen the dead birds, complete with feathers, and then watched as they are cleaned. Ellie is the kid who can go in and play with some new piglets, tell you which are her favorites to snuggle, and then, in the same breath, tell you which one is the biggest that we should make bacon out of. Lorelei is small enough that her understanding is still evolving, but she does grasp the basic concept that animals will become the meat that we eat. My own views about life and death, what's fair and unfair, and how just plain brutal life can be have certainly changed with my current life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1174085 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 08:37:25 +0000 nana87 1174085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No lo yet, but I stopped eating meat when I was 4 and figured it out! No joke, I was with my dad on the highway and we saw a truck of cows-- when I asked where they were going my dad, who does eat meat, said mcdonalds! That was the end of that, except it took me about another year to figure out that hot dogs were meat ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173956 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:57:30 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1173956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My three year old knows, but my parents raise our meat, so the girls see the whole process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173946 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:53:54 +0000 Beyond2 1173946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He doesn't yet, but he will. We raise all of our meat ourselves. I've actually butchered chickens with DS on my back in the Ergo. It's really important to me that my kids understand where all of their food comes from! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173930 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:47:55 +0000 Koolbreeze 1173930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 just asked about meat a couple nights ago. He was asking about everything on his plate and when I told him the chicken was an animal he thought I was joking! Lol. His eyes got huge and he looked a little scared when I repeated myself. After a minute he said "So the chicken grows and turns into meat?" I didn't want to go into the killing part so I dropped the subject. He doesn't fully understand yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173916 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:41:16 +0000 rachiecakes 1173916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're vegetarians. DS will know where meat comes from and be able to make his own decisions.<br /> I think it's a personal choice but DH would be pretty upset if DS chooses to eat meat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173913 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:39:41 +0000 Cherrybee 1173913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FarmWifeGina: This is the ideal for me - although living in the city and both working means that we probably wont be able to do it! </p> <p>It reminds me of when TV chef Gordon Ramsey raises pigs in his garden and his children fall in love with them!! He has to be very clear that the pigs will be going to slaughter in a couple of months. </p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=456SKhT-Wrg" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=456SKhT-Wrg</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173911 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:38:44 +0000 MoonMoon 1173911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm vegetarian and my husband doesn't eat or cook meat in the house. I think when the time comes, we'll be straightforward (but gentle and age-appropriate) answering his questions. There are lots of books out there for kids on this topic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173899 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:32:46 +0000 honeybear 1173899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're mostly vegetarian (occasional fish, very rarely a steak or turkey for DH and LO). LO understands that he's eating fish meat/turkey meat/cow meat, etc. I haven't gone into depth about how the animals are killed, but he's seen enough people fishing and gutting their catches to know that the fish die once they've been caught and that we eat their bodies. He's also seen birds fishing and eating what they've caught and he understands that bigger animals hunt and kill smaller ones for food, so I think he has a good grasp of the rudiments of the food chain. We talk about food choices as a matter of health and the environment occasionally too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173896 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:31:26 +0000 FarmWifeGina 1173896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. We raise and hunt much of our own meat, so our kids have seen and will continue to be exposed to the complete process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173879 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:21:46 +0000 Mamaof2 1173879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes my 5 year old knows - he isn't phased by it at all. Actually when we see an animal he always asks what meat comes from it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173871 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:19:19 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1173871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a pollo vegetarian, and even then I eat chicken VERY seldom. I won't order it in a restaurant and I won't eat it unless my mom or husband cooked it. I also take like three bites and declare myself done. I won't eat turkey, though. </p> <p>My husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. We did introduce meat and seafood to Chloe. She loves it! She's only two, so she hasn't asked why mama doesn't eat meat yet. She really likes beef right now.</p> <p>I'm completely fine with her being a vegetarian when she's older &amp; can make that decision with our help. I was a strict vegetarian from ages 13-27; I started eating chicken when I was pregnant with Chloe!</p> <p>My uncle was a vegetarian and his boys would not eat meat unless their papa did. Now my uncle eats meat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173866 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:12:50 +0000 imbali 1173866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This post made me think of this -</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJNntUXyWvw" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJNntUXyWvw</a></p> <p>SO cute, ahh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173854 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:04:13 +0000 Dandelion 1173854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Yes, this...we are meat eater, but we are conscience of how the animals are treated in the farms we buy from. I only buy certain brands, or direct from local farms. We're all animal lovers in our house, so it's something that we know we are responsible for, and make sure to explain to DS when he asks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173853 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:04:07 +0000 mrbee 1173853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, we talk about it with the kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173852 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:02:04 +0000 Dandelion 1173852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS knows. He is semi-ok with it. DH and I both enjoy meat, but I told DS when he's older, he can learn how to live without meat if it bothers him too much. He's very much an animal lover, so I wouldn't be surprised. He hates that his dad's family hunts. But, he does like to fish, so we'll see where he goes with it in the future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173839 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 06:44:11 +0000 TheSwissWifeStyle 1173839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: lol. Hmmm, I'm thinking that might be a bit extreme perhaps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173836 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 06:41:47 +0000 Andrea 1173836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have told DD, but I am not sure she gets it yet. We visited a farm and she saw a cow being milked so that part clicked. She talks non-stop about how to grow apples ever since we want apple picking. So I think the visuals really help. Not sure how to tackle the killing of animals part, slaughterhouse field trip? :-/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173815 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 06:21:42 +0000 looch 1173815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you just have to be matter of fact about it. Most kids are satisfied with a simple answer when they ask a question. You don't have to go into the whole reason, but I do think it's important to call it what it is, pork, chicken, etc. I don't really see what you gain by calling a piece of pork "pig." It comes from a pig, yes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173811 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 06:13:23 +0000 TheSwissWifeStyle 1173811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: true true! I've even debated saying pig instead of pork, cow instead of beef etc. I'd probably get some strange looks! Also on the flip side, what do I say if a child asks me why I don't eat it? Like, a friend's kid or whatever. I wouldn't want to step on a parent's toes, if that's the right phrase for this. </p> <p>I guess it's kind of the same thing if one parent doesn't let their child have sugary stuff, but their friend if allowed. Then, that friend asks you, "why isnt LO allowed to have xyz?" How do you answer that?<br /> So many things to think about for the future! I have no idea why I'm worrying about things that won't happen for years! Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173809 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 06:03:45 +0000 Cherrybee 1173809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our baby is only 3 months old so she doesn't know where I come from when I pop up from behind a muslin cloth yet (!) but this is something DH and I have talked about a lot. </p> <p>We are both meat eaters and it is very important to us that our daughter understands where her food comes from. We fully intend to teach her that her pork goes oink and her beef goes moo. </p> <p>It's an essential part of being a meat eater I believe, not to stick your head in the sand but to understand how your meat gets on your plate and make decisions appropriately - to have genuine concern for the treatment of animals and our planet when considering which farming and transportation methods you are willing to support with your purchases. Can't face the truth of battery farms - buy free range. Can't face eating Babe - then don't! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-know-where-meat-comes-from#post-1173802 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 05:43:33 +0000 TheSwissWifeStyle 1173802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just thinking about the future and what we'll do when the time comes. But for the parents who's LOs eat meat, do they know what it is and where it comes from? Have they asked?</p> <p>I'm mostly vegan, DH eats meat occasionally. We don't cook meat at home but I will let my kids choose for themselves when the time comes, but I won't sugar-coat anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-lo-recognize-animals-in-real-life#post-933748 Mon, 15 Jul 2013 19:09:39 +0000 yoursilverlining 933748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 13 months and definitely knows the difference between cats and dogs and has for a couple of months. She likes dogs and points to them and squeals, but she goes NUTS excited for cats. She once went nuts excited for a little, tiny weiner-dog, so I'm pretty sure she confused it for a cat, since most all of the other dogs we see are big! lol </p>