I'm looking for some advice.  My daughter is 1 year.  She's just now starting on solids that she has to chew(super late getting teeth).  My dilemma is whether to introduce her to meat or not.  I am a vegetarian and my husband is not.  I'm worried that as she gets older, there will be the argument one way or another of "why do I have to eat it when you don't" or "how come Daddy gets to eat that and I can't?"  My other big concern is when she hits school age.  Do you think she will face unnecessary teasing if she doesn't eat meat and also how hard will it be to accommodate a vegetarian diet in school?  I have talked to my pediatrician about this and everything is covered health wise if she doesn't eat meat, it's just all the other stuff I can't figure out.  Thanks for any ideas or comments.

I have done both at different times in my life.  I am A- blood which is good for vegetarian.  I've prolly been happiest as a pescatarian. 

I don't eat much red meat and practically no chicken. However I don't turn food down when visiting or at holiday meals.

With that said, I have been feeding Scarlet some meat.  For two reasons.  One, I grew up with it and then made an adult choice to eat very little of it.  But there may be some developmental advantages to eating meat protein that I don't want her to miss because of my social conviction, which is 60% of my issue with meat - the commercial industry of it.  It is bad for the land, the air, the water, and the consumer, not to mention not the way one cares for animals, even if you are going to eat them.  City dwellers don't know this though, so I dont' try to tell them.   The second reason is the social aspect - not having a stigma every where we go.  No hot dog, no burger, no nothing. 

I make a point of eating meat free but ridiculously well at home.  When we have meat, its range fed and an expensive cut.  This way, she'll know the difference.

So I say, let her experience it, educate her along the way, and let her decide when the time is right.  

.02c 

i would let her try meat and see what she thinks of it. we got simon the little meat sticks from gerber he loved them for a very short time then no longer wanted them now we just give him alittle bit of the meat we are eating but he mainly eats veggies and grains. i try and let him try as much stuff as possible and let him decide if he likes it or not.

 At least let her try. If you change your mind it's okay she most likely won't remember. Then when she gets older let it be her choice.

I was raised as a Vegan.  At around age 12, I decided to "rebel" against it.  Also, as I was growing up I would totally sneak stuff behind my mom's back!  However, I still (to this day) have never eaten a real hamburger or a steak.  I do remember getting teased and feeling left out at school, especially at camp when my mom actually sent along my own food that I would have to eat instead of the camp food.  Maybe you could feed her primarily vegetarian food (if that's what you want to do) but just be open to her trying meat if she expresses an interest (like if your husband is eating in her presence and she wants to try some). 

I agree with the other moms.  Do let her try stuff and she chooses to eat meat later on cool, if not, that's cool too.  She definitely needs to be able to choose when she is old enough to understand that.  And it really doesn't matter what she eats, as long as she is getting enough vitamins, nutrients, and protein.

I say let her try. I am a meat lover and couldn't imagine not eating meat. I know that there are alot of people out there that don't, and that's cool. I just say it's got to be your own choice.

Well, I let her try turkey.  It was a pureed baby food with veggies.  Since she had never had meat I didn't want to go overboard with anything else.  She liked it so that was good.  Of course, on the same day I gave her meat, I watched the movie Supersize Me.  That movie, along with the extras on the dvd are enough to make anyone not want to eat meat.  I guess I'll try to just give her meat maybe once or twice a week and try to stick to organic, cage free, free roaming...  Thanks for all the advice.

Supersize me. Oh yeah, it makes you never want fast food again!