Parent Talk

Going Green

Iam writing in response to your 9 to 12 Years Growth Spurts article “Preteens Going Green” (June 2007) about preteens becoming vegetarians. I was raised as a vegetarian and, except for two years in my mid-20s, have continued to love a vegetarian diet. I was glad that you mentioned all of the benefits of eating vegetarian, while also admonishing the necessity of eating well — not

just pasta and mashed potatoes.

I would like to emphasize that vegetarians should eat vegetables — raw and cooked carrots, potatoes, celery, kale, spinach, beets, peppers, onions, squash, leeks, radishes, green beans, okra, etc. They should not eat lots of cheese (which is very high in fat, salt, and all the things that make meat bad for you) and processed flour products such as breads, cereals, pasta, or fried foods. Vegetarians must eat whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice, millet, couscous, barley, and quinoa (pronounced “keenwa”) along with all the wonderful myriad of fresh or frozen beans and peas.

All of that being said, I was disappointed in your suggestions for the “Vegan Meal Planner.” The suggestions all centered around meat or dairy substitutes. It has been my experience that meat and dairy substitutes create the expectation that they will taste like meat or dairy, which they do not. I find those substitutes to be sadly lacking in texture and taste when compared to the real thing, and they usually are so processed and contain so much sodium that they aren’t much better for you than the nonvegetarian option. I would have liked for you to have suggested recipes and cookbooks that utilize raw vegetables, whole grains, and “real” beans. Most bookstores contain shelves of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks full of excellent, quick, and easy

meals. Some of my favorites include Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison (Broadway, 2007), Fresh From the Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson (Harvard Common Press, 2004), Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman (Little, Brown and Co., 2007), and Disease-Proof Your Kids by Dr. Joel Fuhrman (Saint Martin’s Griffin, 2006).

Again, I appreciate your willingness to cover this topic so positively and hope you do more features for vegetarians and vegans in the future. I love your magazine. Thank you for being a voice for Christian parents.

Melody Hammell, Charleston, SC

ParentLife Encouraging & Equipping Parents With Biblical Solutions to Transform Families Volume 14, Number 9, MARCH 2008

Defending a Choice Thank you so much for the September 2007 article “Only, not Lonely.” My husband and I have an only child and have agreed not to have any more. We found each other late in life, and I was 36 when I delivered my daughter. It is by choice that we only have one child, and it is very irritating when people ask, “When are you having another one?” or “Isn’t it time for another one?”

God blessed us with one happy, healthy child

and that is all we asked for. We are at a time in our lives where we are financially stable and can provide a home and a future for our daughter. It is a shame that we must defend our choices to others. Thanks again!

Tina Eastridge, Knoxville, TN

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WILLIAM SUMME Y Editor in Chief

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Printed in the United States of America Cover photo is by Dan Klepper.

6 PARENTLIFE MARCH 2008