Mum refuses to give her kids meat and says it's 'borderline abuse'

A mum of two has admitted that giving her children meat is “borderline abuse”. 

Kerry Messenger, 44, who is a vegan, has raised her daughters Isla Messenger, ten and Morgan Messenger, nine, on a plant-based diet their entire lives. 

So much so, her children now think drinking cows milk is “weird”. 

Kerry also compared eating pork and beef to the effects of smoking cigarettes due to her fears about the long-term health risks they pose citing cancer. 

She said: “We know red meat is a carcinogen, like alcohol and smoking, and can cause diseases like cancer.

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“I don’t want to give that to my kids. It would almost feel like abuse, they have never even tried it.” 

When asked if she has forced her beliefs on her children by raising them vegan, she answered: “I don't, I just explain to them the reality, animals just aren’t a food group to us.

“If they grow up and decide to eat meat that would be their choice, I don’t think they will because they are very emotionally mature.

“They understand we respect everything that lives, we don’t eat one animal and pet another.” 

She added: “They think the idea of drinking a cow's milk is weird because we are the only species in the world that would take another animal's milk.” 

Kerry became vegan 20 years ago and said she "felt like a leper" and “didn’t know any other” vegans. 

Her diet back then consisted of “rolls and bananas” due to limited vegan options. 

Compared to nowadays, when supermarkets have dedicated food ranges for vegans, Kerry said she “shed a tear” at the progress and described it as “amazing”. 

Should children eat a vegan diet? 

According to a 2023 article in The Spectator, veganism is not recommended for children because “it’s bad for developing brains”. 

Research from Science Direct suggests veganism is associated with nutritional deficiencies and can “negatively affect a developing brain, whether child or late adolescent”.

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Some reports now suggest as many as one in 12 British parents are raising their children vegan.

It comes as lawmakers in Italy made it a crime to feed children under 16 a vegan diet after several babies raised on vegan diets were hospitalised for malnourishment.

Belgium were inspired by these findings and also made it illegal to force a child to be vegan. 

What to consider if you want your child to be vegan

According to NHS Lanarkshire’s Nutrition and Dietetic Department, “a vegan diet is a plant based diet that excludes meat, fish, poultry, eggs, honey, dairy products and any other animal products”. 

Parents, therefore, need to consider whether it is suitable for their child as it can be difficult to meet a child’s nutritional needs.

Vegan diets need to be “well-planned” and include lots of beans, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. 

Whole grains such as oats, rice, cereal-based foods such as breads, and pasta can be included, along with fortified foods and nutrient supplements for good health. This includes getting essential fats and protein from plant-based sources, and plenty of fibre too.