OMYogaUK_December_2016

om family om family

Concious Parenting

O

ur kitchen has seen a vast

combination of foods over

the years. Being vegetarian, I

happily raised my children this

way up to the age of three. For

those first sweet years, I lived in London and

ran a popular nursery school merging the

Montessori method with lots of yummy veggie

food. My intention was to raise optimally

developed children (an experiment that is still

paying off!). The parents called it,’The Broccoli

Club’ and marvelled as their toddlers sat

Guide your children to a healthy lifestyle but ultimately the way they choose to live

must be their own free decision. By Siri Arti

down eagerly awaiting meals of sweet potato

mash and lentil moussaka, amongst many

other homemade veg-based delicacies.

Children’s teeth cut through between the

ages of one and three, with the second set

of molars the last to appear. The digestive

enzymes for breaking down meat arrive with

the molars, so it is advisable to avoid meat

before this genius system is fully set up.

From three years old, I gave my own

children the choice to eat what they wanted,

within reason of course. Hiding from the

Let the children

judgement of my veggie friends, I spent my

spare time sourcing organic free-range meat

and fish for my healthy vibrant children.

I never wanted them to say that I forced

them into a lifestyle without a choice. We

lived a happy life, attending yoga festivals,

kirtan evenings, chasing joy and building

community. Primarily a vegetarian lifestyle,

but still I cooked them regular non-

vegetarian dishes to keep a balance and

protect myself from later accusations of

‘forced vegetarianism’.

decide