In the 4th episode of the Unveiling Vegan Culture Series, we dive deep into the journey of Jessica, a freelance journalist and animal advocate, who promotes vegan motherhood, a lifestyle not just for herself, but for her family as well.
A Journey Towards Veganism
Jessica's exploration into veganism began primarily when she became a mother. Her worry about making dietary choices on behalf of another human being drove her to reevaluate her food decisions. Despite society's common focus on the importance of protein and the potential difficulties in ensuring a baby meets their nutritional needs through a vegan diet, Jessica realized that with due diligence and a commitment to research, feeding her child a wholesome, vegan diet was possible.
Overcoming Dietary Hurdles and Misconceptions
One of the hurdles Jessica faced was ensuring her child got an adequate intake of Omega 3, a nutrient that many associate solely with fish. Through research, Jessica found that algae oil provides Omega 3s, and she says she became more nutritionally educated than most others through her commitment to veganism.
When it comes to social hurdles, Jessica speaks to the necessity of educating those around her about the vegan diet and lifestyle, providing reassurances about nutritional adequacy, and advocating for her family's choices.
Inspiring Change within the Family
Jessica's lifestyle changes inspired her mother to switch to a vegan diet in her 60s. By writing about her journey and sharing her experiences, Jessica found an effective way to share information about a plant-based diet, animal rights, and the joy of raising a vegan child.
Through the meals Jessica makes for her vegan family like vegan mac and cheese with a sauce full of vegetables, she demonstrates that a vegan diet can be just as diverse and delicious as a non-vegan one.
Shedding Light on the Dairy Industry
Another issue Jessica explores is the realities of the dairy industry. The inhumanity of the system, wherein calves are routinely separated from nursing cows so their milk can be used for human consumption, pushed Jessica further into advocating for veganism.
Veganism as a Family Value
How to introduce your child to the concept of veganism? Jessica suggests treating it as any other family value, respecting other people's dietary choices while sticking to your own, just as you would with cultural, religious, or political preferences. This includes empowering kids to understand that their diet and lifestyle can be a form of activism.
Conclusion
Jessica's journey showcases the challenges and rewards of vegan parenting. It demonstrates that with the right amount of information and a commitment to living ethically, everyone can contribute toward making a difference in the lives of animals. Her story vividly reinforces the saying "Be the change you wish to see in the world". Veganism, as shown by mothers like Jessica, can be more than a dietary choice; it can be an enriching lifestyle, a life-saving mission, and a legacy. (This blog post was based on an AI generated script and edited by me for accuracy and additional information)
Show Notes:
"A lot of babies are born with an allergy to the protein in cow's milk that can transfer through breast milk, if you consume dairy as the mother....and a common thing that doctors will tell you to do is to eliminate certain things from your own diet to make the breast milk easier for your child to digest. Dairy {from cows} is one of those top things. " - Jessica Scott-Reid
Episode 4 of Series 9: Unveiling Vegan Culture Transcript
When Jessica Scott-Reed's young daughter developed a dairy allergy, it catapulted their family on an voyage into veganism. Our latest episode welcomes Jessica, a journalist and animal advocate, who shares her personal evolution as a vegan mother and the joys and hurdles of raising a vegan child in today's world.
Guest: Jessica Scott-Reid is a Canadian freelance journalist and animal advocate. She has been covering animal rights and welfare, food systems and climate change topics for major media in Canada and beyond for the past decade. Her work can be found regularly in The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Winnipeg Free Press, and Corporate Knights Magazine. She is also a regular contributor to Sentient Media. She is also a mom and dog guardian.
Book Recommendations: EdgyVeg East Eats by Candice Hutchings and The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol J. Adams
Book Recommendations: EdgyVeg East Eats by Candice Hutchings and The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol J. Adams
Other Links: The School Night Vegan
Other Episodes: 31: Attitudes Towards Animals with Matti Wilks (S5)
(This blog post was based on an AI generated script and edited by me for accuracy and additional information)
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