need suggestion on how to explain

[Zaphirah]

Addie Mae has decided to bring her food to school. I'm wondering what I can say to the teachers, and if the kids freak out that Addie is eating differently, what would be a good explanation that would empower Addie and quell the other dc's questions.

With the other children, we've always had food allergies, so that was my reason....

[rawstrength]

Have her bring extra food to share. What kid wouldn't go for raw chocolate avocado pudding?

She can tell other kids that she has a mom who loves her and makes her the best food ever.
You can tell her teachers that her doctor has put her on a special diet. For some reason, people trust doctors and will think anything is okay if it is "doctor-approved." They don't have to know that the doctor is probably someone like Dr. Gabriel Cousins.

[Christiana]

They don't have to know that the doctor is probably someone like Dr. Gabriel Cousins.

LOL!!! That's hilarious...

[coco]

whenever anyone says anything to my little boy about his lunch he responds by saying, "well, i don't eat animals." that usually diverts attention onto their lunch instead of his and causes a little critical thinking and self-examination which is always a good thing.

[Moretta]

You can tell her teachers that her doctor has put her on a special diet. For some reason, people trust doctors and will think anything is okay if it is "doctor-approved." They don't have to know that the doctor is probably someone like Dr. Gabriel Cousins.

So true, this is a good comment.

[Veganforlife]

whenever anyone says anything to my little boy about his lunch he responds by saying, "well, i don't eat animals." that usually diverts attention onto their lunch instead of his and causes a little critical thinking and self-examination which is always a good thing.

Very good!

One has to remember. Those that eat meat are not explaining why. Why should we have to justify that we are eating healthy?

[Zella Juice]

Yeah. We don't have to explain to anyone but we tell the teacher at the beginning of each year. He brings his own separate snack. I wish we could share with the class and enlighten everyone but I barely have time to make his stuff for the week.

The kids call his salad "nasty" and he just kinda takes it. He doesn't really feel like telling them that it's their food that is actually nasty. With the pus in their milk and the cruelty to animals with their meat. Sometimes we talk about it and laugh about how funny it is that they would call his food nasty. But just because they are doing it doesn't mean he has to be that type of person and talk bad about someones food.

They told him his cookies looked good the other day. I think they are finally settling down about the whole thing and finally leaving him alone. It took awhile but I think it helps when he just doesn't respond or call attention to it..they get bored and move on.

He is in 3rd grade by the way. 1st grade was hard. That was our first year raw. 2nd grade was harder because he moved to a tough city school where everyone makes fun of everyone. And 3rd grade seems easier because he has learned to deal with it and knows that what he is eating is better than anything else.

It's important to not make your kids have to explain themselves all the time. Mine chose not to. I think he knows the kids won't listen anyways.

[coco]

the kids call his salad "nasty"? and the teacher lets them get away with that? pretty freaking abusive if you ask me. pft. i'd have a talk with her if that was going on in my little boy's class. not having it.

[Zella Juice]

The teacher doesn't isn't in the lunch room with him. It's just a lunch teacher. It's a double edged sword. Does he want to call attention to himself and walk all the way over to the lunch lady. A tattle tale gets picked on even more. It's just the way it is in public schools in the city. They SUCK (thanks George Bush) and I can't do anything about it (ie Homeschool) cause both of us have to work (thanks again Bush). The kids pick a time when the teacher isn't looking and will pick on him even more if he goes and tells the teacher about every little thing.

I have talked with the teacher when it's stuff in the classroom. And we have gone over personally to a few kids houses. We do what we can and pick our battles. I go by how he feels and he isn't really bothered by it anymore. He knows they don't know any better and has learned to ignore them. And by doing that..the comments have lessened.

[coco]

ack, breaks my heart. i remember the torment that were my school years and can only hope that my kids have a better time than i did!

[MiahTay]

You can tell Addie that if other kids ask to just tell them...this is how she likes to eat, it makes her feel good. Short sweet and usually if kids with the intention of picking on someone don't get a reaction, they will move on. And her friends will take that response and just accept it.

Blessings,
Heather

[Raw Angel Mom]

You got great advice here, and i must confess, i was happy that you post this for i was curious myself. I was turn out by a woman whom babysit children, as soon as she found out about my little girl diet she refused to have my child. I told her during the meeting with her that she wouldn't have to worry about her food for i would make it everyday, but still she declined carrying for my daughter. Even though, she looked like a wonderful lady with children, i wouldn't of let my child there, because i wasn't allow to come at lunch to have lunch with my daughter. This was a big no no for me, so i had no problem with her choice. But this food thing, seem to be a problem.

I love the idea that this is a diet recommended by the doctor, lol.....

I do have questions and concerns when she starts to go to school, but at some point something came to me and i see it as a blessing. Because, i remember reading something about Victoria Butenko's children. Because they were used to be different, they learn that it was ok to be them, and didn't have to do everything other children would do. Resulting, they were good kids and they didn't do drug. Which is huge. If we teach our children that this is ok to be their own identity even though this isn't the same as others, they are ok. It would release the pressure on their shoulder to do like other children in order to be accepted.

I was kind of raise being different and i never had problem to stand my ground and never felt the need to follow up what the majority of teenagers would do. So i never did drug either because it never appealed to me. I studied at every opportunity i had, in the bus, at lunch etc... I was a good student too and today as an adult, this past experienced helped me to stand my ground for i have no problem to be different and i surely do respect others for being different too. If someone know they aren't judge by me or i don't try to change them, they soon blend and accept my choice of being vegan.

So if you can teach your child that this is ok to be different and to respect others choice, this will come handy when they become teenager and adult.

This raw food experience, is a blessing not only for their health but to help them to develop their personality. Being who they are, won't stop them to have great friends.

Victoria's children struggle a great deal at first, but they became popular kid too. So this is all good. Having food to share with other children, is what Victoria did and according to them, it helped to turn thing around. Today, more people are ready to eat better, your children could be the source of inspiration