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Most families disagree on food to some extent; some might have preferences for certain meals, while dietary restrictions can mean ingredients are totally off-limits.<\/p>\n
Sometimes problems are also exacerbated when it comes to children \u2013 do you raise them with your own eating habits, or let them decide?<\/p>\n
One dad found himself at crossroads after his wife decided to turn vegan when their child was around six years old.<\/p>\n
On Reddit, the 32-year-old explained that since his wife, 33, changed her diet six years ago, he agreed to eat plant-based items in the house (although he would still eat otherwise outside).<\/p>\n
After a series of \u2018long conversations\u2019 and a visit with a dietician to ensure it could be done safely, they both decided to raise their son vegan too.<\/p>\n
However, recently, the dad had found non-vegan sweets and hamburger wrappers in the 12-year-old\u2019s bag which he\u2019d bought with his pocket money.<\/p>\n
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Not wanting his son to eat in secrecy, he began buying him non-vegan food in secret from his wife, who believes consuming meat and dairy is \u2018revolting\u2019.<\/p>\n
Detailing what happened after he discovered the boy\u2019s secret stash, the man said: \u2018I had a conversation with my son and he confessed he felt lonely and excluded eating vegan around his friends and that they always had much better candy than he did and it wasn\u2019t fair. <\/p>\n
\u2018I decided I didn\u2019t want him spending his pocket money on snacks and throwing out the vegan snacks we actually brought him instead of buying games etc. It made no sense, but I also know the way my wife feels about non-vegan products. <\/p>\n
\u2018So, I began buying my son what he wanted on our way to football practice instead.\u2019<\/p>\n
Recently, however, the mum found out about the habits and reportedly \u2018flipped out\u2019. <\/p>\n
\u2018She called me an animal abuse enabler and a few other names and said I was corrupting our son,\u2019 read the dad\u2019s post. \u2018Now she is not speaking to me.\u2019<\/p>\n
Many commenters on the thread said the man wasn\u2019t in the wrong, but some encouraged speaking to the wife so they could let their son choose his eating preferences.<\/p>\n
\u2018Your wife doesn\u2019t get to decide that the whole family has to be vegan,\u2019 wrote one person. \u2018Your son is going to just keep hiding things from you both if you don\u2019t stand up for him now.\u2019<\/p>\n
A second Redditor added: \u2018You did the right thing by accepting his choice but maybe you should have talked to your wife about it. It\u2019s never a good idea to do things behind your partner\u2019s back.\u2019<\/p>\n
Other vegans also commented on the thread, including one who said: \u2018I\u2019m old enough to have made that choice and I\u2019m happy \u2013 your son shouldn\u2019t have it \u201cforced\u201d upon him at such a young age when building bonds is so important.\u2019<\/p>\n
What do you think?<\/p>\n