Dad gives meat to his daughter’s friend despite her family being vegan
In a life made up of choices, one of the most important choices a person can make pertains to their diet. Whether it’s related to health, environmental impact, or just a love of specific foods, everyone deserves to make the dietary choices that best suit their body and lifestyle.
But now one parent has taken to Reddit to ask whether they are at fault after regularly feeding their daughter’s friend meat and dairy behind the backs of her vegan parents. But as they claim, this deceit comes from a place of concern.
Dietary Preferences
Many people, and even restaurants and food manufacturers, are now opting for more plant-based meal options and consuming less meat in order to be healthier, avoid animal cruelty, and reduce their environmental footprint.
But some people are taking things a step further by ditching meat and dairy completely and switching to an all-vegan diet.
The Reddit Post
One parent has taken to Reddit’s AITA subreddit regarding their young daughter’s friend (who they call M) and the secret diet they feed her when she comes over to their home for sleepovers, despite coming from a vegan family.
“M’s family maintains a strict vegan diet where she isn’t even allowed to drink milk. Her parents are nice people although a bit on the neurotic side,” they say.
Veganism Versus Meat Eating
The parent says that she is a bright young girl who’s a wonderful friend to their daughter. But, they noticed that she’s “smaller and paler” compared to their daughter, and suspect it has something to do with her family’s diet.
“So whenever she is over I always make a big meaty meal for them,” they say, which typically includes a smorgasbord of meats, diary, and egg products.
The Secret Diet
The parent explains in-depth the plethora of menu options they cook for their daughter and her friend. One weekend, for example, they cooked cheeseburgers and steaks, while for breakfast they prepare scrambled eggs, bacon, and a big glass of milk to wash everything down.
“Despite her size, M always wolfs down whatever I make,” they say. “And I have to say every time she leaves it looks like she has a healthy glow to her.”
But Was He Wrong?
Despite how happy it makes her, the parent says that they know they probably shouldn’t be doing this, and despite not having anything against vegans, worries she is malnourished. They add that she’d get in big trouble with her parents if they ever found out, so often lies regarding what she eats.
The parent then asks Reddit, “AITA for letting my daughter’s vegan friend eat meat?”
Disrespecting The Parents’ Beliefs
Reddit voted overwhelmingly that the parent was in the wrong. They accuse the parent of having a savior complex and repeatedly undermining M’s parents’ wishes and do as they please behind their back. Other users said that suddenly introducing meat and dairy into the girl’s mostly vegan diet could backfire.
“To jump from a strict plant-based diet to one heavy with dairy and meat and then to go right back to strict plant-based, that shocks the body. If you’re concerned about her health, talk to her parents.”
It Makes The Daughter’s Friend Happy
“She clearly doesn’t want to be a vegan and you’re feeding her what she wants to eat rather than forcing her to eat vegan like her parents,” one user wrote.
Many users faulted the vegan parents instead and sided with the other parent because they’re only doing what the friend wants and these forbidden foods make her happy. Other users, however, had a more neutral view of the case.
What Does The Daughter’s Friend Want?
Many other users, however, were torn down the middle regarding whether or not the parent was at fault. In their eyes, the issue should simply boil down to what his daughter’s friend wants.
“I would suggest that at 12 years old she is old enough to decide her own diet and whether she wants to be a vegan or not. If she wants to eat meat, I don’t see an issue with it. If it’s being forced on her, huge issue,” one user commented.
