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| The grandkids are not exactly like me and I like that |
My grand-kids aren't vegan, or even
vegetarian. They eat lots of junk food. They stay up way too late.
They're clean, of course, but they could care less about keeping up
their personal appearance. In other words, they're typical American
kids, just like I was, at their age. Or ages. No matter. Still, I
like to think my good health habits do rub off on them. In fact, I
think, that just like me, they'll likely make some changes as they
age, due to positive example. Here's why.
Some of them are already changing.
Even though my grand-kids are typical
American kids, they have made some changes since being around me. One
talks about going vegetarian. One doesn't like meat that much, to the
dismay of his Dad, who is a die hard meat eater and feels that's the
only way one can be healthy. One has a daily workout that she sticks
to like glue. And the littlest girl, who lives with me, well, her mom
says she has seen her become more accepting of healthy food lately.
She used to be a total junk food junkie.
They don't shun their fruits and
veggies.
Growing up around grandma (me) has
exposed them to a wide variety of fruits and veggies. Plus, they
garden with me sometimes. Growing and eating your own food teaches
you a lot about being healthy. Fresh fruit and veggies are not an
anomaly in this house and regular exposure has made my grand-kids
more accepting of healthy food.
They all love and care for other
animals.
I first became vegan out of empathy for
other beings. Since then, I have learned that veganism is the
healthiest choice, the best environmental choice and can also
contribute to saving water and food resources in order to feed the
hungry. It's been a journey to healthier ways for all that it took me
time to take. But it all started with loving other animals, which my
grand-kids already do.
And speaking of time.
I didn't go vegan overnight. I expect
that my grand-kids will not gain healthier habits overnight either.
Children are not born knowing how to live their lives in any respect.
That's why they need parents and grandparents to light the way for
them. That's where I come in. I may not ever influence any of my
grand-kids to the point where they go vegan, but I do try to give
them a good, healthy example. The information is there. The love is
there. The acceptance is there. So, I think, that eventually, my
grand-kids will adopt healthier lifestyles on their own. And isn't
that the best way?
