Where Does Food Come From?

[Captain]

We had a bit of an incident at dinner tonight and I was a little unsure on how to deal with it. Be interested to hear others opinions.

Today we went to AQWA (which is an aquarium with heaps of fish, sharks, seals etc.) Tonight my pg brain kicked in and I cooked fish for dinner . DH made a comment about his piece of fish and DD piped up with "That's not fish, that's f....." and she stopped and looked really confused. She kept repeating "that's f...' until she cleverly came up with, "That's food!"

I really didn't know if I should tell her that what we were eating was the same as what we saw swimming earlier. At 2 1/2 should I be telling her were fish and meat come from or will it freak her out and stop her eating?

[AnyDream]

I was always up front about the fact that meat (and fish) comes from animals. DD always just accepted it. I think she twigged first with chicken because the name's the same (whereas cow is beef and pig is pork and sheep is lamb). Best not to go in too hard reminding them about roasts while they are patting the baby lambies though .

[misty]

When it comes to food products I have always found honesty to be the best way to go. don't go into detail (at two and a half your shouldn't have to worry about too much detail anyway - at least I haven't had to with Jelly), but rather let them make their own associations. If they ask a question you aren't sure how to answer - throw it back at them and ask what they think and go from there. Also keep it light hearted. My daughter(2and a half yrs old) loves chickens (both to eat and as animals). her aunty Bev has some, and when Jelly sees or talks about them she always says "Yummmy chickens!" - and she knows she eats chicken as well as plays with them - but as yet I don't think she has even considered how or even that they do go from the garden onto her dinner plate, they are called the same thing but still seperate in her mind.

[BeautifulMadness]

Be honest with her, i think its good for kids to know where their food comes from

[Indadhanu]

I would start helping her make that connection between animals and foood, not being too pushy (

Best not to go in too hard reminding them about roasts while they are patting the baby lambies though

) but not denying it if the question comes up.

I imagine it would be easier to accept at a younger age, and grow up accepting it, than to realise one day when she is 5 or 6 while she is at school or watching play school or eating a lamb chop (got the Simpsons episode of Lisa becoming a vegetarian in my mind).

[Astrid]

We are honest as well and also get the yummy comments. We were buying bacon one day and DD1 piped up "poor piggy.........piggy dead........piggy yummy!!"

[Captain]

Thanks guys.

ROFL Astrid at the poor piggy!

We had a little talk about it, not to much detail though. She hasn't said to much about it but certainly hasn't eaten as much fish as normal. I am surprised she hasn't made the connection before. For now I'll leave it until she asks again.