Welcome to Gaia! ::

Okay, so every summer I go to this awesome girl camp and I absolutely love it. I've been for four years and this July/August will be my fifth year. I'm also old enough so that I can be a counselor and I have all my training to be one at this camp.

Anyway, since I'm going to be a counselor, I'd be with the little kids (like 6/7 I think) a lot. I'd be required to sit with them at lunch time, and of course they're very clingy and love to be with their favorite older teenager.

But its kind of the lunch thing I'm concerned about now, among other things obviously. This will be my first year coming as a vegan. I went once or twice (can't remember) as a vegetarian and that was fine, not very hard. And I wasn't "the cool one" the little kids wanted to be with. But now being a counselor I would be "the cool one."

Back on track. How would I explain to these little people why I get special food without them feeling left out, confused, or asking for some. I don't exactly want to tell them I'm vegan, because then I'll have to launch into the whole "vegan is when you don't eat meat" deal and the millions of questions after that. And I don't want the camp leaders to be getting harassed by angry moms that had their kids coming home and basically repeating the questions they asked me.

So how should I handle that kind of situation when it arrives?

Be honest but vague. Tell them vegan is where you don't eat meat. When they ask why you don't eat meat, you just tell them you either don't like it, and leave it at that; "because I can" is always a funny, albeit smart-a** answer; you like vegetables more is honest and vague; or anything that doesn't lecture them. Quickly changing the subject after being asked why is also a good idea, for instance:

"Hey! What's vegan?"

"It's where you don't eat meat."

"Oh. Why don't you eat meat?"

"Because I like vegetables more. What's your favorite food?"

To be honest, a lot of younger kids have the attention span of a goldfish, so I wouldn't worry too much. As long as you're not putting your morals into the minds of kids that aren't yours (which is a shame since younger minds are more impressionable and would probably have a lot to learn about vegetarianism sad ) then I'm sure you won't have a problem. Good luck on your new counselor position and have fun! I'm sure it'll be a blast. I can already see the kids around you eating a ton of veggies to be more like you without knowing why in some kind of silly way. Enjoy it! surprised

That is a good idea Ailinea!
I was also thinking of claiming to be allergic, but that's a good solution too.

I don't know, I think I'd tell the truth, albeit vague as mentioned above. I think it's a good opportunity for young children to be educated about something other than carnism.

If asked, I'd say that I'm vegan, and that I don't eat anything from animals if asked what that means. If younger children asked me why, I'd say "because animals are my friends". The angry moms issue is definitely a concern - if it's something that may threaten your position as counsellor, or would result in too much hassle, then obviously it would be better to not say anything. Personally I think I'd be willing to risk the hassle. All too often, children are indoctrinated to think what the big corporate animal businesses want them to think, whereas I think children should be shown the big picture and allowed to think for themselves based on complete information.

Wow, rant over. sweatdrop