Tips for Raising Vegan Kids: The 5 Biggest Challenges (and How We Handle Them)
Raising vegan kids has been one of the most rewarding parts of our family journey — but I won’t sugar-coat it, it can come with its fair share of challenges too! From navigating birthday parties to dealing with family opinions, vegan parenting is full of learning curves.
But here’s the good news: with a bit of planning, patience, and perspective, the challenges that come with raising vegan kids can turn into some of the most meaningful moments you share as a family.
Here are 5 of the biggest challenges we’ve faced raising vegan kids — and how we’ve learned to handle them.
1. Dealing with social situations
School events, birthday parties, playdates, footy BBQs — social events can sometimes feel like a minefield when you’re raising vegan kids. You never want your little ones to feel left out when the cake gets cut or the sausage sizzle fires up.
Our solution? We always bring a vegan option. Whether it’s a vegan cupcake tucked in a container, a vegan sausage for the BBQ, or some vegan nuggets for parties, we make sure our kids have like-for-like options that you’ll typically find at these gatherings. It helps them feel included and takes the pressure off hosts.
We also have open chats with our kids about these situations, so they feel confident explaining their choices if anyone asks. It’s always worth having an open chat with the hosts — more often than not, they’re happy to help and love making sure there’s a tasty vegan option for the kids to enjoy.
2. Handling family pushback
Ah yes — family dinners and Christmas lunches can get… interesting. It’s not uncommon for relatives to question or challenge why you’re raising vegan kids, especially if they don’t understand the lifestyle.
We’ve learned to lead with love and patience. Instead of jumping into debates, we explain our reasons calmly — focusing on health, the animals, and the environment — and avoid getting defensive. We’ve unfortunately been on the backend of some family members stop talking to us when we first decided to go vegan as a family, but over time, our family has come around to understand our why. Some are even eating more plant-based meals now!
Remember: people’s opinions often soften when they see happy, thriving vegan kids.
3. Meeting nutritional needs
One of the biggest concerns parents have — vegan or not — is whether their kids are getting the nutrients they need.
It’s so important to really understand your vegan kids’ nutritional needs as they grow — from toddlers to teens, their requirements change and can also vary between boys and girls. If you’re not confident navigating it all yourself, teaming up with a plant-based dietitian is a great move to help cover all the essentials: protein from legumes, tofu, and grains; calcium from fortified plant milks; iron from lentils and beans; omega-3s from chia and hemp seeds; and of course, a solid B12 supplement.
Variety is key in ensuring nutritional targets are well-met. — we aim for colourful, balanced, fun meals and love getting the kids involved in the kitchen to keep them excited about what they eat.
4. Explaining veganism to kids
Talking about veganism can feel tricky, especially with young children. We keep things age-appropriate and gentle, focusing on kindness, compassion, and caring for animals and the planet. Films like Chicken Run, Charlotte’s Web, Babe and Finding Nemo are great conversation starters, offering gentle messages about empathy and respect for animals.
As they get older, we offer more detail, but we always centre the conversation on positive values, not guilt or fear. We’ve found this approach really helps build empathy and encourages our kids to feel proud of their choices — never ashamed or isolated.
5. Finding convenience foods
Let’s be honest, we’re all busy — and sometimes you just need quick options that don’t require soaking chickpeas overnight. Thankfully, the range of vegan convenience foods has exploded, from nuggets and burgers to yoghurts and lunchbox snacks.
I regularly review these new vegan products on my blog, so you can skip the trial-and-error phase and find what works for your family. While we try to focus on implementing more whole-foods and making our own food, having a stash of quick, tasty options makes life a whole lot easier with vegan kids.
Ready for more support?
If you’re on this vegan parenting journey and want a little extra help, check out my Guide to Raising Vegan Kids. It’s packed with practical tips, strategies, meal ideas, and advice to help you navigate this path with confidence and joy.