Explaining where meat comes from.

Not sure if this is iin the right forum...
How do you explain to your child where meat comes from?
My 5 year old is asking some very difficult questions and to be honest both of us are finding this type of discussion upsetting.
He all of a sudden has become aware that meat is animals, he asked how the animal became meat, I said a butcher prepared it. He asked if butchers find the old or sick animals that die and prepare them. I explained the animals need to be killed.
He's so upset that he's been eating animals, I'm so upset that his little heart is broken. That he feels it's his fault an animal had to die. I hate that he's learning this sort of stuff.
How have you or do you intend To deal with this topic.

<blockquote><b>Quoting JosieandtheherpescatsTMI:</b>" Not sure if this is iin the right forum... How do you explain to your child where meat comes from? My ... [snip!] ... an animal had to die. I hate that he's learning this sort of stuff. How have you or do you intend To deal with this topic."</blockquote>




What about the Jamie Oliver documentaries on free range?

I have been very honest with my kids about most things, I tell my kids that the animals they eat were bred specifically for food, like apples are grown to be eaten the pigs that are killed to make their sausages were bred for that reason. I tell them that they were never somebodies pet and that they are killed as quickly and as painlessly as possible. This was something we covered when they were much younger though, so it is just something they always knew.

<blockquote><b>Quoting The Master:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting JosieandtheherpescatsTMI:</b>" Not sure if this is iin the right ... [snip!] ... you or do you intend To deal with this topic."</blockquote> What about the Jamie Oliver documentaries on free range?"</blockquote>




He was pretty much hysterical. I don't think it's the way the animal is killed/ raised its the fact that an animal died for the sole purpose of being food for him.
He asked if he stopped eating meat if the animal would still be killed.he asked If a butcher could put all the pieces back together again. He's such an innocent.  
He asked if seafood dies before it is prepared or if it was dead in a net already. He said he may eat squid as it seems less cruel.
I'm so upset.

Quoting JosieandtheherpescatsTMI:" <blockquote><b>Quoting The Master:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Josiean ... [snip!] ... dies before it is prepared or if it was dead in a net already. He said he may eat squid as it seems less cruel. I'm so upset."

Could you explain the food chain to him. Explain to him that animals eat other animals, maybe find something online about the food chain and show him that that is just how nature is and it is all part of a balance.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Miracle Bessie:</b>" I have been very honest with my kids about most things, I tell my kids that the animals they eat were ... [snip!] ... as possible. This was something we covered when they were much younger though, so it is just something they always knew."</blockquote>




I'm actually beyond upset. I just feel like a part of his innocence, his childhood has ended.   I'd always been totally honest too, I'd shown him meat, explained etc from a young age. But it's like it just clicked.
He was crying so much. He's a very sweet boy  
I'll tell him about being bred for the purpose of food next time he brings it up, not sure he's ready for the quick death part. Thanks so much.
If your child, at 5 said they didn't want to eat meat, would you serve it still??

<blockquote><b>Quoting JosieandtheherpescatsTMI:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting The Master:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Josiean ... [snip!] ... dies before it is prepared or if it was dead in a net already. He said he may eat squid as it seems less cruel. I'm so upset."</blockquote>




Unfortunately it's one of those things he's going to have to deal with. I like Bessie's idea of the food chain

<blockquote><b>Quoting Miracle Bessie:</b>" Could you explain the food chain to him. Explain to him that animals eat other animals, maybe find something ... [snip!] ... maybe find something online about the food chain and show him that that is just how nature is and it is all part of a balance."</blockquote>




Yes!!!!! I have a book on the food chain (lol it's English with foxes and rabbits and badgers), I'll use that!
It's sad now I think about it from a child's perspective... Maybe well be baking some tofu tomorrow  

<blockquote><b>Quoting The Master:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting JosieandtheherpescatsTMI:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting ... [snip!] ... Unfortunately it's one of those things he's going to have to deal with. I like Bessie's idea of the food chain"</blockquote>



And then glue a picture of a person at the top of the chain and say, oh we just eat what ever we like!
The Aussie food chain isn't a great illustration as there aren't many predators.

LO is only 15mo but when we are eating a pork roast/fish etc we make the piggy noise/pucker our lips like a fish etc & when we take a bite i'll go 'mmmm yummy aye!' so he knows what hes eating are the animals we have been learning about with his puzzle pieces etc.

Hopefully its not as traumatic for him & he'll realise on his own that he is eating animals.

I can imagine how hard it'd be approaching a topic like this in depth when they have a better understanding though.. poor little man!

Quoting JosieandtheherpescatsTMI:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Miracle Bessie:</b>" I have been very honest with my kids about ... [snip!] ... for the quick death part. Thanks so much. If your child, at 5 said they didn't want to eat meat, would you serve it still??"

No I think I would let them have a vegetarian diet, I think if they find a moral objection to eating meat at a young age then I would respect that. I am a fairly into child led parenting, meaning I find the things that work for them, punishments that work for them not just what makes my job easier, I adapt my schedule to what works for them, for instance nap time is never at the same time every day lol so in keeping with that if they were having trouble with the idea of eating meat and wanted to not eat it then I would respect that, modify what they eat so they are still getting the protein and stuff and talk to them regularly about it.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ♥ Flame'n Nuisance :</b>" LO is only 15mo but when we are eating a pork roast/fish etc we make the piggy noise/pucker our lips ... [snip!] ... how hard it'd be approaching a topic like this in depth when they have a better understanding though.. poor little man! "</blockquote>


I feel terrible! I thought I'd been dropping hints for years. In many ways he's immature, he has an amazing social intelligence though.
He has guinea pigs and I said people ate them in Peru. But he's just realised he personally ate animals killed for consumption (not found dead from old age)

<blockquote><b>Quoting Miracle Bessie:</b>" No I think I would let them have a vegetarian diet, I think if they find a moral objection to eating ... [snip!] ... I would respect that, modify what they eat so they are still getting the protein and stuff and talk to them regularly about it."</blockquote>




I think I feel the same about it. We don't eat meat everyday but I'll speak with the health nurse if he does say it so I can provide the right nutrients.
I'm just sad for him.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Miracle Bessie:</b>" No I think I would let them have a vegetarian diet, I think if they find a moral objection to eating ... [snip!] ... I would respect that, modify what they eat so they are still getting the protein and stuff and talk to them regularly about it."</blockquote>




I think I feel the same about it. We don't eat meat everyday but I'll speak with the health nurse if he does say it so I can provide the right nutrients.
I'm just sad for him.

Quoting JosieandtheherpescatsTMI:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Miracle Bessie:</b>" Could you explain the food chain to him. ... [snip!] ... I'll use that! It's sad now I think about it from a child's perspective... Maybe well be baking some tofu tomorrow  "

I think all kids go through a stage at some point or another where they are truly horrified by the whole eating animals thing, I think your son is just getting there earlier than others.