“Hidden” Non-Vegan Ingredients There are many popular products that My child, ______Why is your child a vegan? seem vegan, but are not. Some of these People choose veganism for a wide non-vegan products include: is a vegan. variety of reasons, including:  marshmallows (usually contain gelatin)  Ethical, because of concern for animals.  Jell-O Because of this, you may have some  Environmental, because eating a  Dairy products (milk, butter, casein, questions regarding how this will impact plant-based diet is more yogurt, cheese, etc.) him/her while in your care. Don’t worry, it is environmentally friendly. much easier than you think, and this brochure  Religious and/or cultural reasons.  Eggs (albumen should help answers those questions!  Health, because eating plant-based  gelatin (often found in gummy candy’s foods is healthier for the human and snacks) body.  animal-based soup broth/stock  sprinkles on cakes/cookies (contain confectioner’s glaze, made from bugs) Is it safe for children to be vegan? Yes, health organizations agree that  jelly beans (often contain gelatin or veganism is safe and healthy for children. confectioner’s glaze) Also, vegan children often eat more cochineal/cochinate (a beetle, used for healthfully than their peers, as they are  pink coloring in juices, snacks, etc.) usually more open to eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc.  animal shortening or lard (often found in packaged snacks, cakes, etc.) What is a  marshmallow Peeps (contain gelatin) Why do I need this  McDonald’s French fries (contain beef vegan? information? fat) Because my child will be in your care and there may be  gummy candy (contains gelatin) holiday and birthday parties, A vegan is a vegetarian who does not eat  candy corn (contains gelatin) as well as special treat days, animals, as well as any animal products. with a variety of foods being brought into  Starburst’s (contains gelatin) Vegans do not eat meat, fish, fowl (chicken, the classroom. As such, many of these turkey, duck, etc.), or any other type of animal Rice Krispie treats (marshmallows) items may not be suitable for the vegan  flesh product, including seafood. They also do child. We appreciate your support not eat animal products, such as dairy Other ingredients to avoid include: regarding this matter. products, eggs, honey, etc. Most vegans also avoid things like leather, silk, wool, feathers, Lipase, casein, rennet, whey, anchovies, etc. confectioner’s glaze, tallow, vitamin D3, fish oil, beef fat, chicken stock, etc. Additional Information/Notes: Anything else I should know? Because my child is a vegan, we may be Date: ______opposed to field trips such as zoos and ______To: ______circuses, or activities that imply harming animals (e.g., a projects on how to cook a turkey at Thanksgiving, fishing games, ______dissection, using feathers, etc.). Please discuss such things with me ahead of time. ______Where can I find more information? Vegan Guide There are many sites that offer information ______regarding veganism. You can also find lesson plans that are geared toward regarding: creating an animal-friendly classroom. ______

Check out these sites for additional information: ______

- Vegetarian Resource Group ______www.vrg.org - National Institutes of Health www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vegetari andiet.html Feel free to contact me with questions or for additional information: - Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine www.pcrm.org - Teach Kind www.teachkind.com Name:

Phone: Did you know? Cell: One in every 200 children in America is vegetarian. Increasingly, E-mail: vegetarianism is gaining in popularity, as more people choose a more compassionate lifestyle that also benefits the planet and their Thank you! own health. VegBlogger.com