I don’t eat any meat or dairy. I feel really good about eating this way. I don’t think anything is hard about it. When my friends ask me why I don’t eat meat, I ask them why they eat meat if they like animals. My family eats this way because we don’t like eating things that were alive, and to be healthy. I like being vegan because my food doesn’t smell bad.
I like to play sports, and if I eat this way it will help me be stronger. I don’t get sick very much, and if I do get sick it doesn’t last very long. I know when I go on my mission I might have to eat some meat and dairy, but Heavenly Father will help me because I try not to.
Bradshaw Hirschi is 9 and lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with his parents, three brothers, and one sister. He likes soccer and is crazy about baseball. He enjoys school most of the time, especially PE.
I have not ever had meat in my whole life. I like to be vegan because I don’t need to worry about having cancer, heart attacks, stroke, etc. I have never been tempted to eat any thing like meat, cheese, eggs, or anything like that. I have never had any problems with my friends. They all think its cool to be vegan.
A few weeks ago I went to an overnight camp for all the sixth graders. It was three days long so I would be eating the foods that the cooks made. We knew I would need to bring my own food so we got the menu for the three days. Most of the meals I could not have. Like breakfast burritos and nachos. So the night I was going to camp me and my mom went shopping for my food. At camp I could tell the kids in my group were wondering why I was eating differently, so I told them that I was vegan and had to eat different foods. My teachers always made sure I had the right foods. I am glad I went to camp. We had a lot of fun.
By following the Word of Wisdom I am healthier, happier, and more active than others.
We don’t have foods like oreos, doughnuts, cookies, chips, etc. I love all those things but we make our own cookies and cakes, and I think they are delicious. Even better than the ones people buy from stores. We even make cookie dough out of chickpeas! My parents love me so much so they keep my body healthy and active by not feeding me meat and dairy and by following the Word of Wisdom.
Shayne Hirschi is 11 and lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She loves gymnastics, swimming, and jumping on the trampoline.
Both of you, Bradshaw and Shayne, must feel very sure you have parents who love you so much that they have successfully been raising you as vegans, or as I personally prefer to say, they have chosen to raise both of you as Latter-day Saints who have been taught by them to live exactly according to how the Lord tells us in Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants (which contains the Word of Wisdom that the Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired to give us), how we should eat.)
it’s easy to see that for both of you, eating the right way is such an important part of your lives! I, Neil Birch, a father of nine children, five girls and four boys, wasn’t raised as a vegan as you were privileged to be, nor was their mother raised that way. Both my mother and father were active Latter-day Saints during their lives,and he served as a bishop, but neither of them read Section 89 as carefully as I wish they had.
I hadn’t early enough in my life, really carefully read Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants either, so I and their mother could better help all nine of them to eat the way that our Savior, Jesus Christ and His and our Heavenly Father prefer we mortals here on earth to eat so that we can be much more healthy and happy. Jane was my first child to begin eating like both of you and your parents eat. Now a good number of my other children are eating like you!
I thank each of you for allowing your wonderful stories about your healthy lives to be told in Jane’s web site!
I also really enjoyed seeing your pictures along with reading about your eating as vegans or as all Latter-day Saints really should be eating! You both look very healthy and happy! Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ really love each of us very much and want us each to be healthy and happy throughout our lives! I pray the Lord will continue to bless both of you as you continue living the way He and His Father (our Heavenly Father) want each of us to live! When you both are fully grown up and are married you will surely both, along with your future wife or husband, raise healthy and happy vegan children!
Both of you have clear skin and sparkling eyes, sure signs of good health. You are so brave to share your stories and to stand up for your beliefs. Good for you!
Shayne, I served a mission and didn’t need to eat any animal products. While you are young, learn to cook some simple, inexpensive, filling things like brown rice, quinoa, vegetables, potatoes, split peas, and lentils. Learn to love fruit and salads. Some of these things are available everywhere in the world. When you cook your own food, you won’t need to eat other things. If a member invites you to eat with them, explain your food needs ahead of time. In nearly every culture, there are traditional vegan foods even if it is just salad or rice or tortillas. Tell your hosts not to prepare anything special for you and that you can always find something at the dinner table that will work for you. If the cook of the home understands, they won’t be offended if you pass up dishes that contain animal products. And you can teach them something about the Word of Wisdom that they might not have considered before.
Bradshaw and Shayne,
I am so grateful for the Word of Wisdom. I know I am blessed as I try to follow it completely.
I can tell it makes you happy too. I am proud of you both.
I love you,
Grandma Orva