Will you eat your piggy friend?

[Lilly]

Hi everyone
I’m glad to see that a school in Reigate has adopted two piglets. This is a good thing to get the myth associated with swine flu and pigs out of the way. As well as teach kids about where their food comes from and to respect it etc.
It got me thinking if I had a piglet – would I eat bacon and ham again? Just seeing the piggy photo’s have me regretting my lunch…lol :eek:
It’s good children will learn to not be wasteful with food especially meat.
I must say, I know certain animals were made for us to eat. But I won’t be able to eat the meat of an animal if I have befriended a similar animal.
Would you?

Toodles
Lilly

[Josie]

Hehe Lilly this reminds me of when I was younger.....

I lived on a farm with my dad's family as I went to school abroad for a few years. My sister and I befriended all sorts of animals there! Anyway one of the animals got killed in an accident and they cooked it for dinner..... Needless to say I couldnt it eat haha!

It is definately quite an interesting idea though! I mean it is good for children to learn these things and not take food for granted the way that most of us do due to having supermarkets at our disposal! I mean we get what we want when we want regardless if it is in season or not!

[PennyBlack]

You'd be amazed how many children simply have no idea where our 'meat' comes from.Pork chops - why not say pig chops? I remember the looks on my sons faces when I explained that those lumps of meat they saw at the butchers were actually parts of dead animals cut up ready for us to cook and eat.Children never give food a second thought as to its origin. But tell them that all meat they eat was once an animal and that the 'meat' is in fact the 'muscle'. (Other than offal). They'll look at you in horror. I know mine did.

[Josie]

Exactly! I do think children should be better educated on these things! Its crazy how much they take for granted and dont realise about the worls around them!

This way they appreciate thier food more and then dont feel as likely to moan about it or waste it! I certainly found that with my younger brothers anyway! Hehe!

[alfie]

I remember my daughter first making the link between the picture of a cute chicken on the front of a pack and the meat that was inside it. She was horrified to think that the meat came from the chicken. She then became vegetarian for a while, but it did not last.

[Josie]

HAha that reminds me of my sister who is now 13, she is an on and off vegetarian since she came to terms with what she is acting too!

Shre eats things that are cooked a certain way but not others hehe! Its funny!

[Emily-o]

Hey, did anyone hear the debate about whether or not primary schools should have farm days? I wasn't listening properley but some individuals were saying that farm days at schools should be banned as they are unhygienic. All the kids have to do is wash their hands after petting the animals - there is no need to ban them completely!!

Did anyone have farm days at school? Where a farmer would bring in some livestock and you could learn all about them? Or were any of you taken to petting zoos as school trips? That all helps teach kids what food comes from where.

[Josie]

What a silly idea! Why would you want to ban these days? They are good for kids and educate them in different ways - as you said all they need to do is wash thier hands etc afterwards!

Since when has it done any harm?

[Lilly]

I think the e. coli outbreak at that one petting zoo has a lot to do with it.
But I think rather invest in teaching the kids to clean their hands the proper way instead of taking away animal experiences. My niece is 3-years old and obsessed with farm animals. Not everyone has access to horses etc at home. I think it will be truly sad if they take it away. :(

[alfie]

I agree it would be sad for children if these little zoos got closed down. Children have to learn how to do things safely, rather than having anything that could be dangerous taken away from them. If we are not careful they will be growing up in a very safe and very boring environment. They need to be able to have fun and learn how to do everyday things for themselves.

[Josie]

I couldn't have put it better myself!

Lets hope these silly people see sense!