30 Sep 6 Important Tips For Caring For a Vegan Family (including great recipes!)
Starting a new job with a brand-new employer and children to take care of is an exciting, if a little daunting prospect. Not for you, however, not if you’re an experienced professional with years of care giving under your belt. And if you’ve been placed through Elite Nannies, there is nothing you can’t handle, right?
Now, however, you are about to take on the challenge of caring for a family who is vegan. This might be a new experience for you, or you might be a veteran at inventive vegan recipes, but nonetheless there are challenges you should be aware of before you settle in. We’ve got some tips, ideas and suggestions about how you can smoothly transition to taking care of a vegan family.
First of all, becoming vegan isn’t about adopting a popular dietary trend – it’s not a fad. Many people are choosing to live plant based and cruelty-free these days, because it’s good for the body, the environment and the planet. If you aren’t vegan yourself, this is a wonderful opportunity to consider becoming one.
Here are some ways in which you can adapt to a vegan household.
1. Learn about protein alternatives
There are many ways to ingest protein today – nuts, seeds, legumes, tofu, etc. In some ways, serving steak for supper is so 20th century! And you’re a modern nanny who wants to be current on trends, tastes and preferences so your family rushes to the dinner table to see what you’re serving!
No longer is it enough to have a vegetarian chili recipe at the ready for times when the family feels like eating something different. Being vegan is a commitment to a healthy, conscientious life because the planet and the environment are suffering, and this is a step all individuals can take to ease that. Viewing veganism through that positive lens will make everything easier, for you and your employer/family.
Here are some top vegan protein sources:
2. Learn the health benefits
There are so many marvelous reasons to become vegan, and we are speaking strictly here of benefits to the body. Fewer saturated fats, more dark leafy green vegetables that fight cancer, and fruit by the basket-full all contribute to longevity, low blood pressure and low cholesterol rates. In fact, there is no reason on earth not to be vegan, if you examine it from the physical perspective.
Check out some of these great vegan athletes:
3. This is an ethical choice that deserves respect
Before you even join your new family, do some reading online and at the library about the ethics of veganism. The way animals are raised and slaughtered is just one facet of people’s choice to live animal free. There are many others, and it’s your duty to learn about and understand that choice.
4. Check local markets for vegan options
Once you are set up in your new home, be sure to cruise the neighbourhood for all the shops that stock vegan options. Trust us, there will be plenty of them!
Adopting a vegan life is becoming more and more common, and more popular, in the United States, and for good reason. The planet simply can’t sustain the food production methods we’ve used for centuries. Our point here is that the market has responded to the demand for vegan food and other products, like clothing and footwear made of ethically sourced and produced materials. Remember, being vegan isn’t just about what’s on the plate and in the fridge — it’s about everything, head to toe. Familiarize yourself with how your family defines it, and then respects those choices at every opportunity.
Here are some recommended vegan meat brands:
5. Find a source you trust for vegan recipes
Other nannies are a terrific source because they are feeding families, too. Go online, or better yet buy a book by a trusted vegan chef, like Chloe Coscarelli, whose has more than six vegan cookbooks to her name, everything from appetizers to main courses to desserts. Once you find a few recipes your family loves, start branching out!
Here’s a few great recipe sites to get you started:
6. Talk to your employer about your choices
Chances are, if you being vegan too were important, it would have been determined at your pre-hire interviews. However, there are occasional issues that arise that even the keenest minds may not think of. For example, you may be more than happy to adopt a vegan diet, but did you forget about that designer leather purse you carry on special occasions? Under strict vegan guidelines, that isn’t something a vegan home would purchase. However, almost everyone is flexible on matters like these, particularly if it’s a cherished item given to you in the past. Just ask first, and if the object in question is indeed a problem, keep it out of sight until your next trip home. Don’t pretend you threw it away, of course, but don’t flaunt it, either.
Becoming vegan yourself is different than caring for a vegan family — the latter is a unique situation that takes thought, planning and discipline. But you’re a trained, professional nanny, and you can do it; in fact, if you’re an Elite Nanny, you’ve probably done it before! We’ve placed many nannies in homes with ethical, religious and/or dietary concerns, and we know the kind of person it takes to thrive in those circumstances.
A vegan diet is much more than a lifestyle; it’s a way to help the environment, the planet and even the animals whose lives are spared when people consume less meat. Whether the family you’re caring for is vegan for those reasons or another reason entirely, it is your responsibility to serve them delicious food and take care with the choices you make for yourself, too. And if you’re on the job through Elite Nannies, we know you will master all the challenges a vegan family present. After all, we placed you, right?