Making the choice to be a vegan is not easy, and raising vegan kids can be a real challenge.

Remember the strict dietary regimen you followed during your vegan pregnancy? That doesn’t end after birth - you have to instill the values of veganism in your children, and that’s way more challenging than disciplining just yourself or your spouse.

While there are a whole host of products out there that make vegan parenting easier than ever before, many parents will find the challenges come not from lack of available things to eat but rather from the influences of what other people are eating will have on your children.

For example, your children will see their friend eating fast food and they will want to do the same.

To help you cope with these situations, we have outlined five problems all vegan parents will understand below as well as some tips on how to handle the situation.

The first problem many vegan parents will run into is that they have to always be prepared to supply their children with something to eat as many stores and restaurants do not have a vegan option. This often translates into keeping vegan snacks handy and other items. While veganism is more popular than ever before, truly vegan products are still few and number and you won’t always be able to find them.

The second problem that complicates vegan parenting is the need to get institutions with which your child interacts, such as schools, churches, and extracurricular activities, to understand their dietary needs and what a vegan diet means. Getting your school on board with your child’s special dietary needs can be challenge but is part of the process of raising vegan kids. Because most institutions will have your child’s wellbeing in mind, they will be happy to accommodate them to the extent possible.

The third problem families will face is the inevitable conflict over not being able to eat regular food or the lack of a vegan option. Whether out of frustration that they can’t eat the same things as their peers or the strict guidelines of the vegan lifestyle, children may experience stress conforming to a vegan diet. Explaining the reasoning behind your dietary choices often will help alleviate issues in this department, which leads to the fourth problem.

That is how to explain to your children that other people are allowed to make their own dietary choices and may not be vegan because of this. Here you have to be both explanatory and sympathetic, teaching your child how to understand the wide range of choices people may make with their lives and why you have chosen differently. The key is not to instill a sense of moral superiority but rather a broad minded way of thinking about life in general.

The last problem that parents of vegan kids will encounter is the inevitable hosting of a social gathering like a birthday party. Here is where you can kick your vegan parenting into high gear, showing off an array of vegan treats and delicacies so that your guests have a delightful meal and learn something your vegan diet at the same time.