Many children care about animals but still consume meat, suggesting a possible disconnect between their meat consumption, food system knowledge, and moral evaluations. To understand this disconnection, a theoretical framework is proposed to examine the developmental trajectory. The components of this framework are discussed, along with the implications for dietary interventions. Overall, this highlights the need to address the gap between children’s concern for animals and their meat-eating behaviors.

Image courtesy of interviewee. December 14, 2023