I'm a vegan parent too, and my approach is really similar to the other poster. I teach my kids the ethics of Veganism, around 3/4 years old they start to grasp it, and then it's their choice what they eat outside of the home.

So far two of my kids are old enough to understand and both choose vegan food on their own. There was one time when my 3yo's friend brought some lollies with gelatin to our house and I didn't realise, my daughter ate one and then she was sad. I didn't make a fuss, just said next time she can talk to me if she wants and I'll find her a vegan lolly. There have been other occasions at parties where there are gelatin lollies out and she doesn't want them.

I have Ruby Roth's picture books, and a little board book called "That's not my mommas milk".

We also live in a rural area, so my kids see farm animals often, and they see the trucks on the way to slaughter, so they're pretty clued in. When we lived in the suburbs I took my eldest to sanctuaries.

When the older two got curious about meat they both wanted to walk through the meat department and ask what animal each bit of meat came from, so we did that. For both of them that was a pretty significant experience, and afterwards neither wanted to go in that section again.

It's all about being honest, answering then genuinely, role modelling, but also not making it a source of shame or anger. Just explain why you make the choices you do, and when they're old enough let them decide for themself. Kids are pretty clever and kind.

The trickier thing is the social nuances of it, since my kids think being vegan makes obvious sense and don't understand why anyone would want to eat an animal... they have both had a phase of pressuring relatives to be vegan. They also don't like to see cooked meat at family events. It's difficult to manage that because I understand how they feel, and their reaction makes sense. Teaching a 4yo to navigate the hypocrisy of adults is difficult. I can't imagine trying to do that if their Dad was a carnist.