Gwyneth Paltrow says she is determined not to be an over-protective mother because she respects the fact that her daughter, Apple, has to become her own person.

The "Shakespeare In Love" actress, a strict vegetarian, says she makes sure her daughter eats all the right food but at the same time is not too controlling, reports Sky News.

"Right now Apple is young and I control what she eats. It's all very healthy. But she's her own person and I will respect who she is," said the star who is currently filming new movie "Running With Scissors".

"If she doesn't want to be vegetarian or she wants to eat hydrogenated oils and fairy cakes at birthday parties, that's fine. I'm not going to be a controlling over-protective hippy. We live in the world we do. I don't want her to be a freak."