Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer is yes! Far more studies show that a typical 'Western Diet' has deleterious effects on health compared to the risks of a vegan diet. In fact, vegetarian diets are associated with disease resistance and even higher I.Q.'s in children. (1-5)
With proper planning and a bit of self-education, parents should feel confident in giving their child a diet free of animal products.
Healthy food choices include the following:
Protein dense foods: beans, soy, whole grains, nuts, etc.
Calcium sources: beans, leafy greens, figs, blackstrap molasses, fortified beverages, etc.
Iron sources: grains, dried fruit, coconut milk, blackstrap molasses, soybeans, beans, etc.
Zinc sources: nuts, seeds, grains, chickpeas, soybeans, etc.
Avoid wheat and nuts until after one year of age, to avoid possible food sensitivities.
Supplementation may be necessary for children who are picky eaters, but most nutritional needs can be met through diet. Vitamins D and B12 may be the exception, and parents should ensure an optimal supply through fortified foods or supplements.
Finding community support can be very important in helping your child maintain healthy eating habits, as vegan diets are often misunderstood and even feared by well-meaning family members, neighbours, and teachers. Many excellent resources exist that can help educate those in your child's life who have concerns, and possibly alleviate any misconceptions they may have.
Raising a child on a vegan diet can be challenging in today's world of hot-dogs and ice cream, but parents should be assured that research is on their side.
The following sources are particularly supportive of vegan diets for children:
The Vegetarian Society UK http://www.vegsoc.org
The Vegetarian Resource Group http://www.vrg.org
European Vegetarian Union http://www.ivu.org
Physician's Committee For Responsible Medicine http://www.pcrm.org
Becoming Vegan Brenda Davis, R.D., and Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D.
1. O'Connell JM, Dibley MJ, Sierra J et al: Growth of vegetarian children: The Farm Study. Pediatrics 1989;84:475-481.
2. Fisher M, Levine PH, Weiner B, et al. The effects of vegetarian diets on plasma lipid and platelet levels. Arch Inter Med 1986;146:1193-1197.
3. Chang-Claude J, Frentzel-Beyme R, Eilber U. Mortality pattern of German vegetarians after 11 years of follow-up. Epidemiology 1992;3:395-401.
4. Thorogood M, Mann J, Appleby P, McPherson K. Risk of death from cancer and ischaemic heart disease in meat and non-meat eaters. Brit Med J 1994;308:1667 -1670.
5. Dwyer JT, Miller LG, Arduino NL, et al. Mental age and I.Q. of predominately vegetarian children. J Am Dietetic Assoc 1980;76:142-147.
Stacelynn Caughlan is a Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Herbalist who specializes in pregnancy, birth and childhood. She is currently the editor of http://www.motherandchildhealth.com an online resource for women looking for information on natural health and healing for themselves and their families.
efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
Calcium helps reduce constipationUsing calcium and magnesium in the right... Read More
Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules are a nutritious, all-natural alternative... Read More
America's focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
Finding simple ways to reduce my waistline is always a... Read More
Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two... Read More
So what's all the shake up about anyway?. To put... Read More
Come on, guys and gals. Those Trix are for kids.And... Read More
Coq10 is also known as Coenzyme Q10.This co q10 is... Read More
To many people, this may seem a simplistic answer to... Read More
Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More
People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
I'm going to be a bit radical here, but know... Read More
The topic of nutrition is one that is always present... Read More
A lot of people I've talked with about health supplements... Read More
Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More
Today, more than ever, consumers over the age of 50... Read More
What are Glyconutritionals?The Greek word "Glyco" means "Sugar". Most people... Read More
A fictional overheard conversation at a Thelma's Fine Dining.Hi, I'm... Read More
The Omega Zone Diet and specialists' opinion"Omega RX Zone -... Read More
In today's world, there's a definite need to be proactive... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
cleaning lady near Wilmette .."You are what you eat."Does it sound familiar? You probably... Read More
Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More
If you are like most people, you are probably confused... Read More
Okay, so you think you are doing pretty well with... Read More
Have you ever felt like you were completely losing your... Read More
Nutrition usually only comes up when people are finally deciding... Read More
Coke, more commonly known as cocaine is a highly addictive... Read More
I want to tell you about the most healthful and... Read More
What are Glyconutritionals?The Greek word "Glyco" means "Sugar". Most people... Read More
Salt is vital for our health. Right now, you have... Read More
You may have heard that essential fats are an important... Read More
What is the Atkins diet and how can it help... Read More
Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through... Read More
For a natural and tasty way to improve your health... Read More
DIETARY SOURCES OF GLUTATHIONE: Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant and... Read More
Mannatech's patent-pending glyconutrients complex, Ambrotose, is perhaps the greatest wellness... Read More
The Benefits of SnackingYou may feel regretful about snacking, but... Read More
Detoxifying the body has become an apparent key preventative measure... Read More
Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More
I'll preface this article by saying that it will help... Read More
Recently I found the book : "Eating and health according... Read More
The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More
What is the best protein powder to buy? I get... Read More
OmegaRx Fish Oil, quoted as being close to a Medical... Read More
Beverages - and not just alcohol - are a significant... Read More
Nutrition |