Vegan Diet for Children

My DIL has my granddaughter on a total vegan diet and she's now almost 2.5 and as healthy as a horse and as smart as a fire cracker. My DIL was not a vegan until she had the baby and decided to change their eating habits. She makes some fabulous looking stuff and is working very hard at keeping their diet perfect.

IMO, not healthy for a baby or toddler. Not enough fat or protein, usually. Vegetarian, maybe, a true vegan diet -- usually not.

If you're concerned about it, you're probably right.

It's more than possible, it's just very very difficult and even more important that they have enough fats and protein in their diet. A lot of vegan parents I know (at least half my friends are vegan or vegetarian) get a real "check" when they go to the nutritionist. Kid's nutritional needs are VASTLY different from adult needs, so feeding a child like they are an adult just doesn't work if you want proper growth and development. It IS possible, but the diet in the beginning needs to be gone over with a fine tooth comb by someone who knows how much fats and proteins young children need. After 5ish it's not that big a deal, but the first 5 years are really crucial for brain and organ development.

I do not agree with a vegan diet at all, however I am not taking your choice from you or saying you are wrong it is just not for me, nor do I understand the choice. If you feel you need to continue this type of a diet then please make sure you and your child are monitored by a nutritioist that is not necessarily "pro vegan, pro veggie, pro meat" someone who understands all types of diets and can support your family to make the right choice(s).

Hi N.! I am speaking solely on my first hand experiences with a long term vegan diet. I was a vegan for a few years and vegetarian for a much longer time. My parents followed a vegan diet for many years (my dad for 10 years and my mom for 7 years). They were completely anti animal protein and at first, they did very well on the vegan lifestyle.
However, even though they ate a model diet for vegans, they started suffering effects. Some of those effects were/are:
1. Tooth decay. My mom, at age 52 had 2 cavities and after 3 years vegan, began getting cavities at an alarming rate. My dad had tooth decay so bad, that he ended up with dentures. This is a documented "side effect" of veganism.
2. Crabby! Both of my sweet, mild mannered parents were so irritable! This resolved after they started eating eggs and fish again.
3. Both of my parents aged at a very rapid rate while eating vegan. While I know that aging is not necessarily bad, the haggard look was just not working for them.
4. Difficulty with concentration and memory. This has since resolved after adding non plant proteins into the diet.

My firm belief is that a vegan diet is good for a short period. We still eat vegan meals in our household but do eat farm raised, free range beef, chicken and eggs in moderation. We also eat mostly organic foods and RARELY any processed foods.
My mom is now eats according to a low glycemic lifestyle and is the healthiest I have ever seen her.

My personal story is that I gained a ton of weight on a vegetarian diet (NO refined grains or sugar....and a very balanced veg. diet), lost all energy, and absolutely screwed my body up from soy intake. I so wish I had researched both opinions of the vegetarian/vegan diet.

I hope this helps! I am not out to knock your choice or other's choices......just giving you my observations on my family's experiences.

I don't really care what the CDC says, and I certainly don't buy into the China Study (flawed research), but check out the Weston Price Foundation website for great info!

Good luck in your decision!

An article in Psychology Today refers to a CDC study where babies and children who followed a strict vegan diet suffered from severe malnutrition and a year later, after going off the diet, their bodies had still not recovered. I would trust the Centers for Disease Control more than I would trust random mom's guesses. If you dont trust the CDC, dr Mercola, a very respected alternative medicine dr also says vegan duets are dangerous, especially for expectant mothers and children.
Also I just read your other post about weaning. Your child is healthy right now because you are breastfeeding and giving fruits and veggies. If your child had a strictly vegan diet there would be no milk.

Ditto Riley J., Kate B., Anne-Marie F., Kristina M.

So does your child not drink milk?

I would really... consult a Nutritionist.
It is REALLY easy, for a child... to get malnourished.... and the parent not know it.
And yes, milk fats.... are a crucial "nutrient" for a child and is important for brain development. For example.

I know 2 families... who are vegan. Their kids... are really... not so healthy looking... and very tiny for their ages... and have health problems... and one has very bad teeth. Weak teeth.
Kids... have different nutritional needs. Adult parameters are a whole different spectrum.

Its super healthy! My daughter was a vegan from the time she was in my belly till she was about 3 but she still doesn't like meat. It was hard because so many ppl judged me for it & felt like I was depriving her of meat!

Pros: *Contains the nutrition and fiber that your body requires without the cruelty and health problems associated with an animal based diet.
*She can develop better eating habits because you will have to plan more for a vegan diet.
*Not as much artificial junk in vegan foods, example: tofu.

Cons: *Its easier to get Vitamin A, B, & D with a meat diet.
*More "acceptable"
*It could be hard to find vegan products at your local market, or restaurant
*Can be pricey

in the article written by the CDC, the main thing that they say caused the problems with children is B-12 deficiency, which is a large problem with people who have a vegetarian or vegan diet. The diet isn't bad for you or your child, nor does it cause malnutrition, as long as you are ensuring that your kid is getting everything she needs. Find other sources of protien, ensure that she is getting the necessary vitamins and minerals, supplement with daily multi-vitamins and such if needed. Also, make sure that your pediatrician knows that she is on such a diet so that he/she can monitor these potential deficiencies and if possible meet with a registered dietician/nutritionist to get an idea of things that you can incorporate each day to make sure that she is getting the needed nutrients. These were all recommendations from the CDC if you plan to follow a diet with your child. I have known several people who have done vegetarian with their kids and they are MUCH healthier then their meat eating counterparts. Several non-vegan/vegetarian kids are also malnourished and missing essential vitamins and minerals from their diet so it doesn't really matter what kids eat. Really everyone would benefit from not being so concerned about what type of food people and children are eating, but instead worry about what kind of nutrients are they getting from that food.

Hi N.,
Check out the books "Disease proof your child" and "Eat to Live". The author, Dr. Fuhrman, promotes an (almost) vegan diet as a means to achieving health. He provides scientific study after study (unlike Dr. Mercola - whose test groups are usually small and time periods short) to back up his recommendations. His book geared towards kids has recipes and nutritional guidelines to help you feed your child enough plant based fat and protein, while stocking them full of all of the other really good stuff. Good luck!

Oh, to specifically answer your question:
Pro: if approached properly your children will (statistically) be healthier
Con: a lot more work and research than just going along with the diet that is encouraging our nation's health crises. A child can be severely malnourished and overweight - by eating a diet that does not incorporate plant foods. Any diet takes consideration, effort, research and balance. My family is not vegan, because I am too lazy (honestly) to make it work and be healthy. But, I think it can not only be healthy but can be healthier than the average American Diet. Look at our national rates of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. It's not coming out of no where.

I want to add the following information, so that I'm not making strong statements without backing them up:

Comparison of Iron Sources

Food Iron (mg/100 calories)

Spinach, cooked 5.4
Collard greens, cooked 3.1
Lentils, cooked 2.7
Broccoli, cooked 2.1
Potato, baked 1.3
Blueberries 0.4

Sirloin steak, broiled 1.6
Hamburger, broiled 0.8
Chicken, no skin, 0.6
Turkey, breast, 0.4
Pork chop, pan fried, 0.2

Notice that, per calorie, vegetable sources are higher in Iron

Protein Sources
Keep in mind that a toddler needs around 16 grams of protein a day. Supplement with a b12 vitamin, which is missing in a Vegan diet.

Food Grams of protein
Almonds (3 oz) 10
Banana 1.2
Broccoli (2 cups) 10
Brown rice (1 cup) 5
Chickpea (1 cup) 15
Corn (1 cup) 4.2
Lentils (1 cup) 18
Peas - frozen (1 cup) 9
Spinach - frozen (1 cup) 7
Tofu (4 ounces) 11
Whole wheat bread (2 slices) 5

Calcium is a funny one, because while a food may be high in it, the human body is not actually able to absorb all of it. Here is a comparison of what is eaten vs. what is absorbed.

100 calories of - calcium - percentage and amount absorbed
Skim milk - 334 mg - 32% - 107 mg
Kale - 449 mg - 59 % - 435 mg
Bok choy - 787 mg - 54 % - 435 mg
Broccoli - 189 mg - 53 % - 100 mg

Calcium Content of Common Foods
Almonds, raw (1/2 cup) 180 mg
Orange, (2) 120 mg
broccoli (1 cup) 180 mg
Raisins (1/2 cup) 60 mg
Spinach (1 cup) 244 mg
Sesame seeds (1/4 cup) 350 mg
Tofu (1 cup) 300 mg

"When you eat less animal protein and less salt, you do not lose as much calcium in the urine and therefore need less calcium. Excess animal protein and sodium promote excessive calcium loss in the urine, increasing calcium requirements."

My husband is Vegan, I am vegetarian, and we decided to raise our daughter Vegetarian. I think it is a fallacy that Veggie eaters can't get enough protein. There is so much protein in things besides meat... I don't at all see a problem with that aspect at all. My daughter is really healthy and has a rock solid immune system.... she does eat dairy products though (not much mind you...) she prefers almond milk or soy milk over cows milk and prefers almond yogurt and ice cream over dairy ice cream... but she loves cheese and eggs. My husband has been vegan for 15 years, and previous to that vegetarian. It can be difficult, but it is certainly possible.

Vegans often lack a few nutrients that are found in meats, dairy and eggs. Vitamins B12, D3 are the big two and should be supplemented back into the diet. Unless the child is eating beans, nuts, nut butters, good fats such as avocados, flax oil, unheated olive oil, hummus, etc, then it would be ok when supplements are added. Hemp milk provides a great source of omega 3's that full fat milks have, but NOT found in soy products/milk. Many vegans will drink almond milk as well, which is more nutritious than soy milk. There are plenty of vegan protein powders out there that is safe for her such as hemp or rice based protein powder.
So Delicious makes tasty, wonderful milks and ice creams.

For the fat, I have advised to add a 1/2 tsp of flax oil per 8oz of milk for the child so they are getting their fats in, I did this with my daughter at age one (she is not vegetarian, but does not drink cow's milk either). She now gets 1-2tsp of flax oil daily.

Hope this helps.

A healthy vegan diet is perfectly fine for the kids. I have two kids who are vegan are a very healthy, growing well and amazing children. our pediatrician of course knows and is fine with our wonderful kids. Does your family member seem educated about vegan lifestyle, does her 1 year old get a variety of foods? I have a book "raising vegetarian children" which gives a breakdown on age and what they should be eating which may be helpful to them or you to get an idea if they seem on target.

it's very possible for a child to be a vegan diet and be healthy. Most Indians are vegans and thus thier kids are too.

I would think it would be fine health wise as long as you know she's getting everything she needs. I would talk to a doctor to ask about vitamins or supplements just in case. If you're eating vegan I imagine it would be loads easier, but I am sure it will have it's challenges!

N.---D. again. Check out www.kidsgethealthy.org. Vegan is GREAT for everyone. Be well, D.

As long as the child is getting enough calcium, iron, and healthy fats, it should be fine. I'm vegan, and my daughter (now almost 3) is basically vegan. She takes a multi-vitamin with iron (she's also kind of a picky eater) and drinks fortified non-dairy milk to get her calcium. It's my understanding (from what I've read) that calories, rather than protein, are more important at this age, so as long as the child is eating plenty of foods with healthy fats (avocados, nut butters, things with coconut/coconut milk) s/he should be fine. I also breastfed my daughter until she was 2 1/2, so she was getting nutrients from that. My pediatrician has never given me any grief about diet, as long as my daughter is getting the nutrients she needs.

Best,
R.

I'm not exactly sure how this is possible. From birth a baby will be fed breast milk (preferably) or a cows-milk based formula. For the first year babies need breast milk as their main source of energy and nutrition. Food at this time is mostly for experimentation and fun. Breast milk is especially jam packed with nutrients. My 7 month old is dairy intolerant so I can't even eat the stuff or it gets in my milk. Cows milk is perfect - for baby cows not baby humans. And as far as being meat free there are plenty of other great sources of protein available that other moms have posted. Being vegan is a bit radical for most but it's quite healthy if care is taken to get a balanced diet.

I have a girlfriend that is vegan. It is healthy and there are ways to get the fat and protein they need without meat. She uses avocados for some of the fat (excellent source and healthy). For protein, there are many options besides meat. They do eat eggs and she uses organic and healthy peanut butter (in other words, it is all natural).

Iron is something you have to watch, but usually a doctor can recommend if something extra is needed. If her doctor knows, there is really no worry. If she is gaining and healthy, it is fine. That is what you have to consider really is whether they are healthy and gaining weight.

My friend's son is a lively kid. He eats well and is fine.

Hope that helps.

it can be healthy BUT you must make sure you are getting the child proper nutrients as with their small bodies they become deficient far faster. Vitamin D , calcium, and B12 are the most important nutrients that need to be considered . if there are any concerns id see a nutritionist. I am taking a nutrition class and the teacher told us of a case of a mom lacking D nursing her baby ( who of course then was also lacking D( and he ended up with a SEVERE case of Rickets...an educated mom would make sure she and the child are getting adequate nutrients

My daughter is also nearly 1, and eating a basically vegan diet. She does have a local raised, organic, free-range egg everyday and I make sure she has a lot of green veggies, good oils (like flax with DHA and avocados) and I use nutritional yeast on pasta. The hardest thing for a vegan to get is enough protein and B vitamins. Nutritional yeast has B vitamins along with others. We also eat nut butters (studies have not shown that early feeding of nuts produces an allergy) esp sunflower and pumpkin(which has omegas). I follow a lot of Dr.Greene's recommendations (www.drgreene.com) and I look up the nutritional info on all the foods she eats and look at the recommended amounts for babies to make sure she is getting the right amounts. I'd say it would make your life a lot easier (and save $) if you'd keep breastfeeding till she's closer to 2 (even if its just 1 or 2 x per day) but you definitely want to introduce lots of veggies now before she gets to the picky 2 year old stage!
There are also some good books out there:
Vegetarian and Vegan Mother and Baby Guide, Elliot Rose
New Vegetarian Baby, Sharon Yntema and Christine Beard

I am thinking it is not very healthy for a one year old. But perhaps I don't know. I thought we all need proteins that come from meats and fish however I know people that are vegetarians are able to come up with other options that provide them with the sources that come from those.