Considerations in Planning Vegan Diets: Children

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Abstract

This article reviews research on the growth and nutrient intake of vegan children and provides guidelines for counseling parents of vegan children. Although diets of vegan children meet or exceed recommendations for most nutrients, and vegan children have higher intakes of fiber and lower intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol than omnivore children, some studies indicate that they may be low in calcium. In addition, bioavailability of zinc and iron from plant foods can be low. Protein needs are slightly higher for vegan children but are easily met with a varied diet that provides adequate energy. Special attention should be given to dietary practices that enhance absorption of zinc and iron from plant foods. Further, good sources of the ϖ-3 fatty acid linolenic acid should be emphasized to enhance synthesis of the long-chain fatty acid docosahexanoic acid. Dietetics professionals who counsel vegan families should help parents identify good sources of vitamin B-12, riboflavin, zinc, calcium and, if sun exposure is not adequate, vitamin D. This should not be problematic, due to the growing number and availability of fortified vegan foods that can help children meet all nutrient needs. Therefore, with appropriate food choices, vegan diets can be adequate for children at all ages. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001;101:661-669.

Section snippets

Health Aspects of Vegetarian Diets

Nutrient intakes of vegan children are generally sufficient and sometimes exceed those of omnivore children. Sanders and Manning (3) found that British vegan school-aged children had higher intakes of fiber and all vitamins and minerals except calcium compared to omnivore children. Similarly, a study of vegan preschoolers in Tennessee (4) also found that average intakes of protein, vitamins, and minerals exceeded recommended levels, with the exception of calcium (5), (6), (7), (8).

Older studies

Energy Needs and Growth of Vegan Children

Children with adequate energy intakes will typically grow at a predictable rate. Studies of vegan children have indicated that energy intake is close to the recommended level (4) or to intakes of nonvegetarian controls (9).

One study examined 404 children aged 4 months to 10 years who lived in an intentional community in Tennessee (10). The majority of children (73%) were vegan from birth; many (76%) regularly used vitamin and mineral supplements. Means for height for age, weight for age, and

Protein

Dietary protein needs of vegan children are generally met when diets contain adequate energy and a variety of plant foods (2), (15). Protein intakes of vegan children have been shown to be similar to those of nonvegetarian children (14) and higher than the standards (4). Amino acid intakes are also higher than the standards (4).

Plant protein sources include soy products such as soy milk, tofu, tempeh, and textured vegetable protein; other legumes; grains; nuts; and seeds. The Recommended

Counseling Parents of Vegan Children

When counseling parents of vegan children, dietary assessment is necessary to determine which foods are excluded from the diet and which foods are acceptable. Some vegans avoid even small amounts of animal foods including additives that may be derived from animals, like the milk protein casein found in most brands of soy cheese. Many of the same issues that influence diet choices among omnivores, such as lack of knowledge of food preparation, lack of time, and economic constraints, are relevant

Toddlers and Preschoolers

As toddlers are weaned from breast milk or infant formula, the diet should be evaluated to ensure adequate food sources of calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B-12 are included. In some cases supplements may be indicated. Vegan toddlers should be provided with foods of high energy density and be offered 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks per day. Popular snack ideas for vegan preschoolers include nut butters on crackers or miniature bagels, fresh fruit, fruit juices, raw vegetables with hummus or tofu dip,

Meal-Planning Guidelines for Vegan Children

Table 3, Table 4 offer guidelines for feeding vegan children. Dietitians may need to give parents additional advice for making appropriate and practical choices from within the food groups.

Applications/Conclusions

Vegan diets can meet the nutrition needs of children if appropriately planned by a knowledgeable adult. Limited research indicates that vegan diets can support growth that falls within normal ranges. The wide availability of convenient vegan foods, many of which are fortified, make it increasingly easy to plan healthful vegan diets for children. All vegan children should regularly consume foods fortified with vitamin B-12 or use a supplement. A vitamin D supplement is necessary if sun exposure

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