Vegetarianism in children: Benefits and Concerns

Vegetarianism can be very good for the health of their children and disease prevention. But when it is not well planned, it can affect their physical and mental development. Here are some tips for you to ensure the vegetarian diet of their children is what they need.

Vegetarianism and vegetarian diets

Vegetarianism in children: Benefits and Concerns

 The vegetarian diet, a new trend

Eating habits of the population are constantly changing due to several factors, including food availability and environmental conditions. But religious and moral thought also play an important role in the decision of individuals to change or follow a certain diet. This is the case with vegetarianism.
Regardless of the reason, those who choose vegetarianism tend to base their diet on plants, fruits, legumes and nuts, and sometimes eggs, milk and dairy products, while avoiding meat, poultry and fish.

Some people decide to become vegetarian in their teens or as adults; but there is another important population of vegetarians and vegans in children.

Children who choose vegetarianism

Eating habits of children come from parents. Vegetarian children follow this eating lifestyle from birth. For example, there is evidence that says that children of parents vegetarians are usually breastfed during their first two years of life, while children of parents nonvegetarians are only breastfed for about six to eight months. Without going into much detail about the effects of this practice, you can get an idea of ??how different a diet specific vegetarianism for children, this may be compared to a non-vegetarian.
One of the main concerns of the vegetarian diet in children is the fact that, if not well planned, can deprive the child of essential nutrients he or she needs to grow and develop properly.

This does not mean that children should not practice vegetarianism. In fact, scientists, and health and nutrition-related associations have determined that children can follow a vegetarian diet provided enough when talking about caloric intake and time is varied in order of to provide babies with essential nutrients they need during their developmental years.

Metabolism of a child is quite fast and efficient. Why? Well, since babies and children require a lot of energy to meet the needs of each day and at the same time continue to grow.

Both diets, vegetarians and non-vegetarians can meet these needs; but also, both diets can be harmful to them and cause problems of malnutrition in the two extremes of obesity or malnutrition.

The benefits of vegetarianism

The benefits that a child can get from a vegetarian or vegan diet are many. According to several studies, do not eat red meat or poultry helps keep cholesterol and triglycerides in normal ranges, reducing the risk of heart disease. In addition, vegetarians have a lower risk of developing certain types of cancer and chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, due to their consumption of foods rich in antioxidants.

What could go wrong with a vegetarian diet?

The other side of the coin is when children living with vegetarianism not have a properly designed, diet according to their nutritional needs. The first concern is obviously protein intake.
Animal proteins are very different from proteins derived from plants and vegetables, both in structure and quantity. The trick here is to eat a wide variety of plants to obtain proteins from several non-animal sources.

Bulky not mean nutritious

Energy consumption is also an important point to focus on when designing a vegetarian diet for a child.

Vegetarian meals tend to be bulky, so it is not difficult for children to be met with a vegetarian dinner prepared by mom. But beware, a full stomach does not mean that the child is getting enough power.
This is demonstrated by the references that show that vegetarian children tend to be smaller and lighter than non-vegetarians of the same age. This simply shows that energy needs are not being met, which directly affects the growth of children.

Animal products also provide children with essential vitamins for development, including vitamin D and B12. These are not present in plant foods in sufficient quantity for children to get them from a vegetarian diet, so it is very important to use vitamin supplements to ensure intake of these vitamins and avoid negative long-term effects, especially in brain development and cognition.

Like vitamins, essential minerals, such as iron and calcium can be found only in the correct forms and quantities in meat, milk and dairy products. Supplements and consumption of soy products and vegetables rich in iron, such as spinach, tomatoes and potatoes, can replace minerals of animal origin.

Should I be worried about my vegetarian son?

No way. While parents are aware that they need to get professional help from pediatricians and nutritionists in order to ensure that their children are well fed.

The most important thing when it comes to vegetarianism is consuming more vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts, fruits as you can.

Do not stick to the potatoes and tomatoes, bananas and apples. Having variety in the diet of their children will ensure compliance with protein, vitamins and minerals needs, and will help prevent diseases related to malnutrition, like scurvy, anemia, osteoporosis, cognitive impairment, among others.

It is easier today, with many vegetarian food offered in the supermarket to prefer processed more than natural products. However, the use of natural fresh food is always the best option and will help to give their children a natural and balanced diet that will keep them healthy and happy.