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You're a Vegetarian?
Raising Herbivores Among Omnivores
By C.J. Johnson
It is estimated there are currently 20 million vegetarians in the United States. As parents become more health conscious and nudge their children away from meat, the number of meat-free Americans grows dramatically each year. Vegetarianism is no longer an oddity, but that doesn't mean it's always easy. With the help of savvy parents and childcare experts, there are ways to smooth out the bumps along the green road to health.
"Toddlers can be very picky, but don't worry, they'll eat what they need," explains Dr. David C. Larson, a pediatrician in Park City, Utah. "The kidneys and liver are smart about making decisions for the body. If you eat a variety of foods, your liver and kidneys will extract the proper nutrients from your diet." If parents are concerned that their children are not getting adequate nutrition, Dr. Larson offers practical solutions. "Every child should take a daily multiple vitamin with iron," he says. "Meat contains many of the B vitamins and iron which their growing bodies need for muscle and bone development. A multiple vitamin will easily provide those nutrients." Cow's milk and soy milks are also enriched with a high dose of B vitamins.
There are crucial elements in a young child's diet. "Kids under 2 especially need to be on a high fat diet for proper nerve and brain development. They need 20 to 30 calories per ounce in their staple fluid until the age of 2," says Larson. Whole milk is an easy solution for parents of vegetarians. Parents who are raising their children as vegans, who do not consume any animal products, can add an instant breakfast powder to soy or rice milk.
Getting enough calcium for your kids doesn't have to be a problem. "Milk is high in calcium and soy products are calcium enriched," Larson says. "For parents who want to maximize calcium intake for their children over age 2 they can give them regular strength TUMS."
