vegetarian & vegan diets for babies & children | Paediatric Dietitian
Supporting your child to thrive on a vegetarian or vegan diet
Does any of this sound familiar?
Your child is following a vegetarian or vegan diet, but you're not quite sure if they're getting everything they need.
You may be wondering:
is my child getting enough protein?
is my child getting enough iron?
does my child need supplements?
are they getting all the nutrients they need for healthy growth?
what suitable vegan alternatives are there for certain foods?
You don't have to work it all out on your own. I can help.
Choosing a vegetarian or vegan diet for your child can feel daunting. You may be wondering whether they are getting enough protein, iron, calcium or other important nutrients — or simply struggling to know what to offer when they are a fussy or selective eater.
With the right planning, a vegetarian or vegan diet can provide the nutrition a child needs for healthy growth and development. However, children have different nutritional requirements from adults, and some nutrients need particular attention when animal products are limited or excluded.
Personalised, evidence-based paediatric dietetic advice for babies, children and young people following vegetarian or vegan diets.
Vegetarian or vegan - what’s the difference?
Whether your child is vegetarian, vegan or somewhere in between, I can help you make sense of their nutritional needs.
Vegetarian diets
Depending on the type of vegetarian diet your child follows, they may still eat foods such as eggs, milk, yoghurt and cheese. These foods can provide useful sources of protein, calcium and other nutrients.
However, it is still important to make sure the overall diet provides enough variety and includes good sources of nutrients such as iron and protein.
Vegan diets
A vegan diet excludes all animal-derived foods, including meat, fish, eggs and dairy.
This doesn't mean your child's diet has to be complicated. However, there are some nutrients that need particular attention, including vitamin B12, iron, calcium, iodine, vitamin D, zinc and omega-3 fats.
I'll help you understand where these nutrients can come from and how to incorporate them into foods your child actually enjoys.
Ready to feel more confident about your child's diet?
If you're worried about whether your child's vegetarian or vegan diet is nutritionally adequate, book your free discovery call so we can discuss how I might be able to help.
How can I help?
Together we can:
assess your child's current vegetarian or vegan diet
identify any potential nutritional gaps and good sources of key nutrients
make sure their diet provides enough energy and protein to support growth and development
explore suitable fortified foods and plant-based alternatives
review supplements and help you understand what your child may need
adapt family meals so that your child's nutritional needs can be met without creating extra stress
support vegetarian or vegan weaning
help you feel more confident about feeding your child a balanced vegetarian or vegan diet
FAQs
Can children be healthy on a vegetarian or vegan diet?
1
Yes. With careful planning, children can thrive on a well-balanced vegetarian or vegan diet. However, children have specific nutritional requirements because they are growing, so certain nutrients need particular attention.
Does my child need to eat meat to get enough protein?
2
No. There are many plant-based sources of protein. The important thing is looking at your child's overall intake and making sure they are getting enough energy and protein to support healthy growth.
What nutrients should I be particularly aware of on a vegan diet?
3
Some nutrients need particular consideration when animal products are excluded. These include vitamin B12, iron, calcium, iodine, vitamin D, zinc and omega-3 fats.
Does my vegan child need supplements?
4
Rather than recommending supplements without considering the whole diet, I can help you understand what your child needs and how to meet their nutritional requirements safely.
What about iron? I'm worried my child isn't getting enough.
5
Iron is an important nutrient for growing children, and there are plenty of plant-based sources of iron. We can look at the types and amounts of iron-containing foods your child eats, as well as ways to support iron absorption. If there are concerns about iron deficiency or your child has symptoms that need medical assessment, I can advise you on appropriate next steps.
Can you help with vegan or vegetarian weaning?
6
Yes. I can provide guidance on introducing complementary foods while following a vegetarian or vegan diet, including suitable sources of energy, protein, iron, calcium, vitamin B12 and other important nutrients.
Let’s take the worry out of feeding your child.
Book your free discovery call and let's talk about what's going on, what you're worried about and how I may be able to help.