Keeping Kids Healthy

Our kids were grown up and gone years before we switched to vegetarian diets, so I haven’t had to deal with trying to get kids to make the switch, too. I merely have to make something vegetarian and appetizing when the grandkids come to visit.
 Keeping Kids Healthy

Keeping our kids healthy means teaching them to read the ingredients list!

“First, parents worry that their children aren’t getting enough protein and overcompensate. They end up feeding their children a diet that is too high in saturated fat and calories as a result. Another mistake they make,” she says, “is just taking the meat off the plate without replacing it with anything.You need to think about beans or some soy products or low-fat dairy products.”.

In a policy statement the ADA points to research showing that vegetarian kids and teens take in less cholesterol, saturated fat and total fat and eat more fruits, vegetables and fiber.At the same time, there are some things that parents of vegetarian kids should keep in mind to be sure their kids get the nutrition they need.”


I strongly advise parents to read up on the nutritional concerns that vegetarian kids may have. These resources are a good start to informing yourselves about any special needs you’ll want to consider.

I found a very informative and useful article recently on the National Public Radio website. In it, they say:


So is vegetarianism a healthy way of life for children? According to many experts, the answer is “yes”, with some precautions.

“Vegetarianism can be conducive to a healthy lifestyle, but you have to balance out what you omit,”

says Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ committee on nutrition.
She recommends that children eat an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet, as children who still eat eggs and dairy seem to be at less risk for nutritional deficiencies.

However, I have a few friends who do still have kids at home and they express concerns about keeping the kids happy on a vegetarian diet and also making sure that the kids are getting all of the nutrition they need. Growing children have different needs than adults. If you ahve children at home and you’re feeding them a vegetarian diet, you have to do some research and some planning to make sure their diet is a healthy one.

Reed Mangels, a registered dietitian and nutrition adviser for the Vegetarian Resource Group, is another expert consulted for the article http://healthlife.canilook.com. She states that there are two common mistakes that parents make when switching their kids to a vegetarian diet, especially if the parents are new vegetarians themselves.