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Plant-based diet in children – a safe solution?
Table of Contents
1. A vegetarian diet based on plant sources and its impact on the health of the child
There are many reasons why parents choose to introduce plant-based diets for their children, but one of the most important reasons is the health aspect. While some people may find the exclusion of animal products from children's diets controversial, the opinions of international scientific societies such as the American Dietetic Association (V. Melina, W. Craig, S. Levin 2016) and the Canadian Pediatric Society (M. Amit 2010) clearly indicate the health benefits associated with the consumption of a well-planned vegetarian diet based on plant sources by young children. Such a diet can provide a healthy way of eating at every stage of life, including children and adolescents, as supported by scientific research.2. Considerations when introducing a vegan diet to a young child
Proper nutritional education of the whole family and regular health monitoring are essential. A continuous assessment of the diet must also be carried out in terms of quality, correct balance, and content of ingredients particularly deficient in the vegan diet, such as protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, and long-chain, polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. It may also be necessary to use products enriched with these ingredients and to carry out appropriate dietary supplementation. In the case of children, the main indicator of a well-balanced diet will be changes in body weight, which should be observed.3. How to balance a small vegetarian diet
The most important thing is to ensure an appropriate source of nutrients adapted to age and level of physical activity. Essential in the context of proper growth and development of the child is to provide adequate amounts of protein along with a proper diet. Given that plant-based proteins have a lower nutritional value than animal sources, it is important to introduce different sources of the nutrient into the diet and to ensure its quality (P. Müller 2020). This helps in providing the required amounts of all essential amino acids. Due to the increased nutritional needs of children, it may be necessary to increase the protein content in the diet of small children. Another important nutrient is calcium, whose adequate amounts ensure children proper bone and tooth development. It is assumed that children on a vegetarian diet should consume such amounts of calcium that meet the standard recommendations regarding the intake of this micronutrient in this age group. In the diet of children, there should be calcium-enriched plant-based drinks. Parents and guardians should pay special attention to the composition of such products during purchases. In addition, large amounts of calcium are found in green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and cabbage, so they should be included in the daily menu of the child. Additional sources of calcium will be nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and beans, which should not be missing either. If the calcium requirement cannot be met through diet, it may be necessary to use supplementation. It is also worth paying attention to the iron intake and to improve the absorption of iron from plant-based products, for example, by consuming appropriate amounts of vitamin C, which improves iron absorption (M. A. Desmond et al. 2021). In case of detected iron deficiency, appropriate supplementation should be used after consultation with a doctor.4. Summary
However, research suggests that children on a vegan diet as compared to children on the conventional diet do not consume significantly more fiber and the nutritional needs of children with this type of diet are not satisfied and may carry a risk of deficiencies in key nutrients. However, studies have shown that children who eat vegan diets in comparison to children who are on a traditional diet consume a significant amount of fiber and a smaller amount of fat and cholesterol (S. Weder et al., 2019).
