If you're a vegan, you may be interested in raising your children so that they are vegan too. Being a vegan has plenty of health benefits and many parents want their children to be vegan to instill the same beliefs and the same healthy food choices.
Some people think that raising a vegan baby is impossible—don't children need milk to grow and be strong? Others think that raising a vegan baby is criminal—aren't vegan parents starving their children just to be on some type of health bandwagon?
As with every debatable topic, you're going to have a pro side and a con side. On the pro side, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that a well-planned vegan diet is perfectly fine for children.
The keyword in that sentence is well-planned. Unfortunately, a vegan baby has different needs than a vegan adult, and some vegan parents are not educated enough to know what a vegan baby needs in order for healthy growth and development. In 2007, two parents were sentenced to life in prison after the death of their vegan son.
Though it's an extreme, malnutrition is a risk for vegan babies whose parents are uneducated on what they need. From infancy to teen years, your child's body is constantly growing, and they need essential nutrients in order to grow properly and remain healthy. A vegan diet can give a child more fruits and vegetables than most children would normally consume, but they also need to be eating foods that are rich in proteins and iron.
If you want to raise your child as vegan, there are a few things you need to know.
Vegan Doctors
If you want to raise your child as a vegan, it is extremely important to consult with a vegan doctor before depriving them of meat and dairy. You want to ensure that your baby is getting the proper vitamins and nutrients so that they can grow to be big and strong, and while there are plenty of vegan baby products available today, you need to make sure that your child is receiving the right amount of vitamins and nutrients.
Breast Milk
Breast Milk is rich in vitamins and nutrients, and if you want to raise your baby as a vegan, you may want to consider breast feeding, as it will ensure that your baby is getting the right essentials for healthy growth and development. Some mothers may want to continue breastfeeding until after the child's first birthday in order to ensure their baby is continuing to receive proper nutrients.
Formula
If you would prefer to go the formula route, there are plenty of soy baby formulas available for your baby. It's important that you choose a soy formula that is rich in iron, which is essential for your child's growth during their first year of life.
Milk
After your child's first birthday, they can start being weaned off breast milk or formula and given real milk products, such as soy, almond or rice. These milks do not have the same fat content as whole cow's milk, and children need the fats from whole cow's milk for proper growth and development, so you will need to consult with your child's doctor in order to determine if you should add a vitamin supplement.
Food
Around six months of age, most doctors recommend starting solid foods. It's important that you start your child on solid fruits and vegetables. Solid foods help ensure your child is getting adequate nutrients. Make sure that you're giving your child a healthy variety of foods, including those that are rich in calcium, protein, zinc and other essentials.
As your child gets older, continue to offer them a variety of foods to choose from that are healthy and offer essential vitamins. A child who has more of a variety at a young age may grow up to not be as picky as some children are.
Older Children
When your child is old enough to understand veganism and old enough to start making their own choices, you may want to let them make the vegan decision on their own. You can always have a discussion with your child and let them know the health benefits of veganism and explain to them why you are a vegan and why you chose to raise them as one. Let them know that the decision is up to them, but you can also let them know that the meals they consume at home will remain to be vegan, no matter what they eat outside of the house.
Having this conversation will allow your child to start making healthy decisions for themselves and it shows that you value their choices enough to give them an option rather than forcing a way of life.
If you have questions about raising your child as a vegan, there is plenty of information available to help you. The VegFamily website is a great resource of information and can help you create healthy meal plans and talk to toddler about veganism. This Huffington Post article takes an in-depth look at the popularity of vegan babies and offers first-hand experience from moms who've taken the journey.
If you have questions about raising your child as a vegan, there is plenty of information available to help you. The VegFamily website is a great resource of information and can help you create healthy meal plans and talk to toddler about veganism. This Huffington Post article takes an in-depth look at the popularity of vegan babies and offers first-hand experience from moms who've taken the journey.
It's important to remember that while a well-planned vegan diet is a healthy option, you must consult with your child's doctor or a vegan doctor to help guide you along the way.
Jennifer Hawkins is a professional restaurant owner and mother who knows first hand what to do with picky eaters. She loves to write and often covers topics about parenting ideas or cooking help.
