Vegetarian babies and children.?

Question

My boyfriend and I are both vegetarian and have been for years. We have been discussing having children at some point in the future.

My boyfriend believes that a vegatarian pregnancy and childhood would be very unhealthy for a child.He thinks the child would be underfed and would probably become very ill.

I disagree and think that such a diet would be perfect for children. I know people who have been veggie all their lives and they are completly healthy and normal. Please help, who is right?

Just to say, I am not vegan, I am a Lacto Ovo Vegetarian, so I eat eggs and mils, as does my boyfriend. Neither of us were brought up veggie but decided to become veggie later in life before we had met each other. My question is sincere; I would not force my opinions on my child if I thought it would be damaging. However I do not know of any examples of children being damaged by a veggie upbringing and simply wanted some clarity on the matter.

By the way AndyB I am a social worker and I deal with child abuse and neglect regularly, I have never encountered a case of abuse by vegetarianism, nor have I ever heard of such a thing before.

Answer 1

You are right.

A vegertarian diet is excellent for children. As long as you know how to combine foods to make complete pertiens (i.e. legumes and grains in combination), there is no protein deficiency. Protein requirements for humans is actually quite small 2-4 ounces will do it. Most Americans eat way too much protein, which stresses intestines and liver.

Not to mention all the crap that is fed to meat stock animals...antibiotics, pesticides (feed-through pesticides are feed to chickens to make their poop toxic to flies...you want your chilren to eat animals that have been fed that?) is not good for anyone.

Also - the age of pueberty has been dropping in girls in this country. One theory is all the estrogens fed to animals (chicken in particular - to make them grow large breast meat, and cows to make them give more milk) may account for earlier and earlier menarche.

Vegetarian children also tend to have fewer environmental sensitivities and allergies.

All the same arguments can be made for pregnant women. As long as your are getting your protein combinations, you will be strong and healthy.

Answer 2

Many Indians have been vegetarian for generations and I know many American Hare Krishnas (and others as well) who were raised vegetarian from conception and are perfectly healthy (one is a male model and several were athletes in high school.) Any women contemplating bearing children *should* learn as much as possible about good nutrition for her sake and for her kids' sake as well, but most don't. The fact that you have been a healthy veg for years probably means that you already know more about nutrition than the average person. You know you can get plenty of protein and calcium and the other nutrients your child will need. You may have to be extra vigilant if your child, like many, doesn't want to eat her veggies, but I don't see any reason why a veg child cannot be raised to be a healthy child.

Answer 3

Babies don't need meat - they need breast milk! Once they get to be 6 months old you can start introducing cereals. Then - slowly introduce them to vegetables. Most pediatricians recommend waiting till at least 6 months before introducing solid foods to limit the chance that the baby will develop allergies. A lot of babies are naturally allergic to cows milk and are given soy milk instead. Throughout the world there are cultures and religions that are vegetarian and have healthy children! I believe that Seventh Day Adventists have been vegetarian for many many years. Is that not so?
I do NOT believe that we were made to eat meat - people were vegetarian in the Garden of Eden. (We wouldn't kill and eat the animals we were naming would we??? That's ludicrous.) Once we sinned God kicked us out of the Garden and the first animal was killed to cover Adam's nakedness. Once we were out of the Garden we had to eat meat until we learned to grow veggies. OK - the history of the world according to me - I wasn't really there but that is what I think :)

Answer 4

Lots of people have had vegetarian pregnancies and raised their kids vegetarian and they came out fine. We really don't need as much protein as the meat industry wants us to think we do -- a lot of the early studies were done on baby rats, which need a LOT more protein than humans. (Rats are not vegetarians, they are omnivores.) And it is possible to get balanced proteins without eating meat. There's a whole website (maybe more than one) devoted to raising vegetarian children:

http://www.vegetarianbaby.com/

As long as the mother gets a balanced diet, the child will develop fine. Ditto for children after they are born. In fact, your kids will probably be healthier without all those greasy hamburgers and chicken nuggets that the Heart Association is telling us to avoid now.

Answer 5

I agree with the fact that a vegetarian diet would be healthy for the pregnancy and children as long as you get enough protein. I also highly suggest that you take vitamins as well. After the children are born, starting them out as vegetarians when they begin to eat baby food and table food is a great way to teach good eating habits.

Answer 6

As long as you provide the proper nutrients and a healthy diet, it's perfectly healthy. I am assuming you two are healthy and not underfed so what makes him think your kids would be?

There are millions of people in cultures that dont eat any meat, and they have been going strong for years.

Google "raising vegetarian chikdren" and see what you come up with.

I always spit out my coffee reading something above! Someone said children need butter. Funny that I dont see that in the Food Pyramid.

Answer 7

Just remember that children need more fat than the average adult. They need milk and butter. It aids in the development of the nervous system and without it they will not grow well. It also has to do with the development of the brain. You need to be really careful here and make sure they get enough fats as well as protein and carbs. I wouldn't introduce a child to a vegetarian lifestyle until much later. Their nutritional needs are just so different.

Answer 8

Veggies, even very health conscious ones, have had miscarriages after listening to websites like PETA.org or goVeg, and eliminating meat from their diet.

Children need protein for development, not all essential proteins can be got from plants, and without them your child won't be able to grow as well. Neither can other vitamins, nutrients and minerals, for instance Vitamin B12; some say it can be found in plants, but not in the right form, or at least not one our bodies can use. Without it children can be come very, very ill.

Vegans have in the past been charged with child abuse after forcing a vegan diet on their children, which harmed them dreadfully.

http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/dietbad/293/

Answer 9

Most drs. don't think vegetarian diet is good for babies. I'd do some research before I had children if I were you. You want what's best for the baby.

Answer 10

your boyfriend is right.. we were made to eat meat..Our bodies depend on it and people who do not eat meat still get ill and still get cancer and die..

But everyone who I see that are vegitarians are pastey and ill looking. I don't care what you say, it is not healthy nor is it it natural.

But I am sure in the end you will be stubborn (as most vegans are) and do what you want, so why ask about it here?

I also do not think it is right to force your children to not eat meat, or to make them eat it either. Feed them correctly until they can make their own choice, like I am sure you did..