Lacto-ovo-vegetarians do not eat meat, poultry, or fish. They do eat eggs and dairy products. Lacto-vegetarians do not eat meat, poultry, fish, or eggs. They do eat dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese.

A few healthy foods to eat on a vegetarian diet are:

• Fruits: Apples, bananas, berries, oranges, melons, pears, peaches.
• Vegetables: Leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots.
• Grains: Quinoa, barley, buckwheat, rice, oats.
• Legumes: Lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas.
• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, chestnuts.

Are eggs vegetarian? A vegetarian diet is often defined as avoiding animal flesh, including meat and muscle. Therefore, many vegetarians eat eggs even if they exclude beef, poultry, and fish in their diets ( 1 ).

What nutrients should vegetarian teens be concerned about?

1. Iron – choose whole grain breads and cereal, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, eggs, beans, lentils, and nuts.
2. Calcium and vitamin D – consume at least 2 cups of milk or fortified soy beverages each day.

“It can be one of the healthiest ways to eat, because we know plant foods are loaded with nutrients to protect our health.” According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, an evidence-based review showed that a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease.

You need not fret about a child’s growth as long as you provide dairy and eggs, fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, nutrition experts say. A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet is a healthy choice for most children and teens.

Variety & Simplicity. A vegetarian diet can be healthy at any age, and doesn’thave to be complex. One could choose to eat the many different types of available meat analogs on the market such as veggie sausage, chicken, or bacon.

A vegetarian diet can be a healthy choice for all kids, as long as it’s properly planned. The principles of planning a vegetarian diet are the same as planning any healthy diet — provide a variety of foods and include foods from all of the food groups.

First, some reassurance: Vegan diets can be perfectly safe and healthy for kids. In fact, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that vegan (and vegetarian) diets are appropriate for all stages of life—as long as they’re well-planned. Jaden’s experience is a good reminder of that.

A vegan diet can offer complete nutrition for anyone at any age and can be easy to follow. As a growing teen it is safe to switch from a vegetarian to a vegan diet. To stay healthy, it is important that you eat a variety of foods daily and focus on specific nutrients that help teens grow.

There’s no set age when it’s “OK” for a child to begin a vegan approach. Typically, mothers should breastfeed for four to six months, but once a baby begins solid foods, it’s appropriate to replace meat products with mashed or pureed tofu or beans, along with soy yogurt and cheese, Johnson says.

In summary, vegan diets can be safe for children as long as parents and guardians are well informed about the key nutrients required for growth and development. Furthermore, parents of vegan children must be extra cautious to ensure they’re eating a balanced diet and seek professional guidance, where necessary.

Currently there are no laws that make it illegal to put children on a vegan diet, but it is possible to prosecute parents for child neglect based on malnutrition.

Paediatric dietician Nicole Rothband says: “[A vegan diet] can hamper a child’s growth, and they may not achieve their full growth potential, it can also slow down an affect their intellectual development and that can impact on their life choices.”

According to dietician Judy Moore, raising a vegan child can lead to nutrient deficiencies, inadequate energy intake and faltering growth. The first year of life is one of the most important developmental periods for a child, explains paediatric dietitian Ana Kristina Skrapac.

DANGERS OF VEGAN DIET

• LEGUME PROTEIN AND LEAKY GUT.
• SOY PROTEIN AND HORMONE DISRUPTION.
• LACK OF HEMOGLOBIN.
• REDUCTION IN OMEGA 3 FATTY ACID.
• VITAMIN B 12 DEFICIENCY.
• INHIBITS ZINC ABSORPTION.
• TOO MUCH CARBOHYDRATE.
• DISORDERED EATING.

Vegan diets do not use any animal products, including eggs or dairy, and this poses some unique risks for babies and toddlers because of their extremely rapid growth rate, Dr. Panchal says. “Infants and young children simply require more protein, calcium and vitamins D and B12 than adults,” she says.

Safety of veganism for babies For most kids, yes! “In general, it’s safe and healthy to offer a plant-based diet [for this age range],” confirms pediatric dietitian Amy Chow, RD. Of course, for your child’s first several months, they’ll need only one type of food: breast milk or formula.

If a vegan or vegetarian baby is weaned from breast milk before 12 months, they should receive iron-fortified infant formula until they are 1 year old. Milk alternatives, such as soy, rice, almond, hemp, etc., are not recommended during the first year of life because they do not have the right amounts of nutrients.