A Good Vegetarian Toddler Diet Is Safe and Healthy
Posted by Babies - 29/06/09 at 01:06 pmWhile some parents have the belief that feeding toddlers a vegetarian diet is detrimental to their health, as long as they make certain that all the required nutrients are received, it’s really quite healthy. A few of the benefits to an ongoing, balanced vegetarian diet consist of a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. If you raise your toddler on this type of diet, he or she will embrace it willingly later on.
The number one concern with vegetarian toddler food is to ensure that your child gets sufficient calories and nutrients. Your toddler needs enough calories to ensure that he has enough energy to grow and play.
It can be difficult to plan a balanced vegetarian toddler menu that will give them sufficient amounts of iron and protein. Some toddlers are already finicky at this stage and have such small appetites that it can be hard to get them to eat enough vegetables or beans to receive all of their nutrients. Therefore, if you have a vegetarian toddler, make sure you serve nutrient-dense food.
For adults and children over four, soybeans and tofu are excellent sources of protein. However, they should not be considered as the major source of protein for a toddler. Serve tofu or soybeans with soymilk that has been fortified with minerals and vitamins. This will not only help to provide some protein, but it will be a boost to your toddler’s nutritional intake by providing Vitamins A and D and calcium, which can often be hard to get in a vegan diet.
You will find iron in many vegetarian-friendly foods. Kidney beans, lima beans, green beans, and spinach are all first-rate sources of iron. However, iron from vegetables can be harder for the body to absorb than iron from animal products. You can remedy this situation if you serve a Vitamin C rich food with those beans or spinach. Tomatoes, oranges, broccoli, red peppers, and cantaloupe are all good sources of vitamin C.
Vitamin B-12 can be particularly difficult for vegans to get enough of from food. While there are B-12 vitamins in certain vegetables, they are not easily absorbed by the body. Your toddler’s doctor can recommend a B-12 supplement that’s appropriate for toddlers.
A meal plan that doesn’t take calcium into consideration can also be harmful to your little one’s health. Calcium helps make bones stronger and aids in proper growth and development. Choose soymilk that is calcium-fortified, but make sure it is also fortified with other nutrients that your toddler needs for good nutrition.
While it’s possible to raise a healthy vegetarian toddler, it can take a lot of work. You may have to supplement your toddler’s meals to make sure they get all the nutrients their little bodies require.
