Kids and Vegetarianism

Kids and Vegetarianism: When Kids Don’t Like Meat

Vegetarianism poses a special nutritional challenge in the young

Kids and vegetarianism – Of the 15 million (or so) Americans who consider themselves vegetarians, no one knows how many have yet to celebrate their 21st birthday. Experts say, however, that adolescents make up the fastest-growing group of peopue who shun meat. But the nutritional needs of young people, particularly during growth spurts, may not be adequately addressed by some vegetarian diets. So what’s appropriate nutritionally and what’s not?

Is vegetarianism safe for children?

Well-planed vegetarian diets can be healthful for children over the age of two if they are carefully planned. These diet tend to be low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol and tend to be high i fiber and comlex carbohydrates, as well as high in fruits and vegetables for iron.

What precautions are needed for primary- school-aged children who are vegetarian?

Preschool-age vegetarian children on lacto-ovo (eggs and dairy products are allowed) diets, lacto-vegetarian (dairy products are allowed) diets, and semi-vegetarian (no red meat) diets rarely have problems, except occasionally for the lack of iron. The children more likely to have problems are vegans; they don’t eat any animal products at all, including milk or eggs. Nutrient supplement can help prevent these problems, though.

What about teen vegetarians?

Vegetarian adolescents who drink milk and/or eat eggs have few problems if they follow basic nutrition guidelines. Vegetarian diets also seem to have little effect on age of menarche. There may be some effect on the menstrual cycle of female vegans, although these findings have not been substantiated. A vegetarian adolescent may benefit from iron and, possibly, zinc and calcium supplements. All adolescents should keep their ascorbic acid and iron intakes high via whole-grain and fortified cereals to prevent iron-deficiency anemia.

Churchill Park in Toronto, dogyard. Photo by Elena

Do teenage girls who are vegetarians need to take special precautions?

Once again, there may be problems with iron or calcium. When weights are very low, menstrual cycling may be abnormal or absent. Calcium needs are very high, and they are very difficult to meet on vegan diets. It is also very difficult to plan vegan diets that meed the RDA for zinc.

Can, like, greasy food cause acne?

Recent medical research has refuted years of received adolescent wisdom that a diet rich in chocolate and other greasy foods guaranteed a horrific acne eruption. The research shows no evidence to support a link between diet and pimples, except in people allergic to certain food. The true cause is increased production of sebum (and oily secretion) by the skin – a natural response to increased hormone levels during puberty. But doctors caution that even though candy bars and other greasy foods won’t cause acne, they are still high in fat and shouldn’t be eaten in excess.