by Summer Stewart

Created on: July 24, 2009   Last Updated: July 25, 2009

The Center for Disease and Prevention reports that 16% of American children are overweight and obese, while one-third of the children consume a fast food meal at least once per day. The downfall of proper nutrition and the rise in childhood obesity are forcing the medical field and parents to find a healthier alternative to a meat-based diet. Among the alternatives is vegetarianism.

Vegetarianism is a term that houses a variety of plant-based diets (all that exclude meat). For example, the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet includes eggs and dairy, while a lacto vegetarian diet excludes eggs. A more restrictive form of a vegetarian diet is the vegan diet that excludes all animal products and byproducts. Although a vegan diet is a healthy diet, many are concerned that it cannot provide adequate nutrition for children. The cause for concern is normal considering the vegan diet's restrictiveness. Questions arise such as "What are the health effects?", "Does a vegan diet provide the right nutrients", and "What are the precautions of feeding a child a vegan diet?" Fortunately, medical studies and registered dietitians agree that a vegan diet can have positive health effects on a child and provide excellent nutrition as long as parents are prepared to meet the dietary requirements of the child. Therefore, a child can thrive on a vegan diet, while adding positive health benefits and increasing the chance of preventing cardiovascular and obesity related diseases.

A vegan diet can fulfill the nutritional requirements of a child at all stages of life (infancy to adulthood). During infancy, breast milk is the main source of nutrients for the child. As the child grows, it is important that the parent provide adequate energy and nutrients to the child (children have small stomachs and get fuller fast, thus energy/nutrient dense sources are required). Since the nutritional requirements of a child are more complex than of those of an adult, special attention is given to the nutrients primarily consumed from animal products. Nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, protein, zinc, and riboflavin are crucial to a child's development, but are common deficiencies in a vegan diet if they are not accounted for through proper planning. Parents must be dedicated to insuring their child's intake of these nutrients.

In a report by the American Dietetic Association(ADA) and the Dietitians of Canada, over one hundred studies prove that a vegan diet exceeds the adequate intake

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