To think veganism is not for children?

[ohhhhlivia]

Yes, I am aware that it is perfectly possible to have a healthy vegan diet at any age. I know that.

However, it is more difficult and easier to get wrong if you want to be vegan. It still is restrictive (even with all of the new stuff coming out) as in you need to tell hosts, check menus in advance etc.

It's a barrier that has to be overcome. I don't understand why you would do that to someone who has no choice in the matter.

Lots of kids go through a fussy phase too, add veganism in and surely you're at a high risk of health problems?

I think what I'm getting at, is that childhood nutrition can be hard enough as it is, so it just feels wrong to make it harder for reasons that do not directly benefit the child.

"It's a barrier that has to be overcome. I don't understand why you would do that to someone who has no choice in the matter."

But surely they also have no choice in the matter if you raise them as a meat eater? A Plant based diet is undeniably healthier, no matter what age.

@rainingallday what about if I'm just a vegan not a VEGAN?

veganism would be fatal or at least very damaging on its own, as humans need B12 to exist. However modern humans have supplemented or fortified food available, so no need to eat the animal faeces off the veg.

Hence veganism is perfectly survivable as long as the adult makes sure the kid really does eat enough of the right food. Not compatible with fussy eating which I imagine is also fatal in less privileged cultures.

Iodine is an issue.

Too much is extremely bad. (Seaweed and some supplements.)

Too little can cause developmental and iq issues.

We don't get children with cretinism anymore due to the way iodine is added to milk via dairy industry methods but I do know there are concerns re pregnant women, lactating women, children and iodine intake among researchers in the field due to vegan trends.

Seaweed is not a useful source, can have too much or also heavy metals. Fish and dairy are the best sources.

Lots of meat eating children are out there eating chicken nuggets and chips every night. As long as parents are making the effort to feed children a well rounded diet I don't really think it matters.

@formerbabe not sure about that, but, you are right that orthorexia is NOT discussed enough with children and growing young adults at all, and I urge everyone to look it up and recognise it. Great shout.

M&s plant milks did have a good recorded level of rda iodine about a 18 mo ago but I think it may have changed.

Yes, I know why it is @therealmcginty, I just found it alarming to see people referring to giving children vitamins as some sort of sign of deficient parenting when it's NHS advice to give at least one vitamin as standard. I also give DS a daily multivitamin (I take one myself, too), and don't really see a downside to this.

Again, I do not dispute the fact that a healthy vegan diet is possible...

It may interfere with reading comprehension in rare cases, however.

Laughing at Stork marg being offered as some kind of saintly healthy alternative 😂

And I can absolutely guarantee you that I would ABSOLUTELY still report you, if your forced your YOUNG CHILDREN to eat a vegan diet

I am so going to share this with my colleagues on Monday so we can have a good laugh. You tend to need it in social work and social care. I can imagine what the Children's Reporter would say too 🤣

I really hate plant 'milks' being called milk. It's not milk.

I don't think Stork is heathy at all @orangeteal - it just makes yummy muffins

@PepePig Beans are protein, and so is the tofu nuggets they had to go with it. Lots of meat eating families would have sausage, mash & beans (or fish fingers, for example) and I doubt any of you vegan haters would be all BUT WHERES THE PROTEIN AND VEG THOUGH?!

I’m vegetarian, I have some dairy & eggs (milk I struggle to digest mainly) and my baby will have some meat but is likely to be mostly veggie as our household is. However neither of our parents or families are veggie so she’ll try it more when with them. I’m really baffled at how healthy people think meat and dairy is? And how automatically unhealthy a vegan diet is? Both can easily contain junk (Oreos, some crisps, chips are all vegan) and some cheap, overprocessed chicken or a bit of ham isn’t full of magical healthy vitamins in glorious quantities! I’m genuinely laughing at parents who’ve posted that children should be able to choose what to have. Did your children choose what diet they follow? Do they select every item of food for themselves? How did you wean them without their consent?!

& @rainingallday All the capitals are rather unnecessary. If you believe your omnivore diet for your children is so healthy and that vegan isn’t then that’s fine for you. Report away any family you see giving their child the dreaded vegan food - I would perhaps be more concerned with reporting actual abusive parenting practices and perhaps minding your own business?

Pepepig, you wanted to know where the protein is in beans and mash? I have this conversation with my eat-eating friend on an almost weekly basis. Beans are a very good source of protein, before mock-meats and tofu came to non-meat eaters there were beans/lentils/nuts.

As the parent of a child who had a dairy intolerance until she was about 4, I can tell you that keeping weight on her was very difficult (and expensive) Most of the options available were not vegan friendly so I don’t think it would be an easy thing to do.

You’d also really restrict yourself on school meals too.

@formerbabe but surely breastmilk is the real milk and cow's milk should be renamed cow's milk?

Rainingallday, are you somehow online from the 1950’s?

I think some vegans get a bad wrap because militant vegans can be really bloody annoying. We are not militant vegans. We just quietly get on with it and feed our kids the same as ourselves. We eat good stuff - broccoli and kale. We also eat pizza and cake. I don't photograph my dinners and put them on social media. If my kids go to parties where non vegan food is offered I let them go for it, rather than risk ostracisation. I keep an eye on their nutrient intake without being orthorexic about it.

We will have a cuppa and a doughnut in the Morrison's cafe as a treat. We really are not weird. Just normal.

@Ritascornershop

Please google phytic acid in beans

Yanbu. My sil is vegan. Her choice she been for years. Her ds is now vegan but doesnt eat anything he is eating fresh air at the moment. I suspect he has an eating disorder. He always been fussy eater but since being vegan he doesnt eat and lost weight. He is 7 and skin and bones now. My pil are very worried but cant say anything.

@namechange46 Alpro growing up milk contains a kids' RDA of b12. I know this shit because I'm a responsible parent, not some hippy vegan child abuser.

Absolutely, the Alpro drink contains fortified nutrients.

It also contains an awful lot of sugar and oil. The first 5 ingredients alone are water, 3 different types of sugar, soya beans and sunflower oil. I know this shit cause I'm a nutritionist

Like I explained in my eariler posts, you shouldn't have to suppliment a diet. To be healthy, you should get all the nutrients your body needs from your food.

We eat good stuff - broccoli and kale

Please explain what is 'good' about these in terms of nutrition...especially considering anti nutrients

They'd be better off with an egg.

Sorry OP, but the vegan haters detailed your thread and once that had happened it was inevitable that a lot of comments would be refuting their nonsense rather than replying to your original question.

Feeding kids crap and not meeting their nutritional needs is more abusive than feeding them a healthy plant based diet. Imo.