Vegetarian mum guilt - should I give them oily fish??????

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I provide my dc's with a healthy and on the whole balanced diet. As much fresh food as I can get past fussy ds, and lots of good stuff for totally unfussy dd.

I am worried about omega 3 etc. and the advice from nutritionists eat oily fish. The only fish eating in this house is by the cats. Am I letting dc's down by not giving them fish, should I provide supplements derived from fish?

Any other veggie mums able to provide advice about alternative sources, I much prefer to eat the right food as far as possible. Providing the right balance within my diet rather than taking vitamins etc. but should I be making an exception here??

Do you eat eggs?

Aren't there omega 3 fats in eggs? And nuts?

I'm in sort of the same position as you. We are a fish-eating non-meat eating family and I had a serious crisis of confidence when DD was about a year old regarding iron. She is a tiny eater and there was no way she was getting the recommended iron intake from vegetarian sources. I tried giving her venison stew every now and then, but stopped after a few months because it just seemed silly making separate meals for her. I did start giving her Minadex though.

I wonder if there are any child-friendly vegetarian Omaga 3 supplements?

I say do what you feel is right. It is easy to find yourself following some rule that goes with a title you have chose. Of course if being veggie is down to religious reasons, then that's different.

I have been veggie for 20 years and my ds all his life (11 years) We are both very healthy and tbh I probably don't eat as well as I should, but still, recent blood tests proved I was amazingly healthy.

I give my son omega 3. I feel it is important (esp for a boy) If I feel I will benefit from codliver oil capsules, then i will take them.

This is just my personal way tho - like i say, each person must do what they feel is right for them and not feel any guilt about breaking the veggie code.

hope this makes sense.

I expect your children should eat what you eat, but if they choose to eat meat or fish, it is up to them. I think that other things do have Omega 3 in them, and I expect that if you eat fresh food yourself so will your children. I think there are lots of nuts and seeds with lots of good things in them. We don't eat much fish, but that's only because I think ( possibly completely wrongly) that the sea is over fished.

omega 3 and 6 are obtainable from sources other than fish.

Flaxseed oil etc - but can't be sure off the top of my head.

colombus eggs.

I give my DS (nearly 1) some omega 369 oil (you can get loads of different brands of this in the supermarket) in with his yogurt or pudding when I remember, there's no way I could give DS fish or meat.

big mouth - i have this concern too and for now, have decided to give my dd Eye q capsules - one in her bottle once a day (she is 11 mo) i take linseed oil capsules but am not sure if these are suitable for little ones. will follow this thread to see if there are any veggie brands we can use. good luck.

Agree - flaxseed oil, brazil nuts etc, all good sources.

The problem is getting them to take the oil if they're small. You can't cook it as that takes the goodness out. You have to disguise it in salads etc.

Thank you for your thoughtful replies - I think my guilt comes from the fact that I made an active choice (when 15) to be veggie. I have never looked back or regretted my decision I am healthier now than I have ever been.

However I feel if my choice (and dh is veg too) in any way deprived my dc's of important nutrients - at a time essential to their development - this would concern me greatly.

I look at them and see strapping, great healthy children not in any way malnourished!! I hate pill popping in any form which is why i am resistant to supplements and I have bought oils (flax etc.) before and they have gone out of date before they have been used up.... I think I am going to do some research into the best way to incorporate omega's into my cooking (I have never tried columbus eggs are they free range??)

Yes, Columbus eggs are free-range

cooking the oil destroys it - you can stir it into milk if they drink that.

You can get a veggie supplement called Udo's oil and it is not unpleasant tasting

you can stir it into cereal, drizzle on rice or salad, or whizz it up in a smoothie

have you been on vegeatarian societys website?theres lots of good info on bringing up a veggie child.also good books out there-will fing mine to see who its by.veggie babies are delicious!