We eat meat but we don't love it. Normally we will have chicken once a week, tuna once and maybe beef once. The rest will be meals with egg, cheese or lentils etc at the centre. We eat a lot of dairy, peanut butter and avocado. My kids are 1, 5 and 7. I haven't been able to find any real information either way.
What do you think?
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Parenting
Do children need meat every day?
Faradalla · 24/01/2023 11:52
wibblewobbleball · 24/01/2023 11:53
Nope, but they do need quite a bit of iron and plant based iron is harder for the body to absorb than meat sourced iron. So you need to include lots of plant based sources in their diet.
PousseyNotMoira · 24/01/2023 12:24
I’m finding this post a bit odd. There is a HUGE amount of info available on healthy balanced vegan and vegetarian diets. Have you done any research at all, OP?
Faradalla · 24/01/2023 14:37
Of course I have. I was looking for studies on children who don't eat meat or medical risks and a)couldn't find much and b) the concept of eating meat regularly is subjective...what is regular? We aren't vegetarian so that wasn't exactly what I was looking for. One website said that eggs are a great source of iron and another said that they are awful. Everyone I have spoken to in real life thinks it's crazy that we don't want meat every day and yet a plant based diet is also the new Holy Grail. Its confusing. Is it so weird to ask some opinions on mumsnet?
PousseyNotMoira · 24/01/2023 12:24
I’m finding this post a bit odd. There is a HUGE amount of info available on healthy balanced vegan and vegetarian diets. Have you done any research at all, OP?
PousseyNotMoira · 24/01/2023 15:08
It doesn’t matter if you aren’t vegetarian, though. If they manage perfectly fine without any meat whatsoever, your kids can
obviously manage with a minimal amount.
It’s weird to say ‘I haven’t been able to find any real information either way’. I’m not sure how that’s even possible if you’ve done even the most basic Google.
Literally, the NHS:
- https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/the-vegetarian-diet/
- https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/patient-information-and-leaflets/documents/patient-information-leaflets-a-z/2837-vegetarian-healthy-eating-for-children/file
The BMJ:
- https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2792/rr
Faradalla · 24/01/2023 14:37
Of course I have. I was looking for studies on children who don't eat meat or medical risks and a)couldn't find much and b) the concept of eating meat regularly is subjective...what is regular? We aren't vegetarian so that wasn't exactly what I was looking for. One website said that eggs are a great source of iron and another said that they are awful. Everyone I have spoken to in real life thinks it's crazy that we don't want meat every day and yet a plant based diet is also the new Holy Grail. Its confusing. Is it so weird to ask some opinions on mumsnet?
PousseyNotMoira · 24/01/2023 12:24
I’m finding this post a bit odd. There is a HUGE amount of info available on healthy balanced vegan and vegetarian diets. Have you done any research at all, OP?
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 24/01/2023 11:59
For iron:
Beans, peas, lentils
Tofu, soybeans
Nuts and seeds
Leafy greens - spinach, kale, Swiss chard, beet greens
Potatoes (skin on)
Mushrooms - portobello or shiitake
Prune juice
Black olives
Spelt, oats, quinoa
Coconut milk
Dark chocolate
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