Is a vegan diet ok for children aged 5+

[wantTobeVegan]

I decided to become Vegan 2 weeks ago, dh agreed with the reasons and joined me. Now we want to transition the dc (youngest is 5).

They already drink soya not cows milk . Is it just B12 we need to supplement with ?

Is there anything else we need to check as I know for babies and toddlers it can be tricky but for 5+ is it quite straightforward?

If you want to bring your kids up with a siege mentality and make them feel like they’re part of the tiny few, surrounded by slavering bloodthirsty brutes…well they’re your kids, but I think wringing enough nutrition out of nut butter and bean curd is going to be the least of their problems.

If you explain to me how being vegan does that then I can look at ways to minimise our impact

I know you’ve made your mind up about what you want to do with your children, but a child going to a party, being told they can only eat the fruit, then being sent home with a cake they aren’t allowed to eat just sounds miserable. Poor kids.

You can - but not every parent will be so diligent for their own DC party - how will you feel if your DC eat non vegan treats / cakes at a birthday party or if you restrict them how will it manifest itself emotionally if your DC are the only ones not enjoying the treats at the party and you insist they eat the food you brought in your Tupperware box ?

In your position OP, I would transition the children to a vegan diet gradually. Start introducing/increasing the things that you would like them eat so that you know they will eat a good variety for calories and nutrition. My kids always loved tofu, kidney beans, chickpeas, edamame, lentils, veg, fruit, nuts, seeds, almond/soya yogurts, oat milk. Add nutritional yeast to meals as it’s rich in vitamins. Definitely give a b12 supplement and look into omega 3. In theory it’s in some nuts and seeds but it doesn’t always get converted well by the body so a supplement may be needed. Something to speak to a dietician about.

Once you know they will eat enough on a vegan diet, gradually phase out the meat and dairy.

To be honest looking at the vegan party treats available I think they’ll be really happy. Some of them look amazing. I’ve seen little Oggs cupcakes , free from chocolate treats that are vegan and I’ve been reading about accidentally vegan’ things like Oreos etc. they haven’t even had any of these things so it will be new and exciting to them. They are used to different things from when they had dairy intolerances they won’t be upset .

I came across this article recently, vegan children and bone density, it’s interesting and worth a read.

https://www.unisa.edu.au/unisanews/2021/july/story3

Thanks I will read this

I've been vegan for 10 years and have two healthy vegan kids (with a third on the way).

From a nutrition perspective, I have no worries. One child is fussier than the other, but both have reliable protein/fat/carb sources I know they'll eat. They don't like many vegetables yet but they love their fruit! I give my kids a daily multivitamin (Vegetology Kids) and a daily omega (Vegetology Omega orange liquid) - they LOVE taking these after breakfast so must taste good, and then you can feel reassured they are getting the things that are harder to get from vegan sources (B12, iodine).

From a social perspective, I was worried when my eldest started school that they would feel excluded or different, but they're at a small village primary school (60 odd kids in total) and there are loads of other children who are dairy free, one who is gluten free and two with severe allergies to obscure things, but it means there are other kids with their own dietary requirements so they don't feel like the only one. Honestly, no one has ever been negative about our kids being vegan at school/play dates/parties (to mine or my child's face at least!) and there are livestock farmer's kids at our school! I always offer to provide food at parties or a haribo alternative for the party bag, but usually the other parent says it's no problem.

A PP said something along the lines of you should let your children choose veganism when they're older. My partner and I have discussed letting our children choose not to be vegan when they're older, and are aware this is a decision they may indeed make for themselves, but we think until then it's a parent's responsibility to make what we believe are the right choices for our children. If veganism feels right for you, surely it's right for your kids too.

I do think raising kids vegan from the start is easier than transitioning them to veganism though. My kids don't know any different, they ask if food is vegan before they'll touch it! They (sometimes awkwardly!) ask people why they aren't vegan, and why they kill animals to eat them! My friend who became vegan a few years ago has not successfully managed to make her now 8yo vegan. They're vegan at home, but make their own choices at school. Maybe this could work for your family?

Ignore the haters, OP. They behave like that because deep down they know that their meat and dairy based diet causes the suffering of millions of animals and the only way they can feel better about themselves is to attack people who choose not to be part of it.

I think you’ve made up your mind op you’ve minimised or ignored any of the valid concerns with enforcing a vegan diet on young kids.

Not sure why you posted tbh.

Wrong. I absolutely love my meat and dairy based diet and will never stop eating it. I don’t care if other people don’t want to eat it.

To ask for advice about nutrients.

She was asking for advice on how to do it, not opinions on doing it.

I was going to advise her to post on the vegan board instead, but it doesn’t stop people from posting negatively, telling us we need bacon sandwiches and posting pig emojis.

I didn’t realise there was a vegan board ! I will ask to move this Thankyou

It’s often a really lovely, supportive and knowledgable board, but your post will attract the usual negativity if it’s on active. 🙄 Mumsnet have had to remind posters that it’s the vegan board many times because people can’t help themselves. Idiots. 🙄

This is for younger kids but might stilll be useful

https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/vegan-infants-2

I am not vegan, but like a lot of vegan food and have a vegetarian dc. We have found it easy to swap their sweets in party bags for a packet of gelatine free ones, such as haribo strawberries, or skittles. I will say that lots of people won't feel confident catering for them. One of my dc's friends is dairy free and was surprised that the cake was edible for them at the last birthday party we had. I did find it a little sad that they must go to birthday parties thinking they can't have cake.

Also someone said about seitan being upf, but I make it with flour and water, so easy to do non upf. Not sure about bought ones.

B12 from nutritional yeast and using a Lucky iron fish when cooking are good ways of getting iron and b12

The iron fish has been used in communities in Peru and Cambodia suffering from iron deficiency
Some of the profits from sales go towards communities in need

The fish is expensive but I’ve had mine for years and it’s as good as new after using it almost every day

Agree I make my own seitan
so not upf

My children have been vegan from birth and the number of people who talked about UPFs on a vegan diet was laughable. It’s like vegans have to feed their children a perfect and upf free diet otherwise it’s not good enough, whereas those same non vegans that felt it was their place to comment on us being vegan and made assumptions, fed their kids chicken nuggets, ham sandwiches, cheese strings etc. 🙄🙄🙄

@Girliefriendlikespuppies equally, "... you’ve minimised or ignored any of the valid concerns with enforcing a vegan meat-based diet on young kids."

There is overwhelming evidence that a plant-based diet is best for everybody, children included. But nah, you carry on giving your DC sausages, bacon, chicken nuggets or whatever other shit you feed them, storing up health problems for their future.

My ds is dairy free and is fussy with meat. It is incredibly difficult to get enough protein in his diet on a daily basis. It's not something I would choose.

Why force this ion your kids? Let them make their own minds up.

There's louds they can eat these days
compared to even 20 years ago when haribo were the go to birthday handout all with beef or pig gelatine

My kids couldn’t have any of that and were never negatively affected. In fact I’d say they became independent and able to be different
Despite the usual mumsnet theory that all kids would rather follow like sheep, that’s not in fact the case If they have something to stand up for

So no
They won’t only be eating fruit
There’s plenty of party food they'll be able to eat ….they can leave the crap for the meat eaters