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?

Why force a meat-based diet on your kids? Let them make their own minds up.

Parents cook and buy the food
Ultimately all parents make the decision as soon as kids start eating solids

Don’t worry OP
Ignore all this nonsense with people trying to guilt trip you

My three sons ( now 20s) have turned out just fine and proud and happy Theyve never eaten animals.
So no guilt there

Like all diets if it’s unhealthy prople will be unhealthy

Vegans, like everyone, need to ensure they have key nutrients like calcium, Vitamin D, protein, and Vitamin B12, but risks are minimised with careful planning. A well-planned diet emphasising fortified foods, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and adequate protein can provide essential bone-supporting nutrients.

If you read their thread question they posted because

They aren’t asking can I?
They are asking what foods and nutrients etc they should be thinking about

No absolutely not

You absolutely can raise happy healthy kids on a vegan diet. My two have been vegan from birth. They are fully of energy, amongst the tallest in their year groups and almost never sick. They are not psychologically damaged from eating different cakes and sweets at birthday parties and they each have lots of friends who have never isolated them for their diets. School caters for them with no issues, each day a different meal similar to the non-vegan options.

Anyway, your question was about supplements. B12 is a must. You should also look at vitamin D and iodine (which most people, not only vegans, are low on). There are plenty of good resources available for raising vegan kids. The vegan society has a good book on nutrition. There is also a book called Raising Vegan Kids which we found helpful.

Yes you need to pay attention to nutrition for your kids. But it’s not as difficult as many people believe. Just keep their diet varied, plenty of veggies and legumes and tofu and supplement with B12. Congratulations on becoming vegan!

I suspect that poster is just a random person claiming to be a dietician, otherwise it’s a bit concerning that they can’t have heard of leafy greens, sesame, mushrooms, etc. Definitely see a real life qualified dietician!

I am a dietitian, registered with HCPC. It is extremely hard to get enough calcium into the diet using only plant based sources. My wording above wasn't accurate (apologies - I'm not in work mode I'm juggling family activities not committing fully to Mumsnet) but the sentiment was correct. Children have high calcium requirements and unless you know exactly what you are doing it is virtually impossible to include enough calcium in a plant based diet without relying on supplements.
Omega 3s and vitamin B12 will also need to be supplemented.
Personally I wouldn't recommend putting a child on a vegan diet. Maybe try vegetarian.

I agree with this. My dc are dairy free and they are beyond drinking milk (replacements). So to get enough calcium (9 stars) they need to either be shovelling down whitebait, eat NINE oranges a day or we have to supplement.

https://www.theibsnetwork.org/assets/files/pdfs/Calcium-2.pdf

No. They're growing and need nutrients maxxing. Don't be daft. If you want to be Vegan then you do it. Don't limit your kids diet with extreme eating habits.

It’s very selfish. Your child is growing and needs different nutrients than you. My friend and his spouse are very very convinced vegans and have been for ages. Their child (5) is eating everything as the paediatrician strongly recommended against raising a child vegan.

surely you want the best for your child not force your new beliefs onto them. Maybe start yourself first before you deprive them.

I’m sure that it is possible to raise your children vegan in a healthy manner but I think it’s unfair if they don’t have choice. Fair enough if you refuse to have animal products at home but if your children want to eat other food at school, parties or out and about they should be allowed without judgement.

We were raised vegetarian and my siblings did not want to be and had to lie about it. They fount wait to leave home and eat what they wanted. I stayed veggie but don’t appreciate it being forced on us. They should make their own decisions.

Cows do not make calcium, plants do. Some bloody dietician you are.

And what about when your child goes to other people's parties ?

Re calcium, Hovis Best of Both bread helps a bit

Some plants make a small amount of calcium. Plants like spinach etc are high in oxalate which inhibits the absorption of calcium. There are small amounts of accessible calcium in other plant based foods. But the best source of calcium is either milk and milk products or calcium supplements if you don't/can't/won't drink milk. To pretend that cows milk isn't the best source of calcium is total nonsense.

I grew up kosher vegetarian and hated it - my brother loved it and continues it today. So what happens in the future will be super random in my experience!

Veggie is really easy and well understood but vegan is hard. You won’t be likely to be happy with the school vegan lunches - am imagining jacket potato with fake cheese. So definitely pack a lunch. The issue with packed lunches is that schools are nut free so you’ll need to be creative to avoid dairy, eggs and nuts and get all the nutrition in.

We were almost entirely veggie at home but when my brother was a teenager my mom would buy meat for him - he was growing so fast and was so hungry all the time. But I think that was perhaps a budgeting situation as we didn’t have a lot of money and meat was much cheaper.

I would also want to put a date on it where your kids are free to do what they want outside the house without judgement. For us it was 13 as that’s when I became a Bat Mitzvah (which is a Jewish adult) and then I ate whatever I wanted with my own money out of the house. I had already been sneaking plenty at friend’s houses for years of course but would get a lecture about it. After 13 it was my decision.

Milk is optional, not uniquely superior. The idea that dairy is the only or best source is of calcium is outdated nutrition science.

I would see how they adjust to a vegetarian diet first for a few months. Definitely see a proper registered dietician to get accurate advice.
One option to consider is vegan at home but veggie or own choice outside of the house, to make things easier and socially more pleasant for your children. As someone with a child who has a restricted diet due to coeliac disease and another child who isn't restricted, its easy to see just how different things are for them socially.

I would say the opposite. She has retuned to the thread and interacted with posters offering advice and has said she will look up certain things.

What you mean is that she hasn’t immediately back-tracked and agreed with the comments of those who are actively anti-vegan.

It is obvious why she has posted. If you look, this thread is under the Vegan topic and she’s asking for advice on how to move this forward with her family. It’s not an AIBU.

If you buy eggs from someone who keeps female only hens as pets, that would solve a calcium dilemma

What you cook in the house is one thing but outside i would let them choose when appropriate what they eat. Give them a good multivitamin and mineral supplement to be safe too. Read up on nutritional requirements for the ages of your children especially protein, perfectly possible but requires more thoughtful planning than a meat based diet

Or you could just eat leafy greens, tofu, etc to get a completely adequate supply of calcium. No need to exploit our feathered friends.

Genuine question. A hen lays eggs. Naturally and without any harm or pain. Why wouldn't you then eat that egg, if the hen spent its days happily free range. Same with honey. I know vegans who do eat both as there is no cruelty involved.