Vegan diet concerns in children

In the past weeks, there has been a discussion about families who prefer to raise their children vegan, including a few famous names, maybe you stumbled upon it on social media. Someone came out and claimed that this is not right and unethical and that it harms children. Another came out and argued the opposite. The arguments that the disputing parties put forward to defend their comments and ideas created a great confusion in the readers. I am one of those who suffer from this confusion.

My method of reaching the most accurate and reliable information on vital issues such as nutrition and health is to look at academic research and experimental data. That's what I did, for a whole week I read and researched the articles written on this subject and the comments of the specialist doctors who read these articles. In this article, I would like to share the results I have reached with you.

Concerns about nutritional deficiencies in vegan children

One of the two most recent studies on babies and children who were born vegan was from February 2021, and the results of that study are highly controversial. The study highlights that the low saturated fat ratios of vegan infants and children can lead to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins A and D. However, vitamin A values ​​of vegan infants and children were measured at normal levels. Vitamin D values ​​are low, but all vegan and non-vegan children participating in the experiment are children living in Northern European countries where the annual amount of sunlight is very low, and the amount of vitamin D in non-vegan infants and children is also below the required level. Thus, while the study results provide no conclusive evidence that vegan diets are harmful to infants and children, they also show the lack of longer-term studies involving larger experimental groups.

Apart from saturated fat and fat-soluble vitamins, another concern is that adequate protein intake will not be possible, because the amount of protein needed by growing children is quite different from adults. Even in children at different growth stages, the amount of protein needed can vary. However, the intake of animal meat or other animal foods is not a necessity for the intake of proteins and essential amino acids necessary for growth and development. A well-planned vegan diet, controlled by a specialist doctor and / or dietitian, is sufficient for normal growth and development in infants and children.

Is it ethical for the parents to impose on the child what to eat and what not to eat?

One of the focal points of the discussion in the past weeks was whether it is ethical to make such a decision without asking the child. This ethical question can be asked for both parties. Restricting sugary foods because it is harmful to health is not seen as unethical or a violation of individual freedom, as it respects the child's right to health and right to life. Therefore, removing red meat and processed meat products, which are known to be harmful and carcinogenic, and milk and dairy products, which are known to cause hormonal imbalances and cancer, and even proven to be addictive, cannot be considered against ethical and legal rules.

Parents or guardians are responsible for caring for a child until he or she comes of age and are responsible for meeting all of the child's basic needs, including nutrition and health. While current studies say that a well-planned vegan diet can be much healthier than other diets, we can't blame any parent for choosing a vegan diet for their children.

In summary, vegan nutrition in children requires care and attention in the intake of important nutritional values ​​for growth and development. However, a controlled and well-planned vegan diet can be healthy and safe for children if parents and/or guardians are well informed.