While some parents have the belief that feeding toddlers a vegetarian diet is detrimental to their health, as long as they make certain that all the required nutrients are received, it’s really quite healthy. Some of the advantages of a lifetime of well balanced vegetarianism include lower rates of common diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cardiac problems. If you raise your toddler on this type of diet, he or she will embrace it willingly later on.
The primary concern with vegetarian toddler food is to make sure that your child gets enough calories and nutrients. Your toddler needs enough calories to ensure that he has enough energy to grow and play.
It may be somewhat of a challenge to develop a well-rounded vegetarian toddler menu that will give them enough iron and protein. Some toddlers are picky eaters as well as having smaller appetites, and it can be a real challenge to coax them to consume the amount of beans and vegetables that will ensure they get the nutrients they need. Therefore, if you have a vegetarian toddler, make sure you serve nutrient-dense food.
Soybeans and tofu are a good source of protein for grownups and children over four. However, they should not be considered as the major source of protein for a toddler. For your littlest ones, complement the tofu or soybeans that you serve with soymilk that has been fortified with vitamins and minerals. In addition to providing some protein, it will also improve your toddler’s diet by providing calcium and vitamins A and D, which can frequently be hard to get in a vegan diet.
Iron can be found in many vegetarian foods. Green beans, kidney beans, spinach, and lima beans are all excellent sources of iron. Unfortunately, unlike iron originating from animal products, the iron in vegetables can be tough for the body to process. You can remedy this situation if you serve a Vitamin C rich food with those beans or spinach. Some great sources of Vitamin C are oranges, red peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and cantaloupe.
Getting sufficient amounts of Vitamin B-12 may be especially hard for vegans. Although vegetables contain some B-12 vitamins, they are not easily absorbed by the body. Your toddler’s healthcare provider can help find a B-12 supplement appropriate for a toddler.
Calcium is another important consideration for your vegetarian child’s nutrition plan. Calcium helps make bones stronger and aids in proper growth and development. Choose soymilk that is calcium-fortified, but make sure it is also fortified with other nutrients that your toddler needs for good nutrition.
It will take quite a bit of effort on your part to bring up a healthy vegetarian child. You may have to supplement your toddler’s diet to make sure they get all the nutrition that their little bodies need.