Homeschool Facts

Many people have the idea that feeding a toddler a vegetarian diet is not safe. It is quite healthy if your little one is getting all of the proper nutrients.

Some of the benefits to a lifelong, proper vegetarian diet include a lower risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease. If you bring your toddler up with these foods, chances are he or she will not balk at them later on.

The #1 problem with vegetarianism and toddler nutrition is to make sure that your child gets enough calories and nutrients. Your toddler needs calorie consumption to ensure that he has enough energy to grow and play hard. This needs to carry him not only through these very important toddler years but up through the challenging teenage years!

It can be difficult to plan a balanced vegetarian toddler menu that will give her sufficient amounts of 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 up food that is packed with as many nutrients as possible.

For adults and children over four, soybeans and tofu are excellent sources of protein. However, they should not be considered as the major source of protein for a toddler. Instead, soybeans or tofu should be accompanied with soymilk that has been supplemented with minerals and vitamins. This will not only provide some additional protein, but it will give your toddler’s nutrition a boost with Vitamins A and D as well as calcium, which can sometimes be hard to get enough of in a vegan diet.

You will find iron in many vegetarian-friendly foods. Kidney beans, green beans, spinach, and lima beans are all excellent sources of iron. However, unlike iron derived from animal sources, iron from vegetables can be hard for the body to absorb properly. This process can become easier 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.

It will take quite a bit of work on your part to raise a healthy vegan. You may have to supplement your toddler’s diet to make sure they get all the nutrition that their little bodies need.

Vitamin B-12 may be especially hard for vegans to get enough of. While vegetables contain some B-12 vitamins, the body does not easily absorb these. Your toddler’s physician can help you decide on a B-12 that is suitable for toddlers.

Calcium is another important consideration for your vegetarian child’s nutrition plan. Calcium plays a role in making strong bones and facilitates normal growth. Opt for soymilk that is fortified with calcium, but be sure it also contains other nutrients important to your toddler’s diet.

If you happen to see a gathering of vegans, you may notice that the children stand out. These little ones often provide glowing testimonies that vegan children can attain a certain level of health, grow normally, be very active and smarter than the average child.

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