A Good Vegetarian Toddler Diet Is Safe and Healthy
Many people have the idea that feeding a toddler a vegetarian diet isn’t safe. But the fact is that it’s perfectly healthy, as long as your little one is getting all of the proper nutrients. A few of the benefits to an ongoing, balanced vegetarian diet consist of a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. If you bring your toddler up with these foods, chances are he or she will not balk at them later on.
The major concern with vegetarian toddler food is ensuring your child consumes adequate nutrients and calories. Adequate calorie consumption is essential to make certain your child has the energy he needs to play hard and grow well.
It can be difficult to plan a balanced vegetarian toddler menu that will give them 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 are raising a vegetarian toddler, make sure you serve up food that is packed with as many nutrients as possible.
For adults and children over the age of four, soybeans and tofu are great sources of protein. 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. This will not only help to provide some protein, but it will be a boost to your toddler’s nutritional intake by providing Vitamins A and D and calcium, which can often be hard to get in a vegan diet.
Iron is a component of many vegetarian-friendly foods. Kidney beans, lima beans, green beans, and spinach are all first-rate sources of iron. However, unlike iron derived from animal sources, iron from vegetables can be hard for the body to absorb properly. 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.
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 them. Your toddler’s pediatrician can help you decide on a B-12 vitamin supplement that is suitable for toddlers.
A diet that does not take calcium into consideration can also be detrimental to your toddler’s health. Calcium plays a role in making strong bones and facilitates normal growth. Give your toddler calcium-fortified soymilk, but check that it also contains other nutrients that your toddler needs for a balanced diet.
While it’s possible to raise a healthy vegetarian toddler, it can take a lot of work. You may have to supplement your toddler’s diet to make sure they get all the nutrition that their little bodies need.
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