vegan babies

[Guest guest]

Is there any moms or dads out there that are raising their kids

vegan? I have a 6 month old who has just started solids, and I'm

wondering if anyone has any good links that they can direct me to, or

any advice they wish to share. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

--- Marisa <marisadanley wrote: > Is there

any moms or dads out there that are raising

> their kids

> vegan? I have a 6 month old who has just started

> solids, and I'm

> wondering if anyone has any good links that they can

> direct me to, or

> any advice they wish to share. Thanks!

>

>

 

I'm not a parent but here's a link on your subject.

 

http://www.vegfamily.com/babies-and-toddlers/index.htm

 

 

Plus

For a better Internet experience

http://www..co.uk/btoffer

[Guest guest]

The vegan child's main difficulty is getting enough calories. This is best

seen to in infancy with mother's milk, the best food for a baby. Barring that,

a good formula is necessary and I think there are probably vegan versions out

there. As small children, this is still a problem and oddly, you need to be

sure they get enough fats in those calories. ADULTS and children over the age

5 need a lower fat diet, but not very young children. Young children are very

active and they burn fats as fuel, or can. YOu want them to have plenty to run

on, literally run on.

[Guest guest]

PETA has a good book on their website that you can buy that is very detailed on

this subject...

 

 

Quoting theladydragonfly:

 

> The vegan child's main difficulty is getting enough calories. This is best

> seen to in infancy with mother's milk, the best food for a baby. Barring

> that,

> a good formula is necessary and I think there are probably vegan versions out

>

> there. As small children, this is still a problem and oddly, you need to be

>

> sure they get enough fats in those calories. ADULTS and children over the

> age

> 5 need a lower fat diet, but not very young children. Young children are

> very

> active and they burn fats as fuel, or can. YOu want them to have plenty to

> run

> on, literally run on.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> Message: 1

> Wed, 03 Sep 2003 00:36:14 -0000

> " Marisa " <marisadanley

> vegan babies

>

> Is there any moms or dads out there that are raising their kids

> vegan? I have a 6 month old who has just started solids, and I'm

> wondering if anyone has any good links that they can direct me to, or

> any advice they wish to share. Thanks!

 

----------

----

 

I am raising my second child from the beginning on a mostly raw, mostly

vegan diet. I'm in the slow process of transitioning my son and my husband

and I to a raw vegan diet, but I wanted to start my daughter out right and

not give her a taste of foods that are not beneficial (or sometimes

damaging) to the body. I also don't want her to have those uncontrolable

cravings!

 

I didn't push solids on her. I waited until she seemed like she was

interested in them on her own. Finally, just after 9 months old she was

expressing more interest in eating solids, so I began giving them to her on

a regular basis. Part of my reason for wanting to wait as long as possible

was because she always spit up really bad and I was also waiting for teeth.

Well, about a week after I started feeding her solids, her first tooth

appeared! (She is 15 months old now and still spits up, but not nearly as

bad.)

 

From about 10-12 months, she seemed very healthy, but didn't have much

energy. I finally realized that she was not getting enough calories or fat.

I changed her diet a little, and she changed almost overnight! Here's is

what her basic diet consists of:

 

-1/2 to 1 avocado every day (if it's just ripe, you can spoon it right out

of the peel)

-1 to 2 bananas every day (mashed or cut into small pieces)

-raw almond butter on toast (sometimes she just eats small portions by

itself)

-raw almond milk (I usually mix it with some fruit in the blender)

-Mommy's milk twice a day

 

She also gets some other fruits and will occassionally eat some lettuce and

other vegetables cut into small pieces since she has 6 teeth now. I also

give her 1/2 of a b-12 supplement twice a week and offer her distilled water

constantly throughout the day.

 

I think that's about it up to this stage of her life. Hope this helps! Email

me privately if you need to know anything else at pruegert.

 

Cindy

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

My four children, oldest being 10 have always been vegan. They do have an

occasional yogurt. I didn't want them to feel " so different " from other

children. They were really begging me so I didn't want to make food an

issue so I let them have it. Not always. But as a treat. I did not give

any solid foods until 1 yr. They were all very big nurses. My four yr. old

still nurses at morning and night. I am curious how your baby handles the

uncooked vegetables. I always made a lot of veg. stews so they consumed a

great deal of veg. If I gave them only uncooked veg. I think they would end

of eating very small amounts. I pressure cook so I am not cooking out all

of the vitamins. We use to cook and drink distilled water until we read it

leaches the minerals out of your body. You may want to check it out on the

internet. Now we use spring filtered water from Whole Foods. .79 a gallon

and it is checked hourly I believe. I have read the benefits of a raw diet

and I commend you for being able to do it, but I know our family couldn't do

it. We enjoy a warm cooked meal. I would do it occasionally for cleansing

but as a life style it would be very difficult. Just being a vegetarian can

be difficult. My daughter went to an American Girl book club at Barnes and

Noble and the instructor brought in beef jerky for the children to eat!

Some how she thought it related to the book. All the children were eating

it and saying how good it was. I know my daughter felt some what

uncomfortable. They want to fit in. Then they had cookies and MILK!

Cookies she had. I wouldn't dare ask if there was dairy in ti. I use to be

really picky about everything she put in her mouth. I realized as she got

older I needed to relax a little.

 

Good luck. I'd love to hear how things go for you.

 

Peace,

Cindy

 

 

> " the Pruegerts " <pruegert

>

>

> Re: vegan babies

>Wed, 3 Sep 2003 15:32:25 -0500

>

> > Message: 1

> > Wed, 03 Sep 2003 00:36:14 -0000

> > " Marisa " <marisadanley

> > vegan babies

> >

> > Is there any moms or dads out there that are raising their kids

> > vegan? I have a 6 month old who has just started solids, and I'm

> > wondering if anyone has any good links that they can direct me to, or

> > any advice they wish to share. Thanks!

>

>----------

>----

>

>I am raising my second child from the beginning on a mostly raw, mostly

>vegan diet. I'm in the slow process of transitioning my son and my husband

>and I to a raw vegan diet, but I wanted to start my daughter out right and

>not give her a taste of foods that are not beneficial (or sometimes

>damaging) to the body. I also don't want her to have those uncontrolable

>cravings!

>

>I didn't push solids on her. I waited until she seemed like she was

>interested in them on her own. Finally, just after 9 months old she was

>expressing more interest in eating solids, so I began giving them to her on

>a regular basis. Part of my reason for wanting to wait as long as possible

>was because she always spit up really bad and I was also waiting for teeth.

>Well, about a week after I started feeding her solids, her first tooth

>appeared! (She is 15 months old now and still spits up, but not nearly as

>bad.)

>

>From about 10-12 months, she seemed very healthy, but didn't have much

>energy. I finally realized that she was not getting enough calories or fat.

>I changed her diet a little, and she changed almost overnight! Here's is

>what her basic diet consists of:

>

>-1/2 to 1 avocado every day (if it's just ripe, you can spoon it right out

>of the peel)

>-1 to 2 bananas every day (mashed or cut into small pieces)

>-raw almond butter on toast (sometimes she just eats small portions by

>itself)

>-raw almond milk (I usually mix it with some fruit in the blender)

>-Mommy's milk twice a day

>

>She also gets some other fruits and will occassionally eat some lettuce and

>other vegetables cut into small pieces since she has 6 teeth now. I also

>give her 1/2 of a b-12 supplement twice a week and offer her distilled

>water

>constantly throughout the day.

>

>I think that's about it up to this stage of her life. Hope this helps!

>Email

>me privately if you need to know anything else at pruegert.

>

>Cindy

>

>

>

>

 

_______________

Use custom emotions -- try MSN Messenger 6.0!

http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/tracking/reach_emoticon

[Guest guest]

Marisa wrote:

 

>Is there any moms or dads out there that are raising their kids

>vegan? I have a 6 month old who has just started solids, and I'm

>wondering if anyone has any good links that they can direct me to, or

>any advice they wish to share. Thanks!

>

>

 

hi

 

my 17 month old daughter is vegan. the main problems we have had, like

other have mentioned, is enough calories. she pretty much just eats what

we do and we put flax seed oil on most of her meals for extra fat. she

also loves tahini mashed with a banana and watered down with some rice

dream.

most of her protein still comes from breastmilk, she still nurses 7 +

times a day.

we didn't start her on solids until after 10 months old as a breatfed

baby doesn't need anything else before a year old, anything before is

for experimentation.

 

take care

 

tara

 

>

>

[Guest guest]

Q & A: the Times nutritionist answers your questions

 

 

Amanda Ursell

 

 

I became a vegetarian at 13, for the simple reason that I don't like the taste of meat. Then, in my early twenties, when I realised the impact that raising animals for human consumption has on the planet, I became vegan. I am now 34 and I would like to have a baby. My partner is a vegetarian, and I had assumed that it would be fine to be pregnant and to raise the baby on either of our diets. However, I recently heard about the case of a young girl who developed a severe form of rickets because of a strict meat and dairy-free diet. This has made me concerned - is it possible to raise a healthy baby on a vegan diet? Should I consider temporarily becoming a lacto-ovo vegetarian while pregnant?Lorraine 34, Leeds

If you would prefer to continue to be vegan, you can do so in the knowledge that there are many examples of healthy “second generation†vegans in this country - in other words, people who are now adults whose mothers and fathers were vegan at their time of conception and who were subsequently raised as vegan infants and children.

However, be aware that, as with any diet, there are “good†and “bad†versions of veganism, and you have to be particularly careful about getting the balance right, for yourself and your offspring, when following this regimen. You need to be scrupulously careful to ensure, particularly, that you get enough vitamin D (needed for strong bones) and B12 (for a robust nervous system), as well as minerals such as selenium and iodine. This is a challenge to achieve when eschewing all animal products in your diet.

The Vegan Society has published a very good book entitled Feeding Your Vegan Child (£9.99), written by the dietitian Sandra Hood. In it, she reveals how parents, infants and children can thrive on a diet that avoids completely all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy foods, honey and by-products of animals such as gelatin. By using soya milk fortified with vitamin D, vitamin B12 and calcium, you can get enough of the bone-building nutrients you need to help your infant's skeleton to develop while you are pregnant and when breast-feeding.

One sound piece of advice is to invest in a specially formulated supplement for Vegans called Veg1 (90 tablets, £4.99), which contains the nutrients mentioned above, plus folic acid - women trying to conceive need to have 400 micrograms of this each day. Purists may resent the idea of taking a supplement, but in my view it is a sensible “insurance policyâ€.

It is worth remembering that there are plenty of unhealthy omnivorous diets, and that a lot of infants in this country are being raised on diets that are too high in salt, saturated fats and sugars, so if you take your responsibilities seriously to eat a well-balanced vegan diet, you need not feel that you are doing anything wrong.

Vegans appear to have lower rates of heart disease in later life, so de-stressing about the subject is important for improving your chances of conception and for having a happy, healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Diet advice

1. Make wholegrain cereals and potatoes the basis of every meal. Fortified breakfast cereals are useful for boosting nutrients. Wholegrain cereals provide iron for energy and zinc for strong immunity.

2. Have a “meat alternative†at every meal. Tofu, beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and peanut butter all give you protein instead of meat, fish, poultry and eggs.

3. Eat dairy alternatives at least twice a day. These include fortified soya milk, soya yoghurts and soya cheese, plus calcium-rich foods such as dried apricots, green leafy vegetables (except spinach), nuts and sesame seeds.

4. Fruit and vegetables. Have at least five a day, with lots of variety. Eat those rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and peppers, at main meals to help the absorption of iron. Have vitamin D-fortified spreads, soya milk and cereals daily, and try to get into the sunlight, especially between March and September.

5. Have iodised salt or small amounts of seaweed each day.

6. Eat three or four brazil nuts a day for selenium, or make sure that your vegan supplement supplies it.

For more information and to buy Sandra Hood's book or the Veg1 supplement, contact www.vegansociety.com or call 0845 4588244.

If you have nutrition questions for Amanda, e-mail her at amandaursell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have your say

 

 

 

 

This child will not lack the nutrients found in dairy products if the mother breastfeeds several years. This is common in many countries, some of which have no dairy animals. Natural term BF results in naturally healthy mums and babies. Let's hope this mum can get early, good support to BF.

 

Alison Blenkinsop IBCLC, Aldershot, UK

 

Excellent article. Much better than the inflamatory & sensationalist "girl made ill by strict vegan diet" story of last week, that failed to offer any real nutritional information or advice. This article shows a good awareness of the health benefits of a vegan diet & i hope this baby is a happy one!

 

Ben Hillyer, Yorkshire,

 

For people wanting help, advice or guidance on going vegetarian or vegan, the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation produce a range of easy-to-read guides full of practical tips and recipes as well as a series of useful fact sheets and fully referenced scientific reports.

 

J Butler, Bristol, UK

 

Peter vv

 

Sent from Mail.

 

A Smarter Email.

[Guest guest]



I worked for someone who had been born vegan - very healthy - lovely thick hair and shiny eyes etc. Couldn't have looked healthier.

 

Jo

 

 

-

Peter VV

Monday, June 16, 2008 9:54 PM

Re: Vegan babies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q & A: the Times nutritionist answers your questions

 

 

Amanda Ursell

 

 

I became a vegetarian at 13, for the simple reason that I don't like the taste of meat. Then, in my early twenties, when I realised the impact that raising animals for human consumption has on the planet, I became vegan. I am now 34 and I would like to have a baby. My partner is a vegetarian, and I had assumed that it would be fine to be pregnant and to raise the baby on either of our diets. However, I recently heard about the case of a young girl who developed a severe form of rickets because of a strict meat and dairy-free diet. This has made me concerned - is it possible to raise a healthy baby on a vegan diet? Should I consider temporarily becoming a lacto-ovo vegetarian while pregnant?Lorraine 34, Leeds

If you would prefer to continue to be vegan, you can do so in the knowledge that there are many examples of healthy “second generation†vegans in this country - in other words, people who are now adults whose mothers and fathers were vegan at their time of conception and who were subsequently raised as vegan infants and children.

However, be aware that, as with any diet, there are “good†and “bad†versions of veganism, and you have to be particularly careful about getting the balance right, for yourself and your offspring, when following this regimen. You need to be scrupulously careful to ensure, particularly, that you get enough vitamin D (needed for strong bones) and B12 (for a robust nervous system), as well as minerals such as selenium and iodine. This is a challenge to achieve when eschewing all animal products in your diet.

The Vegan Society has published a very good book entitled Feeding Your Vegan Child (£9.99), written by the dietitian Sandra Hood. In it, she reveals how parents, infants and children can thrive on a diet that avoids completely all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy foods, honey and by-products of animals such as gelatin. By using soya milk fortified with vitamin D, vitamin B12 and calcium, you can get enough of the bone-building nutrients you need to help your infant's skeleton to develop while you are pregnant and when breast-feeding.

One sound piece of advice is to invest in a specially formulated supplement for Vegans called Veg1 (90 tablets, £4.99), which contains the nutrients mentioned above, plus folic acid - women trying to conceive need to have 400 micrograms of this each day. Purists may resent the idea of taking a supplement, but in my view it is a sensible “insurance policyâ€.

It is worth remembering that there are plenty of unhealthy omnivorous diets, and that a lot of infants in this country are being raised on diets that are too high in salt, saturated fats and sugars, so if you take your responsibilities seriously to eat a well-balanced vegan diet, you need not feel that you are doing anything wrong.

Vegans appear to have lower rates of heart disease in later life, so de-stressing about the subject is important for improving your chances of conception and for having a happy, healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Diet advice

1. Make wholegrain cereals and potatoes the basis of every meal. Fortified breakfast cereals are useful for boosting nutrients. Wholegrain cereals provide iron for energy and zinc for strong immunity.

2. Have a “meat alternative†at every meal. Tofu, beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and peanut butter all give you protein instead of meat, fish, poultry and eggs.

3. Eat dairy alternatives at least twice a day. These include fortified soya milk, soya yoghurts and soya cheese, plus calcium-rich foods such as dried apricots, green leafy vegetables (except spinach), nuts and sesame seeds.

4. Fruit and vegetables. Have at least five a day, with lots of variety. Eat those rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and peppers, at main meals to help the absorption of iron. Have vitamin D-fortified spreads, soya milk and cereals daily, and try to get into the sunlight, especially between March and September.

5. Have iodised salt or small amounts of seaweed each day.

6. Eat three or four brazil nuts a day for selenium, or make sure that your vegan supplement supplies it.

For more information and to buy Sandra Hood's book or the Veg1 supplement, contact www.vegansociety.com or call 0845 4588244.

If you have nutrition questions for Amanda, e-mail her at amandaursell (AT) thetimes (DOT) co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have your say

 

 

 

This child will not lack the nutrients found in dairy products if the mother breastfeeds several years. This is common in many countries, some of which have no dairy animals. Natural term BF results in naturally healthy mums and babies. Let's hope this mum can get early, good support to BF.

 

Alison Blenkinsop IBCLC, Aldershot, UK

 

Excellent article. Much better than the inflamatory & sensationalist "girl made ill by strict vegan diet" story of last week, that failed to offer any real nutritional information or advice. This article shows a good awareness of the health benefits of a vegan diet & i hope this baby is a happy one!

 

Ben Hillyer, Yorkshire,

 

For people wanting help, advice or guidance on going vegetarian or vegan, the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation produce a range of easy-to-read guides full of practical tips and recipes as well as a series of useful fact sheets and fully referenced scientific reports.

 

J Butler, Bristol, UK

 

Peter vv

 

Sent from Mail. A Smarter Email.

[Guest guest]

perhaps vegan born is the cure for male pattern baldness?jo <jo.heartwork wrote:  I worked for someone who had been born vegan - very healthy - lovely thick hair and shiny eyes etc. Couldn't have looked healthier. Jo - Peter VV Monday, June 16, 2008 9:54 PM Re: Vegan babies Q & A: the Times nutritionist answers your questions Amanda Ursell I became a vegetarian at 13, for the simple reason that I don't like the taste of meat. Then, in my early twenties, when I realised the impact that raising animals for human consumption has on the planet, I became vegan. I am now 34 and I would like to have a baby. My partner is a vegetarian, and I had assumed that it would be fine to be

pregnant and to raise the baby on either of our diets. However, I recently heard about the case of a young girl who developed a severe form of rickets because of a strict meat and dairy-free diet. This has made me concerned - is it possible to raise a healthy baby on a vegan diet? Should I consider temporarily becoming a lacto-ovo vegetarian while pregnant?Lorraine 34, Leeds If you would prefer to continue to be vegan, you can do so in the knowledge that there are many examples of healthy “second generation†vegans in this country - in other words, people who are now adults whose mothers and fathers were vegan at their time of conception and who were subsequently raised as vegan infants and children. However, be aware that, as with any diet, there are “good†and “bad†versions of veganism, and you have to be particularly careful about getting the balance right, for yourself and your offspring, when following this regimen.

You need to be scrupulously careful to ensure, particularly, that you get enough vitamin D (needed for strong bones) and B12 (for a robust nervous system), as well as minerals such as selenium and iodine. This is a challenge to achieve when eschewing all animal products in your diet. The Vegan Society has published a very good book entitled Feeding Your Vegan Child (£9.99), written by the dietitian Sandra Hood. In it, she reveals how parents, infants and children can thrive on a diet that avoids completely all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy foods, honey and by-products of animals such as gelatin. By using soya milk fortified with vitamin D, vitamin B12 and calcium, you can get enough of the bone-building nutrients you need to help your infant's skeleton to develop while you are pregnant and when breast-feeding. One sound piece of advice is to invest in a

specially formulated supplement for Vegans called Veg1 (90 tablets, £4.99), which contains the nutrients mentioned above, plus folic acid - women trying to conceive need to have 400 micrograms of this each day. Purists may resent the idea of taking a supplement, but in my view it is a sensible “insurance policyâ€. It is worth remembering that there are plenty of unhealthy omnivorous diets, and that a lot of infants in this country are being raised on diets that are too high in salt, saturated fats and sugars, so if you take your responsibilities seriously to eat a well-balanced vegan diet, you need not feel that you are doing anything wrong. Vegans appear to have lower rates of heart disease in later life, so de-stressing about the subject is important for improving your chances of conception and for having a happy, healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Diet advice 1. Make wholegrain cereals and potatoes

the basis of every meal. Fortified breakfast cereals are useful for boosting nutrients. Wholegrain cereals provide iron for energy and zinc for strong immunity. 2. Have a “meat alternative†at every meal. Tofu, beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and peanut butter all give you protein instead of meat, fish, poultry and eggs. 3. Eat dairy alternatives at least twice a day. These include fortified soya milk, soya yoghurts and soya cheese, plus calcium-rich foods such as dried apricots, green leafy vegetables (except spinach), nuts and sesame seeds. 4. Fruit and vegetables. Have at least five a day, with lots of variety. Eat those rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and peppers, at main meals to help the absorption of iron. Have vitamin D-fortified spreads, soya milk and cereals daily, and try to get into the sunlight, especially between March and September. 5. Have iodised salt or

small amounts of seaweed each day. 6. Eat three or four brazil nuts a day for selenium, or make sure that your vegan supplement supplies it. For more information and to buy Sandra Hood's book or the Veg1 supplement, contact www.vegansociety.com or call 0845 4588244. If you have nutrition questions for Amanda, e-mail her at amandaursell (AT) thetimes (DOT) co.uk

Have your say This child will not lack the nutrients found in dairy products if the mother breastfeeds several years. This is common in many countries, some of which have no dairy animals. Natural term BF results in naturally healthy mums and babies. Let's hope this mum can get early, good support to BF. Alison Blenkinsop IBCLC, Aldershot, UK Excellent article. Much better than the inflamatory &

sensationalist "girl made ill by strict vegan diet" story of last week, that failed to offer any real nutritional information or advice. This article shows a good awareness of the health benefits of a vegan diet & i hope this baby is a happy one! Ben Hillyer, Yorkshire, For people wanting help, advice or guidance on going vegetarian or vegan, the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation produce a range of easy-to-read guides full of practical tips and recipes as well as a series of useful fact sheets and fully referenced scientific reports. J Butler, Bristol, UK Peter vv Sent from Mail. A Smarter Email. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

[Guest guest]

My boss was female, so I'm not sure that would work. Male Pattern

Baldness is something to do with the way a certain gene in the body

deals with testosterone.

 

Jo

 

, lei subigone <subigone wrote:

>

> perhaps vegan born is the cure for male pattern baldness?

>

> jo <jo.heartwork wrote:  I worked for someone

who had been born vegan - very healthy - lovely thick hair and shiny

eyes etc. Couldn't have looked healthier.

>

> Jo

>

> -

> Peter VV

>

> Monday, June 16, 2008 9:54 PM

> Re: Vegan babies

>

>

>

> Q & A: the Times nutritionist answers your questions Amanda

Ursell

>

>

> I became a vegetarian at 13, for the simple reason that I don't

like the taste of meat. Then, in my early twenties, when I realised

the impact that raising animals for human consumption has on the

planet, I became vegan. I am now 34 and I would like to have a baby.

My partner is a vegetarian, and I had assumed that it would be fine

to be pregnant and to raise the baby on either of our diets. However,

I recently heard about the case of a young girl who developed a

severe form of rickets because of a strict meat and dairy-free diet.

This has made me concerned - is it possible to raise a healthy baby

on a vegan diet? Should I consider temporarily becoming a lacto-ovo

vegetarian while pregnant?

> Lorraine 34, Leeds

> If you would prefer to continue to be vegan, you can do so in the

knowledge that there are many examples of healthy “second

generation†vegans in this country - in other words, people who are

now adults whose mothers and fathers were vegan at their time of

conception and who were subsequently raised as vegan infants and

children.

> However, be aware that, as with any diet, there are “goodâ€

and “bad†versions of veganism, and you have to be particularly

careful about getting the balance right, for yourself and your

offspring, when following this regimen. You need to be scrupulously

careful to ensure, particularly, that you get enough vitamin D

(needed for strong bones) and B12 (for a robust nervous system), as

well as minerals such as selenium and iodine. This is a challenge to

achieve when eschewing all animal products in your diet.

> The Vegan Society has published a very good book entitled Feeding

Your Vegan Child (£9.99), written by the dietitian Sandra Hood. In

it, she reveals how parents, infants and children can thrive on a

diet that avoids completely all animal products, including meat,

poultry, fish, eggs, dairy foods, honey and by-products of animals

such as gelatin. By using soya milk fortified with vitamin D, vitamin

B12 and calcium, you can get enough of the bone-building nutrients

you need to help your infant's skeleton to develop while you are

pregnant and when breast-feeding.

> One sound piece of advice is to invest in a specially formulated

supplement for Vegans called Veg1 (90 tablets, £4.99), which

contains the nutrients mentioned above, plus folic acid - women

trying to conceive need to have 400 micrograms of this each day.

Purists may resent the idea of taking a supplement, but in my view it

is a sensible “insurance policyâ€.

> It is worth remembering that there are plenty of unhealthy

omnivorous diets, and that a lot of infants in this country are being

raised on diets that are too high in salt, saturated fats and sugars,

so if you take your responsibilities seriously to eat a well-balanced

vegan diet, you need not feel that you are doing anything wrong.

> Vegans appear to have lower rates of heart disease in later life,

so de-stressing about the subject is important for improving your

chances of conception and for having a happy, healthy pregnancy and a

healthy baby.

> Diet advice

> 1. Make wholegrain cereals and potatoes the basis of every meal.

Fortified breakfast cereals are useful for boosting nutrients.

Wholegrain cereals provide iron for energy and zinc for strong

immunity.

> 2. Have a “meat alternative†at every meal. Tofu, beans,

lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and peanut butter all give you

protein instead of meat, fish, poultry and eggs.

> 3. Eat dairy alternatives at least twice a day. These include

fortified soya milk, soya yoghurts and soya cheese, plus calcium-rich

foods such as dried apricots, green leafy vegetables (except

spinach), nuts and sesame seeds.

> 4. Fruit and vegetables. Have at least five a day, with lots of

variety. Eat those rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and

peppers, at main meals to help the absorption of iron. Have vitamin D-

fortified spreads, soya milk and cereals daily, and try to get into

the sunlight, especially between March and September.

> 5. Have iodised salt or small amounts of seaweed each day.

> 6. Eat three or four brazil nuts a day for selenium, or make sure

that your vegan supplement supplies it.

> For more information and to buy Sandra Hood's book or the Veg1

supplement, contact www.vegansociety.com or call 0845 4588244.

> If you have nutrition questions for Amanda, e-mail her at

amandaursell

>

>

>

>

>

> Have your say

>

>

>

>

> This child will not lack the nutrients found in dairy products

if the mother breastfeeds several years. This is common in many

countries, some of which have no dairy animals. Natural term BF

results in naturally healthy mums and babies. Let's hope this mum can

get early, good support to BF.

>

>

>

> Alison Blenkinsop IBCLC, Aldershot, UK

>

> Excellent article. Much better than the inflamatory &

sensationalist " girl made ill by strict vegan diet " story of last

week, that failed to offer any real nutritional information or

advice. This article shows a good awareness of the health benefits of

a vegan diet & i hope this baby is a happy one!

>

> Ben Hillyer, Yorkshire,

>

> For people wanting help, advice or guidance on going vegetarian

or vegan, the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation produce a range of easy-

to-read guides full of practical tips and recipes as well as a series

of useful fact sheets and fully referenced scientific reports.

>

> J Butler, Bristol, UK

>

Peter vv

>

>

>

>

> Sent from Mail.

> A Smarter Email.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but

> while we are here we might as well dance.

>

[Guest guest]



Hi Jo

 

How about a damp, black nose ;-)

 

BB

Peter

 

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jo

Monday, June 16, 2008 10:41 PM

Re: Vegan babies

 I worked for someone who had been born vegan - very healthy - lovely thick hair and shiny eyes etc. Couldn't have looked healthier.

 

Jo

 

 

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Peter VV

Monday, June 16, 2008 9:54 PM

Re: Vegan babies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q & A: the Times nutritionist answers your questions

 

 

Amanda Ursell

 

 

I became a vegetarian at 13, for the simple reason that I don't like the taste of meat. Then, in my early twenties, when I realised the impact that raising animals for human consumption has on the planet, I became vegan. I am now 34 and I would like to have a baby. My partner is a vegetarian, and I had assumed that it would be fine to be pregnant and to raise the baby on either of our diets. However, I recently heard about the case of a young girl who developed a severe form of rickets because of a strict meat and dairy-free diet. This has made me concerned - is it possible to raise a healthy baby on a vegan diet? Should I consider temporarily becoming a lacto-ovo vegetarian while pregnant?Lorraine 34, Leeds

If you would prefer to continue to be vegan, you can do so in the knowledge that there are many examples of healthy “second generation†vegans in this country - in other words, people who are now adults whose mothers and fathers were vegan at their time of conception and who were subsequently raised as vegan infants and children.

However, be aware that, as with any diet, there are “good†and “bad†versions of veganism, and you have to be particularly careful about getting the balance right, for yourself and your offspring, when following this regimen. You need to be scrupulously careful to ensure, particularly, that you get enough vitamin D (needed for strong bones) and B12 (for a robust nervous system), as well as minerals such as selenium and iodine. This is a challenge to achieve when eschewing all animal products in your diet.

The Vegan Society has published a very good book entitled Feeding Your Vegan Child (£9.99), written by the dietitian Sandra Hood. In it, she reveals how parents, infants and children can thrive on a diet that avoids completely all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy foods, honey and by-products of animals such as gelatin. By using soya milk fortified with vitamin D, vitamin B12 and calcium, you can get enough of the bone-building nutrients you need to help your infant's skeleton to develop while you are pregnant and when breast-feeding.

One sound piece of advice is to invest in a specially formulated supplement for Vegans called Veg1 (90 tablets, £4.99), which contains the nutrients mentioned above, plus folic acid - women trying to conceive need to have 400 micrograms of this each day. Purists may resent the idea of taking a supplement, but in my view it is a sensible “insurance policyâ€.

It is worth remembering that there are plenty of unhealthy omnivorous diets, and that a lot of infants in this country are being raised on diets that are too high in salt, saturated fats and sugars, so if you take your responsibilities seriously to eat a well-balanced vegan diet, you need not feel that you are doing anything wrong.

Vegans appear to have lower rates of heart disease in later life, so de-stressing about the subject is important for improving your chances of conception and for having a happy, healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Diet advice

1. Make wholegrain cereals and potatoes the basis of every meal. Fortified breakfast cereals are useful for boosting nutrients. Wholegrain cereals provide iron for energy and zinc for strong immunity.

2. Have a “meat alternative†at every meal. Tofu, beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and peanut butter all give you protein instead of meat, fish, poultry and eggs.

3. Eat dairy alternatives at least twice a day. These include fortified soya milk, soya yoghurts and soya cheese, plus calcium-rich foods such as dried apricots, green leafy vegetables (except spinach), nuts and sesame seeds.

4. Fruit and vegetables. Have at least five a day, with lots of variety. Eat those rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and peppers, at main meals to help the absorption of iron. Have vitamin D-fortified spreads, soya milk and cereals daily, and try to get into the sunlight, especially between March and September.

5. Have iodised salt or small amounts of seaweed each day.

6. Eat three or four brazil nuts a day for selenium, or make sure that your vegan supplement supplies it.

For more information and to buy Sandra Hood's book or the Veg1 supplement, contact www.vegansociety.com or call 0845 4588244.

If you have nutrition questions for Amanda, e-mail her at amandaursell (AT) thetimes (DOT) co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have your say

 

 

 

This child will not lack the nutrients found in dairy products if the mother breastfeeds several years. This is common in many countries, some of which have no dairy animals. Natural term BF results in naturally healthy mums and babies. Let's hope this mum can get early, good support to BF.

 

Alison Blenkinsop IBCLC, Aldershot, UK

 

Excellent article. Much better than the inflamatory & sensationalist "girl made ill by strict vegan diet" story of last week, that failed to offer any real nutritional information or advice. This article shows a good awareness of the health benefits of a vegan diet & i hope this baby is a happy one!

 

Ben Hillyer, Yorkshire,

 

For people wanting help, advice or guidance on going vegetarian or vegan, the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation produce a range of easy-to-read guides full of practical tips and recipes as well as a series of useful fact sheets and fully referenced scientific reports.

 

J Butler, Bristol, UK

 

Peter vv

 

Sent from Mail. A Smarter Email.