Healthy Plant-Based Fats for Underweight? 1 Year Old

[Guest guest]

Group,

 

First, we are a family of 5 who are all vegetarians. Our children

have been vegetarian since birth, when we as a couple/parents made

this decision.

 

At our daughter's 1 year pediatrician appointment, the pediatrician

noted that her weight was well below the percentage charts (no weight

gain since her 9 month appointment) for US children we presume. All

other developmental indicators (height, head circumference, muscle

tone, fine and gross motor skills, etc.) all seem to be on target.

(No discussion on how many calories she burns off during a normal day

of activity!)

 

He did however cautiously indicate some concern with her wieght and

indicated that we should work to help her put on a few more pounds /

bulk up. He of course offered animal fats in terms of dairy (knowing

that we do not eat meat) as an addition to her diet, suggesting that

we now start her on whole milk (as she is 1 years old). He even

suggested that we add butter to her food. I then probed him for

other healthier plant-based alternatives (I later began to question

whether she really needs to bulk up or to just add weight for

weight's sake). All I could think of on the fly at the appointment

were avacados and olive oil but the pediatrician did not respond to

my suggestions in any direct way. Granted, he is not a

nutritionalist.

 

Now, I am concerned with his message that 1) our daughter even needs

to bulk up (that weight is any measure of her proper development) and

2) that my breastmilk is insufficient and in some way the cause of

her low weight (asking me how often I nurse as if she was nursing too

much, filling up on breastmilk and not eating other foods, and when I

was going to wean her). Whole other discussion...

 

I am very concerned that he would just ask us to add animal fats to

her diet with no concern for long term, healthy dietary habits or the

nutritional value (or lack thereof) of animal fats. (While I eat

dairy and breastfeed, we have not directly given our daughter any

dairy and even made a vegan cake for her for her first birthday.)

 

I am sure this story will garner a lot of responses and discussions

in homes across Arlington as it has gotten us talking and asking

friends/families and reaching out to this resource.

 

So, in any account, we are looking to expand the variety of foods we

offer to all three of our children, being mindful of allergins, and

we eat ourselves, especially as I plan to continue breastfeeding. We

are interested in plant-based foods with healthy fats. Any

suggestions or input to inform our thinking would be greatly

appreciated as we are still trying to sort out what happened at that

appointment.

 

Thanks,

Danielle ( & Joe)