Kids can be picky eaters but parents want them to be healthy. However, a rising misconception is that kids who have been familiarized with the vegan diet or those who chose a vegan diet are less healthy. A well planned vegan diet can easily meet and satisfy the nutritional needs of all members of the family. Giving a child a proper start in life by introducing them to a range of different plant foods should be the wish of every parent.
However, while a vegan child may consume a wide variety of plant-based foods it’s important to always introduce quality supplements into their diet. The most important nutrients to supplement include vegan multivitamins such as vitamin B12. The reason is that vitamin B12 is difficult to find naturally in foods. Due to modern farming methods, minerals and vitamins have been depleted from the soil.
A great supplement to cater to all of your child’s needs is the Multi-Vitamin & Mineral for Children. This multivitamin and mineral formula is suitable for children from the age 4 to 12 and all the way up to lightweight adults. The supplement comes in a tablet form which is convenient for convincing kids to take. The pills are small and easy to swallow. The Multi-Vitamin & Mineral for Children is filled with optimum levels of B-complex vitamins including B1, B6, B2 and B12.
Introducing Toddlers to Veggies
- Early Days
Breastfeeding is exclusively recommended for the first six months of the baby’s life and is recommended to continue until they are at least 2 years old. Once the baby is done breastfeeding exclusively it is recommended to introduce them to vitamin D drops from their birth. Vitamin D3 comes from lichen and vitamin D2 is free of any animal product which makes them vegan-friendly.
For parents whose breastfeeding is not an option, baby formulas are recommended. There are soy-based baby formulas which can be fed to vegan babies.
- First Foods
After six months of breastfeeding, kids are ready to start trying more solid food. However, each baby should be considered as a separate individual as they are introduced to food. Weaning is a different approach which involves feeding the baby soft finger foods they can hold in their small fist, explore, taste and chew.
After following the recommendation of introducing vitamin D drops to their diet, vitamin A and C should be also introduced after six months. This supplementation should continue until the child is 5 years old. It is also crucial to introduce sources of vitamin B12 in your children’s diet. This can be in the form of vitamin B12 supplements such as in the Little People formula, or fortified foods. Soy yoghurt or milk can be offered at mealtimes.
- 1 to 4 Years Old
At this stage, the child’s diet requires adjustment so that it is balanced similar to your current diet by the time they reach 5 years old. This diet should include lower fibre starchy foods which are great sources of energy, quinoa containing proteins and nuts and seeds for an extra boost of their energy.
These guidelines are to ensure children get the proper nutrients at the proper stages of their lives and reduce any future chronic ailments.