Vegan Kids: The ABCs

Raising healthy, happy vegetarian kids is easy. We all try to teach our kids about compassion, and a meat-free diet puts this virtue into practice by preventing cruelty to animals. Since we learn lifelong diet habits at a young age, giving your children guidance about vegan nutrition will likely benefit them for the rest of their lives. Vegetarians have lower levels of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, strokes, and obesity. There is no reason why children shouldn’t benefit from a vegetarian or vegan diet along with their parents. Vegan diets are suitable for children of all ages, from birth (yes, breast milk is vegan) to adolescence and beyond.

Doctors and nutritionists all around the world agree that a varied vegan diet is an excellent source of nutrients and a healthy choice for kids. For instance, vegan food is rich in healthy vitamins and minerals while also being an excellent source of fiber, complex carbohydrates, and protein. Vitamin B12, which is needed for healthy blood and nerve function as well as energy production, can be found in nutritional yeast and fortified nondairy milks. A varied plant-based diet supplies an abundance of the healthy protein that children need, with foods such as beans, nuts, avocados, and tofu serving as particularly great sources of protein for vegans.

Super-healthy vegan diets for children inspire a lifetime of good eating habits. Try veganizing some of your kids’ favorite foods and integrating raw fruits and veggies into your daily meals. Imagine the great gift that you will be giving your children—a healthier future. With so many reasons to go vegan, there’s no need to wait: Take the Pledge to Be Vegan today!

Posted by Edwina Baier