Nutritionists: Plant-Based Diet Good for Kids

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has confirmed that a vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of obesity in children.

An estimated 10 percent of children worldwide are overweight or obese. Being overweight as a child can lead to a far higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and a child who is obese at the age of 6 has more than a 50 percent chance of staying obese into adulthood. So for those who think that a bit of “baby fat” is OK, it’s time to think again.

Compared to meat-eaters, vegetarian children are leaner and have a lower body mass index. This means that a vegetarian child has a lower risk of developing obesity and its associated health problems. For this reason, nutritionists in this study have concluded that a plant-based diet is a sensible way to avoid obesity in children.

The American Dietetic Association has said that a well-planned vegetarian diet is suitable for people at all stages of life, including childhood. So it is never too soon to start your child on a healthy vegetarian diet.

And don’t think for a moment that bringing up your children as vegetarians will mean that they’ll miss out on all the fun. Vegetarian options are not only healthier but also super-tasty! Why not take your kids for a delicious veggie burger followed by a super-sweet soy ice cream that will leave any child happy (and you don’t even have to tell them it’s healthier!).

If you really want to make yourself and your family healthier and lower your risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, then take the Pledge to Be Veg and see how much better you feel!

Posted by Claire Fryer