Vegan foods, which are cholesterol-free, low in saturated fat, and rich in complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, are optimal for children. They form the foundation of dietary habits that support a lifetime of good health.
In Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care, the world-renowned pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock, wrote, “children who grow up getting their nutrition from plant foods rather than meats have a tremendous health advantage. They are less likely to develop weight problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer.”
According to a joint statement released by the American Dietetic Association and Dieticians of Canada, “Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.”
Doctors and researchers have found that children who follow meat-free diets grow up to be healthy and strong. A study of 4,746 Minnesota adolescents published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that vegetarian kids were more likely than nonvegetarians to meet government standards for several of the most important dietary recommendations.
Dr. Charles Attwood notes, “Children on low-fat diets of mostly vegetables, fruits, grain, and legumes, when consuming adequate calories, not only grow normally, but have actually been shown to attain greater height than meat-eating children.”
To learn more, see the evidence section below.