Child growth on plant based diet

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (American Dietetic Association) position

Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets - PubMed

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets ar ...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19562864

total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.

Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Vegetarian Diets - PubMed

It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. These diets are appropriate for all stages of the li ...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27886704/

Plant based side

Calcium, iron, and zinc sources

Protein

Food guide

Nutrition for Kids

Infants' nutritional needs are best met by their mothers' breast milk, which helps to build immunity. When breastfeeding is not possible, commercial soy formulas for infants are available (not to be confused with soy milk or other plant milks). For the first half year of life, infants do not need any nourishment other than breast milk or formula.

https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/nutrition-for-kids

Growth and development of British vegan children - PubMed

The growth and development of children born of vegan mothers and reared on a vegan diet has been studied longitudinally: All of the children were breast-fed for the first 6 mo of life and in most cases well into the second year of life. The majority of children grew and developed normally but they d ...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3414589/

The majority of children grew and developed normally but they did tend to be smaller in stature and lighter in weight than standards for the general population

Against plant based side

Children on trendy vegan diets are 1.2 inches SHORTER on average

The study involved 187 healthy five to ten-year-olds, including 52 vegans Vegan children averaged 1.2in shorter and had 4-6% lower bone mineral content They were also 3 times more likely to be deficient in vitamin B-12 than omnivores Putting your children on a trendy vegan diet makes them grow up short and with weaker bones, a study has found.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9648849/Children-trendy-vegan-diets-1-2-inches-SHORTER-average.html

Dangers of a vegan diet for kids highlighted in study

Children raised on a vegan diet may have healthier hearts and less body fat than omnivores, but they grow up shorter and with weaker bones, a study has revealed. Researchers from UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and the Children's Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, Poland, recently conducted a study that looked at the 'dangers of a vegan diet for infants'.

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/diet/a-new-study-looks-at-the-dangers-of-a-vegan-diet-for-infants/news-story/6a30cb922c79ed197334b488c7ff0e87

Vegan Diet in Young Children - PubMed

The prevalence of restrictive diets, mainly vegetarian and vegan, is markedly on the increase in Europe and other Western countries. In young children and adolescents, not only weight and height but also neurocognitive and psychomotor development are all strongly influenced by the source, quantity, ...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31991425/

Common middle ground: can meet the need but need to plan very carefully

Is a Vegan Diet Safe for Growing Children?

What you need to know about protein and vitamins You may choose to follow a vegan diet because it's good for the environment, the animals or your health - or maybe all three. But you may wonder if a diet that cuts out all animal products is good for growing children as well.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-a-vegan-diet-safe-for-growing-children/

Nutrient status and growth in vegan children - PubMed

Vegan diets have risen in popularity over the past 9 years. However, few studies have examined nutrient status and the effect of a vegan diet on the growth of children. This study analysed the existing literature on the health impact and growth impact of selected nutrients in vegan children.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34130207/

the current literature suggests that a well-planned vegan diet using supplementation is likely to provide the recommended amounts of critical nutrients to provide for normal progression of height and weight in children, and can be beneficial in some aspects.

• Enough calorie intake

• Attention to protein, zinc, iron, calcium, etc. (fortified food and supplements can be good options)

How much calories does a child need to eat

What is the Recommended Caloric Intake for Children?

What is the Recommended Caloric Intake for Children?. With over one-third of all children in the United States either overweight or obese, its important to make sure you aren't giving your child too much to eat. However, you don't want to give her too little either or she won't get the nutrients she needs ...

https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/recommended-caloric-intake-children-6446.html

How Many Calories Should an Average Teenager Eat Per Day?

How Many Calories Should an Average Teenager Eat Per Day?. The teenage years are a time of growth spurts, so teenagers need to consume sufficient calories to meet the needs of their developing bodies. Most of these calories should come from nutritious foods rather than snack foods and fast food so their growing bodies ...

https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/many-calories-should-average-teenager-eat-per-day-3718.html