Vegetarian diets, properly managed, are safe, have long cultural traditions, and may reduce the risk of certain conditions such as obesity.

What is a vegetarian diet?  
A vegetarian diet means not eating the flesh of any animal. Some vegetarians also choose not to eat foods that come from animals (like dairy products or eggs). There are several different forms of a vegetarian diet:

• Vegan: eating only non-animal foods
• Lacto-vegetarian: eating non-animal foods plus dairy (no eggs)
• Ovo-vegetarian: eating non-animal foods plus eggs (no dairy)
• Lacto-ovo vegetarian: eating non-animal foods plus eggs and dairy products

Are there risks of a vegetarian diet to babies and children?
Children on restricted diets may have trouble getting enough energy, protein, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and riboflavin. Children eating an ovo-vegetarian or lacto-ovo vegetarian diet will have less difficulty meeting their nutrient needs than on a vegan diet.

Babies and children on a very restricted vegetarian diet (vegan) may have problems if they don’t get enough of the nutrients they need to grow and develop. Parents who want to raise their children on a vegan diet should talk to a registered dietician for advice on meal planning and preparation.

How can vegetarian parents properly feed their baby?
As with all babies, breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for at least the first 6 months of life. Vegetarian women who are nursing may need counselling to ensure they are getting enough protein, calcium, iron and vitamin B12. If breastfeeding is not an option, use a store-bought formula that is cow's milk-based or soy-based. Many vegan babies are fed soy milk fortified with vitamin D and B12 and an additional source of iron.

At 6 months, you can begin to introduce your baby to other foods. Vegetarian babies should be fed the same variety of vegetables, fruits and cereals as other babies, but alternate foods should be added to replace protein sources such as meat, fish, poultry and sometimes dairy products.

Since nuts are highly allergenic, do not introduce nut butters until the end of the second year of life. After 9 months of age, babies on a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet can have egg yolks. To reduce the chance of an allergic reaction, avoid giving egg whites until your baby is one year old.

Children in vegetarian families should receive plant proteins, such as legumes, milk cheese (depending on the type of vegetarian), tofu and meat-like products made from vegetable protein.

For more information:
Feeding your baby in the first year
Iron needs of babies and children
Canada’s Food Guide
Dietitians of Canada

Source: Adapted from Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care (2nd edition)

Updated: May 2007