Patients
Child Vegetarians
The government released a study with its first estimate of the amount of child vegetarians in the U.S. About 1 in 200 minors actively avoid eating meat.
When asked why they choose not to eat meat, the overwhelming response was out of respect for the welfare of animals.
This seems like a very noble reason for choosing one's dietary lifestyle, but some worry that a vegetarian diet could actually be detrimental to a child's developing body. Often, people associate being a vegetarian with a low-calorie, healthy, lifestyle. With children, a lot of times they are swapping out meat for other foods that are unhealthy like potato chips or candy. Another concern is that without meat, kids don't properly substitute foods to get the proper amount of protein that the body needs. Some vegetarians get protein by continuing to eat fish (I've never understood this realm of thinking, could someone please explain to me why fish don't count as "real" animals?).
I have lots of adult vegetarian friends. They're all committed to their cause against cruelty to animals but are still aware of the body's need for the benefits that meat provides. They stock up on beans and lentils as a means of getting plenty of protein in their diet. Dietary supplements are used with doctor's approval to be sure the body is getting vital vitamins and minerals.
Is your child a vegetarian? How do you make sure they're educated about getting a well-balanced diet?