Is a vegetarian diet ok for young children?

Our eldest are 4 and 2 years old. My wife and I are vegetarian and both of us a struggling with making meals with meat in them for the children. Our two year old has started questioning why she has to eat meat whilst me and my wife don't. Our four year old doesn't eat as much meat as she used to because she doesn't want it so we don't force it. Is it ok for them to start on a vegetarian diet?Is a vegetarian diet ok for young children?
I know my friends parent were both vegetarian, and they asked the nurse when their daughter was born if they could feed her a vegetarian diet, to which they said no. The nurse advised a prescetarian diet instead until they are older, such as in their teens
Yes, it's fine. They can get plenty of everything they need to grow and be healthy from all of the other foods that are available in the world that don't come from animal sources.



Make sure you offer them plenty of a variety of healthy foods that they like to eat. Try to make sure you give them high protein foods (beans, nuts, legumes, grains and dairy products or eggs, if that fits into your diet choices) a couple of times a day. But, there's actually protein in every food, even veggies! A nice variety of foods over the course of the week will make sure that they're not missing any of the proteins they need to grow %26amp; stay healthy.



There are many cultures and religions where meat is not eaten at all. Those cultures and religions continue generation after generation because their children grow up, become adults %26amp; have children of their own.Is a vegetarian diet ok for young children?
A vegetarian diet is fine for a child as long as the parents are educated about it and ensure that the child is meeting nutrient/protein needs. I do beleive that a vegetarian diet should be the child's choice and not enforced. As long as parents are aware of complimentary proteins (beans, nuts, legumes etc) and the child will eat it, they are fine. But I think you should be careful to not promote it just because you and your husband are vegetarians and only because they are eating less, kids often go through phases of eating more or less of something. Good Luck
If the vegetarian diet is as healthy as many claim then why would you need to give the children a non vegetarian diet ?

If she is questioning the meat ask her if she wants to try a non meat eating diet for awhile a week or so should be a good trial time at this point .

I admit we do eat too much meat and should eat a more plant based diet .

Milk an animal byproduct is needed for a healthy early feeding as such a total veg. diet won't suffice at least for awhile. cheese also made from milk

Yeast also an animal , is used for the B vitamins. hello an animal , small like planktonIs a vegetarian diet ok for young children?
They will need some sort of protein supplement so their own growth isn't restricted.



Definitely talk to a doctor about it, and what supplements would be better for them.



Just be wary whether or not they eat meat later in their life, don't totally accept the fact that they are vegetarians. Many people disagree but not all children are perfect clones of the parents. If they ever tell you they would like to eat meat again, then advise them to not eat it in front of you if that's acceptable.



This is all of course my advice w/ opinion.
They never had to eat meat. Plenty of people go their entire lives without eating meat. When I became a vegetarian, my then-18 month old did, too. Now, at 3, she's proud of it and very conscientious about what she eats.



If you are preparing balanced meals for yourselves, there is no reason to provide anything different for your children.
YES, it is.You just need to do some serious researching in what and how to feed your children so they are not deprived of any nutrients.



I was never a meat eater.I prefered other foods over meat (didn't like the texture when I was younger) and only ate meat 1-4 times a year and I was above average on health (hardly ever got sick)
The American Dietetic Association acknowledges in its position statement that a well planned vegetarian diet is adequate and healthy for people of any age in any stage of life. You could check out the site www.vrg.org for how to plan out a vegetarian diet. I was raised from birth as a vegetarian.
Hey, im not a vegeterian myself but i really do look up to vegeterians. and i do belive you should inforce this but not at such a young age. They need protien from foods such as steaks and chicken, in order to help them grow properly and that sort of thing. however i am no expert so i suppose when your at your GP u should ask him/her ! take care.
My niece is 5 1/2 and has never tasted meat. My husband and I are meat eaters and to be honest, my sister's family eats a much healthier, more well-rounded diet than we do. If you are healthy vegetarians, there's no reason your kids can't be too.
As long as they are getting their protein and other vitamins from other sources, it is perfectly okay. I wish I could do a vege. diet, but with my carnivorous upbringing, it would be so hard for me to do it. Much healthier though.
No. Children need ALL the protein from meat they can GET, to build up their skeletal systems. Ask your Child's Pediatrician for his advice as to WHEN is ok to begin their vegetarian regimen...
I would speak with a doctor or nutritionist to make a plan that will ensure they are getting what they need from the diet, as young children's dietary needs are different from an adults.
i think being vegetarian should be a child's choice not a lifestyle because that's how their parents are.
Should it not be up to the child to decide this when they are older !!!
if you can afford to do it right then absolutly it's ok
my view on vegetarians: deer are very lean, strong animals that NEVER eat meat. can't a human do the same thing?