I grew up in the Midwest, so it was only natural for me to feed to feed my child exactly what I grew up eating, for the most part. I guess the same is true for vegans — it seems only natural for them to raise their children as vegans as well … but is it healthy?
The case for babies as vegans seems to be the new trend among the Hollywood crowd, with celebs like Alicia Silverstone already raising her son, Bear Blu, as a vegan at just 3 months old.
Earlier this year, the Associated Press reported that about 1 percent of the population in the U.S. is vegan.
Still though, while the lifestyle is becoming more mainstream, some online posters have called parents raising vegan children “ridiculous” and even “criminal,” when specifically addressing children not drinking milk. There are plenty of skeptics, and those supporting the lifestyle have even taken drastic measures to defend their choices.
An article on NaturalNews.com in March told parents living a vegan lifestyle to lie to protective services if asked about feeding their child meat and dairy products to avoid judgement. A couple in Atlanta was sentenced to life in prison for malnourished their vegan child to death.
The American Dietetic Association does support well-balanced vegan diets. ADA Spokesperson Vandana Sheth says, “Vegan eating patterns can be healthy for anyone at any stage of life as long as it well-balanced.”
Several experts, including Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, head of the nutritional committee American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that moms see a nutritionist to make sure their child’s vegan diet is a balanced one.
What do you think of the new “trend” of veganism for babies and toddlers? Is it too early for this kind of lifestyle or is it just a matter of balance?
