Sydney Benoliel
April 20th, 2022
Many health benefits arise from vegan diets. According to Cleveland Clinic, around 10% of adults in the United States are on a plant-based diet (Cleveland Clinic). While many adults follow this diet, is it safe for children to follow it as well? A new growing idea among parents is whether or not they should raise their children vegan. Chakraborty states, “a vegan diet is becoming quite popular. However, experts believe that well-balanced nutrition is essential for children during the early years of their life. Some even recommend the inclusion of meat to ensure proper development and growth” (Chakraborty). While vegan diets can have physical and mental benefits for some people, parents should not raise their children vegan due to the following reasons: children have varying nutritional needs, parents’ preferred eating habits should never be forced on their children, and vegan diets come with many health risks, such as nutritional deficiencies.
One reason parents should not raise their children vegan is that each child has different nutritional needs for their body. While a vegan diet may be suitable for some children, it will not be suitable for every child. Additionally, many parents will be unaware of the damage that the vegan diet is having on their child until the child is older. Some preferences and allergies do not present until later in the child’s life when they are older and more mature. To make sure that their children are getting enough food in their early life, parents need to withhold from restricting them to vegan foods. Pretzel, a long-time vegetarian, explains in her article why the type of food that children eat is vital since they are limited in the amount of food that they can physically consume. “‘Toddlers need, per kilogram of body weight, more micronutrients compared to adults,’ said Liisa Korkalo, lecturer in the Department of Food and Nutrition at the University of Helsinki, whose research has looked at the diets of children. “‘They need a nutrient-dense diet.’ With small stomachs and limited intake capacity, the food small children eat really needs to count” (Pretzel). In addition, many children are picky eaters or have trouble eating food. Characteristics such as these raise red flags for the medical stability of the child. These children are already limited to eating their personal safe foods, so veganism does not need to be added. Garone, a certified nutritionist, states that “kids who are extremely picky eaters or have feeding difficulties may be at higher risk of nutritional inadequacy” (Garone). That said, adding a vegan diet on top of the difficulty eating already present could send the child on a road to disaster.
A second reason is that parents should never force their personal preferred eating habits on their children. Children deserve to grow up and experience different food for themselves. They should be able to establish their own likes, dislikes, and values. Blumberg, who graduated with a Bachelor’s in psychology, stated that “Gorin says she feels it’s beneficial for kids to explore and decide for themselves what foods they like or dislike” (Blumberg). Childhood years play a very important role in a person’s development. Growing up with strict rules and beliefs around them could negatively influence their thinking and behaviors. Blumberg emphasizes the importance of this when she states that “it’s beneficial for kids to explore and decide for themselves what foods they like or dislike” (Blumberg). If a child wants to be vegan, they should decide for themselves when they are at an appropriate age to do so. Hunt, a philosophy Ph.D. candidate, says that “the more interesting question is how people who think that there are pro tanto moral reasons for raising a child on a vegan diet, most obviously ethical vegans who are parents, should take into account… because ethical vegans may be committed to different moral frameworks that seem to provide moral reasons for being vegan that are of differing weights and which perhaps come into effect under differing conditions” (Hunt). Many parents do not take into consideration the detrimental mental effects that veganism can have. A child should not be forced to endure this diet if they do not truly want to be vegan. It especially poses difficulties when the child is eating away from home at a place where vegan options are unavailable. This common scenario leads to unnecessary anxiety for the child.
A final reason is that vegan diets cause many health risks, such as nutritional deficiencies. Bender and Sutter, two medical professionals, said that “deficiencies in cobalamin, calcium, and vitamin D seem to be the biggest risks associated with a poorly planned vegan diet” (Bender and Sutter). A growing child needs proper nourishment and medical stability. Research has shown that vegan kids have many vitamin and nutritional deficiencies. Haridy, a scientific journalist, states that “research found vegan children were on average around an inch shorter than other children, more likely to be deficient in vitamin B-12, and had between four and six percent lower bone mineral content” (Haridy). These nutritional deficiencies can have serious detrimental health effects on a child’s growing body. They can lead to long-lasting and possibly even chronic conditions. As stated before, there is also a negative effect of veganism on the growth and height of vegan children. Mantzioris, a certified dietitian, says that “researchers found a link between shorter heights and lower bone mineral content among vegan children, compared to meat-eaters” (Mantzioris). This research further emphasizes the lasting negative effects of veganism on a growing child’s body. Chakraborty said that “there are certain risks involved when a kid is following a strict vegan diet… due to no milk or milk product consumption, there’s a lack of calcium- a nutrient that’s essential for healthy bones and teeth. The primary source of protein lies in meat and poultry products, and the vegan diet is entirely devoid of it. Children need abundant calories that can provide kids energy, and a diet without milk can be very disappointing” (Chakraborty). Parents putting their growing children on vegan diets are raising major health risks. Veganism is not worth sacrificing a child’s health.
In conclusion, parents should not raise their children vegan. Parents need to remember that children have varying nutritional needs that will likely not be met with a vegan diet. It is also important to consider the many health risks that go along with being vegan. Children should not have to endure the risks of veganism without consenting to it themselves. Pretzel says that“a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle can be difficult for children and teens to maintain” (Pretzel). Children should not be forced to keep up with this lifestyle and expose themselves to the health risks that go with it. A child should be able to grow up and experience new things for themselves before committing to something as serious as veganism. Although some parents argue that veganism is what is best for their children, this is false. Raising your child vegan will ultimately lead to more negative effects than positive.
Works Cited
- Blumberg, Perri Ormont. “Should You Raise Your Child as a Vegan or a Vegetarian?” New York Post, New York Post, 17 Jan. 2022, nypost.com/2022/01/17/should-you-raise-your-child-as-a-vegan-or-a-vegetarian/.
- Chakraborty, Neha. “The Benefits & Risks of Raising a Vegan Toddler.” BabyGaga, 30 Apr. 2020, http://www.babygaga.com/benefits-risks-raising-vegan-toddler/.
- Garone, Sarah. “Raising a Vegan Baby or Toddler: Is It Safe?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 30 Nov. 2020, http://www.healthline.com/health/baby/vegan-baby.
- Haridy, Rich. “Pros and Cons to Vegan Diets for Children, Detailed New Study Finds.” New Atlas, 7 June 2021, newatlas.com/health-wellbeing/vegan-vegetarian-diet-children-health-study/.
- Hunt, Marcus W. “Veganism and Children: Physical and Social Well-being.” Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, vol. 32, no. 2, 2019, pp. 269-291. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/veganism-children-physical-social-well-being/docview/2215418005/se-2?accountid=14606, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10806-019-09773-4.
- “Is a Vegan Diet Safe for Growing Children?” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 21 Aug. 2020, health.clevelandclinic.org/is-a-vegan-diet-safe-for-growing-children/.
- Mantzioris, Evangeline. “Do Vegan Diets Make Kids Shorter and Weaker?” The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2022, theconversation.com/do-vegan-diets-make-kids-shorter-and-weaker-162420.
- Pretzel, Jillian. “Is It Safe to Raise My Child Vegan or Vegetarian?” The Washington Post, WP Company, 11 Feb. 2022, http://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/12/kid-vegan-vegetarian/.
- Sutter, Daniel Olivier, and Nicole Bender. “Nutrient Status and Growth in Vegan Children.” Nutrition Research, vol. 91, 2021, pp. 13–25., doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2021.04.005.
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