Vegetarian Baby Foods for Children's Dietary
Kids who are vegetarians usually follow their parents who also vegetarian. Parents who are vegetarians also took his son to become vegan. This is not the wrong thing. Vegetarian diet can prevent children from overweight and obesity which can prevent the occurrence of degenerative diseases and also introduce children about healthy eating habits early on.
But parents need to pay attention to a child's nutritional intake carefully. The children are still small generally requires quite a lot of protein and energy because it is still in its infancy. Unfortunately little stomach can not digest many foods at one time. In fact, the number of vegetarian meals must be eaten to meet the nutritional adequacy greater than the number that can be spent. This can lead to children experiencing nutritional deficiencies. Children who are vegans tend to have slower growth rates in the first 5 years, although still within the normal range, than children of non-vegans.
In addition, vegan children is also a potential deficiency of vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and calcium. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. While the lack of calcium can affect bone growth and teeth become obstructed. Iron deficiency anemia is also one of the main problems in children who are vegan.
Here are some tips for parents in preparing food for vegan children to nutritional needs are met:
1. Children need lots of energy but his stomach was not enough to accommodate plenty of food. So the kids have to eat a little but often. Eg 3 meals and 2-3 times the weight of distraction.
2. Give your child an energy-dense foods such as avocados, bread smeared with peanut butter or margarine, dried fruits, nuts, soy and dairy products.
3. Give children enough fat (at least 30% of total calories) and omega 3 fatty acids derived from soybean oil or canola oil. Omega-3 fatty acids essential for brain development and eyesight.
4. Give your child foods that contain calcium, iron, vitamin B12 which can be obtained from fortified foods such as tofu, soy milk, fortified cereals.
5. Avoid giving children too many high-fiber foods such as fruit and raw vegetables. To reduce the fiber, vegetables and fruit can be peeled before being served or made into juice.
6. Avoid giving the child plenty of fluids before a meal. This can lead to feelings of fullness, so that children can not spend their food.
7. Make sure children get enough sunlight so as not deficient in vitamin D. Let the children exposed to the sun at least 2-3 times a week for 20-30 minutes.
