My husband and I are vegetarians. Absolutely, though you may have to do a little more planning to ensure that all his or her nutritional bases are covered. Despite years of controversy and confusion, we now know that vegetarian diets can be as healthy as omnivorous diets, perhaps even more so. In its position paper on vegetarianism, the American Dietetic Association says, appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, are nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. The ADA believes this applies to children as well as adults.
Children can get protein from eggs, dairy, soy products, nuts, legumes, grains and cereals.
You should make sure your child gets enough iron, too, but the ADA says this is true for all children, not just vegetarians. Two other things to look out for are adequate amounts of fat and calories. Fat is crucial to normal growth and development. Children who eat dairy should have whole milk dairy products until age 2, when you can start switching them to the low-fat versions. Don t feed your child too many fruits and vegetables.