In children concern has been expressed concerning the adequacy of vegetarian diets especially with regard to growth. Vegan diets are more likely to be associated with malnutrition, especially if the diets are the result of authoritarian dogma. The simplest strategy when becoming vegetarian may involve reliance on vegetarian convenience foods which are not necessarily superior in nutritional composition. The vegetarian sector of the food industry could do more to produce foods closer to recommendations. Vegetarian diets can be, but are not necessarily, adequate for children, providing vigilance is maintained, particularly to ensure variety.
Identical comments apply to omnivorous diets.
Three threats to the diet of children are too much reliance on convenience foods, lack of variety and lack of exercise. AB The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of teenage vegetarianism and associated food habits and beliefs. They cited health, animal welfare and environmental reasons in support of their habits. The importance of operational definitions of vegetarianism is emphasized and the findings are discussed in relation to likely motivational influences. AN 98061657 AU Krajcovicova-Kudlackova M. Simoncic R. Bederova A. Grancicova E. Magalova T. IN Research Institute of Nutrition, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.