Most children, especially toddlers, have delicate appetites and won t eat when they re not hungry. You can t force them to eat if they ve already filled up on junk food. Watch their protein intake. For vegetarian children who eat dairy products and eggs, it isn t difficult to meet protein requirements. But for vegan children, who don t consume any animal products, getting enough protein can be very difficult.
Protein is necessary for growth, so it s extremely important that protein intake doesn t fall short.
Soy protein is complete enough for adults and children over the age of four, but it s methionine, so tofu and soybeans shouldn t be used as a child s sole source of protein. Parmesan cheese Supplement with B12 as needed. As with protein, vegetarian toddlers who eat dairy and eggs shouldn t have a problem with vitamin B12, but vegan children likely will because vegetable sources of B12 are few and far between. Take care with the iron. Most children get the majority of their iron from meats, although there are vegan sources of iron.