When Kids Don't Like Meat Vegetarianism poses a special nutritional challenge in the young Of the 12 million Americans who consider themselves vegetarians, no one knows how many have yet to celebrate their 21st birthday.
Experts say, however, that adolescents make up the fastest-growing group of people who shun meat.
But the nutritional needs of young people, particularly during growth spurts, may not be adequately addressed by some vegetarian diets. Dr. Johanna T. Dwyer, Director of the Frances Stern Nutrition Center at the New England Medical Center, explains what's appropriate nutritionally and what's not. Well-planned vegetarian diets can be healthful for children over the age of two if they are carefully planned. These diets tend to be low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol and tend to be high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, as well as high in fruits and vegetables for iron. Nutrient supplements can help prevent these problems, though.