Iron is another reason to avoid cow's milk. Cow's milk is very low in iron and can induce a mild, chronic blood loss from the digestive tract. Calcium is supplied by beans and green leafy vegetables, and excluding animal proteins helps the body retain calcium. Children need protein to grow, but they do not need high-protein foods. A varied menu of grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits supplies plenty of protein.
Protein deficiency is extremely unlikely on a diet drawn from a variety of plant foods.
Very young children may need a slightly higher fat intake than do adults. Soybean products may be helpful for this purpose. Tofu hot dogs and seasoned tempeh burgers, for example, are very well accepted. However, do not take the need for fat in the diet too far. American children very often have the beginnings of heart disease before they finish high school.