Kids and Vegan Diets: What to Know | The Exam Room

The idea that children cannot get every nutrient they need without cow’s milk is hogwash. That is what plant-based dietitians Alex Caspero and Whitney English discuss as they join “The Weight Loss Champion” Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room.
The founders of Plant-Based Juniors explain why children do not need meat and dairy in order to eat a healthy diet. But they didn’t always feel that way! Alex and Whitney candidly open up about their own initial fears of raising children on a vegan diet, but how they were able to overcome them by examining research showing the benefits of taking cheese and lunch meat off the menu.
Plus, they share their list of must-have foods that every plant-based parent should have on hand! And they also have tips for getting kids excited about eating fruits and vegetables!
The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler Feeding Guide: amzn.to/33ZcfUO
Plant-Based Juniors: plantbasedjuniors.com
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The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 12,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.
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[@m.taylor]

A whole food plant based diet really clears up one's complexion.

[@livingfree2333]

We are vegans for the animals and enjoy a WFPB diet. Our teenage daughter is an athlete and is grateful every day for her healthy diet. She recovers quickly from exercise and does not suffer from PMS like her friends. Thank you for all of these informative interviews.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

All too easy.

[@MBison-im2qy]

It's so weird, I grew up loving broccoli and potatoes and pasta and brussel sprouts. I almost never ate candy or cake or cupcakes they made me sick.

[@2lee885]

I'm so blessed to have kids that aren't fussy. They love to try new things and love the fact that their plates are so colourful most of the time. So, transitioning was a breeze for us. This was such a great interview. Thank you & God bless🙂

[@wfpbwfpb]

Yes!!!! We have a baby on the way and have been wfpb for 1.5 yrs

[@ssmith3967]

Congrats!!

[@lloydchristmas4547]

Best wishes 🥕🤱

[@barbaralewis5328]

We need more helpful video's on feeding children on a plant based diet, especially those who start a little later, after food preferences have been formed. So many are already addicted to processed foods, meats, etc. It can be next to impossible to change them over, especially if the parents are new to this way of feeding their families.

[@mely260]

Can we do school lunches next?

[@fruitascension5089]

These women are on the ball! Great information, thank you, all!

[@arielm1112]

Great interview with two qualified DIETITIANS. Both of our kids are vegan! They are strong and healthy. My little one had a physical last week and their iron levels were supposed to be at 32% or higher and they were at 40%. The pediatrician kept going on and on about how strong and healthy she is.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

A website and plant-based book for very young children by dieticians is very much needed. I may just get the audiobook out of curiosity.

[@Robloxlover912]

This was great information. Thanks Chuck

[@vanillasunrise5706]

For anyone with older kids that they want to start moving to a plant based/vegan diet. We actually try to eat semi normally so we have done the normal American diet and have just veganized the foods so spaghetti we just added more veggie filled sauce instead of adding meat or tacos we replaced meat with beans, black bean burgers instead of meat burgers etc. To also show their friends at school we don’t just eat lettuce I still eat like a normal kid! And broccoli is our favorite to go with the video LOL

[@mely260]

This is so good, I needed this

[@kirstiyates9907]

Love this! So helpful! Going to buy the book now!

[@LisaLightning]

Great video, as a nanny I have been trying to figure out where to get consolidated information on actual nutritious food for babies and toddlers to share with parents.

[@michelle8929]

Omg... my baby just turned 6 months I REALLY needed this information. Thank you thank you soo much will get the book right away ❤️

[@slimpaco3561]

Be careful, recent study showed that vegan kids are shorter and weaker than non-vegan kids.

[@michelle8929]

@@slimpaco3561 Do you have a link to that study?

[@slimpaco3561]

@@michelle8929 www.ucl.ac.uk/child-health/news/2021/jun/vegan-diets-children-may-bring-heart-benefits-pose-growth-risks

[@michelle8929]

@@slimpaco3561 overall the study states that vegan children are healthier than the vegetarian and the omnivore especially regarding heart health and weight… however yes, it is easy to be deficient in B12 and D and protein if you do not eat properly balanced vegan food. I don’t see the article stating these are whole food plant based vegans or junk food vegans? There is a big difference. It also states that the vegans were not supplementing B12 and D, which is obviously needed in a vegan diet.

[@toninavegan]

@@michelle8929 everybody needs a B12 supplement, not just vegans. B12 used to be available in the soil but because of the heavy use of pesticides and fertilisers it’s practically impossible to get it nowadays. The only reason some omnivores are not deficient in B12 is because factory farmed animals are given that vitamin as well. Still, around 40% of the world’s population is B12 deficient. As for vitamin D, the only natural form of getting it is from the sun. Sun exposure allow us to absorb the sun rays and then convert it into vitamin D. Again, if people don’t do this they need a supplement. It’s not vegan exclusive at all. Don’t worry, your baby will be just fine. Plant based eating is the healthiest diet you can feed them for sure. 😃🌱

[@bettyglick2679]

This was amazing!!

[@shazzykimmo5335]

I’m taking inositol along with my plant based diet but my joints are clicking I’m taking vegan multi vitamins with b12 in I’m thinking of taking collagen is there a vegan type of collagen I can take please

[@MathusalaTree]

Can’t wait to get my hands on this book!

[@AnHourOfWolves]

Nice to see this, a little too late for me: I have older teens that grew up vegan and are still vegan and believe in animal welfare. I just wish there was less vegan junk food these days 😁

[@PinkieJoJo]

I wish I would have been vegan back when I was having kids. Mine are teens and older now and they eat like crap. They won’t touch a vegetable let alone eat a plant based diet.

[@AnHourOfWolves]

@@PinkieJoJo That's tough for sure. Kids grow up, make their own decisions. That's success :) You're still a role model, they may come back to it!

[@sadiedavenport]

Awesome that they're vegan! I think most of us ate junk food more when we were teens. Partly because we liked it, but also because it feels just a tiny bit rebellious, (or at least not square).

[@officiallysalading8056]

I'm a 15 y/o vegan and I eat a lot of vegan junk food. My reason is the craving of the junk food dominating me + stress eating due to a lot of stress in my life. I'll use Veganuary as an opportunity to cut down on the vegan junk food and eat more responsibly. I started being vegan in October 2020 although prior to that, I argued with vegans, something I regret doing.

[@AnHourOfWolves]

@@officiallysalading8056 You made it over a year as a vegan, congrats! I also ate junk food for many years, so I know how it is. My palette has changed now though, so my date-syrup, cocoa-powder steel cut oats tastes like cake to me now :) I also really love fruit and seaweed... I recommend the whole food angle for sure.

[@jenaphelpsable]

I'm ok with allowing a cupcake or cookie sometimes but what do you do when you have extended family who allows their kids to eat straight up sugar type candies? Like sweet tarts or lollipops you dip in sugar?

[@traceylouisebooth1810]

I HAVE BEEN VEGAN NOW FOR ONE MONTH FEELING MUCH BETTER I HATE CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. I HATE CRUELTY TO ANYTHING.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

Thank you for showing kindness to the animals.

[@MrTrevisco]

Vegan is not a strict diet as one of those dieticians equated it with other diets when describing including all those changing their diet slowly.

[@happieveal]

Whitney and Alex, I know that yall said not to worry as much when it comes to the foods they eat at grandparents house or a family get together.... but what do I do about living next door to in laws? My mother and father in law live next to us as well as our brother and sister in law and their kids. They eat a 100% SAD diet and they keep junk food out in the open, and even at grandparents house there is jars of cookies and processed Gummies and sugary/dairy filled foods. How do I get around this? I don't want my kid to always have those things every time he goes to their houses. It would be different if it was a every once in a while thing but the fact that he will be there multiple times a week, I just don't want him developing those terrible cravings. Me and my husband have been plant based for 2 and a half years and we are 37 weeks pregnant, so I know I have a while before I have to worry about him eating those foods but im trying to mentally prepare for it. Any suggestions?

[@juliejoseph2201]

I’m like that with tomatoes. I tell people I love plain tomatoes the way you love steak.

[@vanillasunrise5706]

Grape tomatoes 😋😋

[@BethCatt-jq6xi]

When I was a kid, I turned down ice cream for frozen blue berries yummy 😊

[@mikemasail823]

A common mistake parents make is telling there kid, "Finish your food, there are people starving in China". sets the child up for a lifetime of misery and suffering.

[@JD-59]

I've visited China. They are fat and sick just like us. They have taken a drastic reaction to the famine that happened ~60 years ago.

[@mikemasail823]

@@JD-59 That is true for the Chinese in the cities, because they have adopted the American S.A.D. diet. The rural Chinese on the other hand, still eat the traditional diet, and are still slim.

[@elizabethdawson7076]

I highly recommend checking your sources that tell you that vegan food is healthy for kids. According to dietician Judy Moore, raising a vegan child can lead to nutrient deficiencies, inadequate energy intake and faltering growth. The first year of life is one of the most important developmental periods for a child, explains paediatric dietitian Ana Kristina Skrapac “Nutritional deficiencies are common for vegans, particularly iron, B12, iodine,” she told The Independent. The fact that you are promoting this is so harmful. Please stay safe and do your own research people!!!!

[@conniebo7694]

I agree with gradually eating a plant base by introducing one meal like lunch or breakfast But I wanted to say it really bother one to see a young child a girl was about 10 yrs old eating a salad while her siblings eating a ice cream or a hamburger at Wendy’s maybe she was use to eating that way?? Now I see on KZbin vegans leaving this due health issues and eventually go off this way of eating

[@mely260]

Lol they can have a vegan burger or vegan ice cream 🤣

[@conniebo7694]

@Vegan Vamshi Krishnan Oh yes I know all about that, just viewing and trying to educate my self more, I drink plant base milk like the bean burgers I’m not fully plant base I like it, I just about if this is enough for the kids, you see I’m older now food then and now is different like wheat not grown in the best ground(I know get organic) like I said one video showed this woman go off being vegan she was in her twenties she was losing her hair had no periods etc, now she get protein from fish some meats eggs per her doctors request and started having periods again, just wondering here, so what is the long term effects with children, has there been studies? It just had had some concerns Thanks

[@mely260]

@@conniebo7694 aw its so nice of you to be worried of that and I've heard many people have that happen but you can get a plant based doctor. The best thing for you to do is try it out and see how you feel about it. Nowadays their many protein vegan products like have protein shake with 20 grams in it, smoothie bowls with seeds, many vitamins and supplements for kids and adults. Vegan multivitamins. There should be nothing to worry about.

[@mely260]

@@conniebo7694 amazon/Amazon fresh is an online store in Amazon with many healthy products vegan and nonvegan they have many well protein products and multivitamins for kids and adults.

[@methanial73]

There is no disconnect between loving animals and eating them. Animals aren't as important as people and some people CAN"T survive on vegan diets. Some people can. To each their own. We are all not equal. Not all people are equal. Equally important, yes and valued.

[@slimpaco3561]

Keep politics out of our kids diets. I've learned a lot about fiber and plant nutrient from this channel, but saying that kids should not consume any animal products is dangerous to their health. Edit: a recent study showed that vegan kids are shorter and weaker than non-vegan kids. Be careful.

[@MindVersusMisery]

The largest organisation of nutritional science in the world disagrees with you. As soon as the baby is weaned off of breast milk, there is no need to eat anything from an animal again. Instead of wasting your time here, I am sure you would do more good by aiming your energy at the big food corporations that are advertising their junk food to kids to hook them for life.

[@lloydchristmas4547]

There are plenty of people who consume animal products and are sick or dead. Check your local cancer care hospitals. Don't you think that's dangerous?

[@slimpaco3561]

@@MindVersusMisery It's one thing for a overweight 40 year old women to go vegan, but quite another for a 12 year old child. There is a big difference between a junk food diet and a balanced one that includes eggs, fish, and lean meats. I hope you people do not have kids, they will be malnourished.

[@MindVersusMisery]

@@slimpaco3561 Since you don't know anything about me, maybe you shouldn't jump to conclusions and insult me. And as for your statement; it doesn't align with the science of nutrition no matter how frustrating it may be to you.

[@slimpaco3561]

@@MindVersusMisery You are an extreme cultist and would be danger to any child.

[@bellaada919]

No doubt vegan is good for adults but its not healthy for kids specially at growing age. Kids need dairy product for their healthy growth and development that plant-based diet never fulfils. Milk is an important and crucial component . its a great source of calcium and as long as you buy from a local farm, you are basically living cruelty free.

[@carnistpolice]

Debate me. Calcium isnt needed for bones.you need vitamin d

[@27raggie]

Omg that's so NOT true. Not just dairy is not necessary, but it's also very harmful. Cow's milk is made to develop a baby cow, not a human. There are tons of plant foods with calcium. Milk is high in saturated fat, hormones and other chemicals, and there's evidence that is actually bad for bones as one of the components causes bone fractures.

[@carnistpolice]

@@27raggie Facts!

[@jenaphelpsable]

Cow milk is not good for anyone at any age. The biggest ingredient is sugar. 70% of humans are lactose intolerant. Your statement is based on prejudiced origins. No dairy farm is cruelty free. Cows cannot give consent to allow their milk to be taken from them. It's for baby cows.

[@pacoceja4659]

Why are people SO FRIVOLOUS with USELESS words?? SORT OF this... SORT OF that... must you use SORT OF in a sentence 10 TIMES?? PS did you not acquire enough vocabulary with YOUR MULTIPLE DEGREES? So distracting 👎🏼

[@3Zeppoli]

It's a bad habit. An unnecessary word filler while she thinks. Just like "uhmm" and "you know". I agree though it makes a person appear less educated.

[@MJ-ib7iq]

I guess you didn’t learn “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all” in your Ivy League education.

[@pacoceja4659]

@@MJ-ib7iq clearly you use the same useless lingo as her.