So Your Child Wants to Be a Vegetarian?
Bonnie's Advice to Parents Before They Begin...

I have counseled thousands of vegetarians.  My sickest clients are vegetarian children and teens.  They are usually malnourished due to deficiencies in protein, Vitamin B-12, magnesium, zinc, and iron.

My advice to parents whose kids want to be vegetarian is to look for the following "red flags" before or within the first year of the diet:

1) Is your child in good health?  A visit to their pediatrician and a simple blood test can determine this.
 
2) Is your child's motivation for adopting a vegetarian diet sound?  In many cases it's a politically correct eating disorder or a license to eat unlimited carbohydrates and junk food.  It's a good excuse to say to a parent, "There was nothing for me to eat because everything there was animal food."

3) Is your child willing to eat the following foods on a regular basis?
- nuts/seeds
- legumes (soy, dried beans, peanuts, etc.)
- eggs and cow's milk products (if your child is allergic to either of these items or is vegan (eating no animal derived products), it is essential to seek advice from a licensed nutrition expert).

4) Does your child eat too many refined carbs (sugared cereals, bagels, pastas, cookies, candies, etc.)?  It is impossible to achieve good macronutrient balance when too many carbs are eaten on a daily basis.

5) Has your child developed more health problems (headaches, stomachaches, colds, allergy symptoms, etc.) while following a vegetarian diet?

6) Has your child developed school problems, unusual weight loss or weight gain (especially around the mid-section), fatigue, or growth issues after adopting a vegetarian diet?

If none of these "red flags" exist, then, and only then would I advise parents that their child's vegetarian diet is probably a good idea. 

In good health,

Bonnie