Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Linda:
    
    Speaking as a dietitian, I don't know any reason why it cannot be
    safely and healthily done, especially since you are including dairy and
    eggs, both of which are excellent sources of protein, fats, and other
    nutrients.
    
    It seems to me only logical that you would want to educate yourself on
    this topic, and there are many good sources.  I'd start with the
    library.  The more education you get, the more you'll be able to
    discount those opinions which are, in fact, only opinions.
    
    Mark Hegsted, who is a prominent Harvard School of Public Health
    nutritionist (now retired), wrote once that he believed that the only
    times one had to worry about "complete" proteins were in the first two
    years of life, during the adolescent growth spurt, and in pregnancy and
    lactation.  (And, of course, following the stress of major accident,
    surgery and illness).  
    
    As long as you use eggs and dairy, which are "complete" proteins, you
    don't have to worry about things like combining wheat (as in tortillas)
    and beans, or corn and beans, etc.  But it seems to me that you would
    want to learn these things anyhow, because vegetable protein sources
    add so much good eating and variety to our diets.
    
    If anyone should tell you, "but eggs are high in cholesterol, and half
    the calories in whole milk come from fats," tell them that that's
    right, but your diet doesn't include meats which are the usual sources of
    high-cholesterol, high saturated fats in the Western diet and you think
    you can safely include eggs and dairy.  
    
    If you should be told that "vegetarianism is not good for small
    children," say that this opinion only applies to the most rigid, grains
    only diets, and even in this case it applies only to very young
    children.  The problem here is that children are physically incapable
    of eating a large enough volume of grains and vegetables only to meet
    their nutrient needs.  
    
    Briana Walker  

>    Does anyone have information on feeding babies on a vegeterian diet
>    (with the goal of raising them as vegeterians)?  How do you get
>    them enough fat and protien?  Are pediatricians knowledgable about
>    this subject?  Are there any books specifically for feeding growing
>    vegetarians?  I am referring to a non-meat diet, but one that includes
>    dairy products and eggs (ovo-lacto).  Can it be done?  (No political 
>    opinions please.)

My wife's family is nearly vegetarian, but will eat occasionally white
meats such as chicken.  They did so because of family histories of
arthritis ... and not eating red meats is "supposed" to help -- maybe its
true, because they aren't suffering from it.

Anyway, they did have a number of friends who were vegetarian in various
degrees and the more strict vegetarian, the more health problems they had
in later years.  We talked about this a lot before we had our kids, and
research we did indicated that while there was sufficient fat and proteins
in a vegetarian diet, there are certain proteins animal which are considered 
as necessary for human growth and health.  So, we ended up having meat, but
generally in smaller than average quantities, and preferring white meats to
red, but we'll eat most things.

How essential these animal proteins are, I don't know, but you may get
sufficient from an milk and eggs.

Stuart

    Lynne and I have been vegetarians for about 15 years, so of course
    Elspeth has been brought up entirely vegetarian (lacto-ovo), and we
    have never had any sort of problems.
    
    I would suggest that if you see vegetarianism as a sacrifice, then
    your kids will probably pick up on that and see things the same way;
    but if it is simply the way you eat, then it will just be normal for
    them, too.  Indeed, the only difficulty we have encountered is that,
    while Lynne and I are "moderate" vegetarians, and aren't above
    buying meat in a restaurant if there's nothing else worth eating,
    Elspeth, having never acquired a taste for meat, won't touch it at
    all.
    
    By the way, wrt .2, I think that must reflect some sort of
    confusion.  There are no "animal proteins" which are necessary for
    human health, since all dietary protein is broken down into
    constituent amino acids, which are then used by the body to build
    its own proteins, and all the necessary amino acids are readily
    available from vegetable sources.  (There is some disagreement about
    whether it is necessary to be concerned about mixing different sorts
    of non-meat food sources in a meal so as to achieve roughly the same
    ratio of different amino acids as would be obtained from animal
    protein".)
    
    Stuart may be thinking of one specific vitamin (B-12?  biotin?)
    which is, indeed, available only from animal food sources, and whose
    total absence from the diet can, over the very long run, result in
    serious health problems.  (Biotin-deficiency anemia, I think.) 
    Fortunately, the amounts required are miniscule, and are easily
    supplied by a lacto-ovo diet; so I expect that this is only a
    problem for the very purest of vegetarians (who would probably be
    adequately served by a simple vitamin supplement).
    
    	-Neil

    
    Neil (.3) is quite right.  Animal protein basically just gives us amino
    acids, some of which are "essential" (i.e. humans cannot synthesize
    them from other sources) and some of which are "non-essential".  No
    single vegtable food contains all the essential amino acids, but it is
    pretty easy to combine foods that do.  You should get one or more good
    non-ideological books on nutrition.  The nutritional sections in
    "Kitchen Science" (author unremembered, but available in pb.) would be
    a reasonable start, but there are doutless more complete volumes, too.
    
    		- Bruce
    

    For whats its worth, What to Expect the First Year (and What to 
    Expect when You're Expecting if I remember correctly - my sister-in-law
    swiped it!) has several pages on vegitarian considerations for
    preggo's and young children.   I've found both books to be excellent
    in all *other* aspects, so expect the info provided on this topic
    is good as well.
    
    Carol

    You don't say whether you plan to eat fish or not -- if so, you
    certainly have nothing to worry about, nutritionally; lots of protein
    and minerals in fish. We've been eating a no-meat (but plenty of
    fish and dairy foods) diet for years and have found no problems
    meeting our needs. Our (conservative) pediatrician gave his blessing
    too, for our now almost-3-year-old. The only thing I watch is my
    iron level, which I enhance with leafy green veg, blackstrap molasses,
    etc.
    
    Lucy
     

    We have a five month old daughter who will be raised as a vegetarian. 
    We made sure to pick a pediatrician who would support us in this.  (We
    live in Nashua and I'd be happy to provide you with the name of our 
    pediatrician. Send me mail.)
    
    The November issue of Vegetarian Times has a selection of books for
    sale.  Included are two books:  Vegetarian Baby for $7.95 (#2005) and
    Vegetarian Children for $6.95 (#2004).  The shipping charges are a
    little outrageous--$3.00 for the first book and $.50 each additional
    book.  You can call 800-435-0715 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., CST,
    Monday through Friday.   
    
    I have never seen the books so I don't know anything about them.  They
    are written by Sharon Yntema, if that helps you out at all.
    
    judy