Having your kids on this diet would not only save you time and make your meal planning a lot easier but it is healthier as well.
However, if you are not a vegetarian but your kid is in the beginning stages of becoming a vegetarian, your child will be might be missing some important nutrients from not eating meat. This results to a nutritional imbalance.
You may have heard about the risks of being a vegetarian such as it could stunt the growth of your child, as well as if this diet is at all sustainable.
If yes, then you are right. Your concerns are valid especially if your vegetarian diet is poorly planned. This could result to a serious short term as well as long term deficiencies in children. This is because children do not have the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals in their bodies as yet.
You could be putting your kids at risk if the meals are not well-prepared and well-planned.
Being aware of the necessary nutrients that a body should have while on a vegetarian diet, then there should not be a problem.
IF you know what you are doing then you are helping your child improve his or her overall well-being by limiting them from eating animal products that are full of growth hormones, preservative, and other chemicals during the processing.
Make sure that you have the following information at hand before preparing your meal.
1) Protein - source: nuts, soybeans, and tofu.
2) Calcium - source: lots of green leafy vegetables and green tea.
3) Iron - source: beans, soybeans, tofu and cereals.
4) Zinc - nuts, peanut butter, mushrooms and green tea.
Green tea contain all the necessary nutrients and minerals that a body need as well as powerful antioxidants to help prevent diseases and help strengthen your immune system. Nowadays, there are green tea recipes available to include in your diet thereby providing a satisfying and nutritious meal for you and your family.
But that can be hard to do, especially in a culture where our children are bombarded with messages from fast food restaurants in the media. How do you teach kids to resist the siren song of Ronald McDonald? There isn't a plate of vegetables on the planet that's going to look as good to them as a Happy Meal!
You have to start slowly to change not only your own eating patterns, but your family's as well. Like any other dietary endeavor, it starts at the grocery store. Begin stocking the refrigerator with healthy snacks like apples and carrots. Exchange good, chewy brown rice for white rice and processed side dishes, which are so high in fat and sodium. Make meat portions smaller and smaller and start incorporating more vegetables and grains in your family dinners.
Don't make changes all at once. If you do give in and stop at a fast food restaurant, get fruit or yogurt in addition to or part of that meal. Make the changes so gradual that they'll never notice their diets are changing. Kids are usually very sympathetic about animals, and it's not too early to talk to them about eating in a way that isn't cruel to animals.
You'll be doing them a favor that will last them a lifetime. With childhood obesity at epidemic levels in the U.S., you will be setting up your children for lifelong eating habits that will help ensure a long and healthy life.
Both Mary Rose Antonio & Janet Somer are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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