In the new edition of his famous book, published in 1946, Spock recommended for the first time a vegan diet - a diet free of all animal products - for children as the optimal diet for human nutrition. This recommendation sparked a debate among doctors, nutritionists, and parents about what is the right mix of food for children.

The American Dietetic Association supports vegetarian and vegan diets. "It is the position of The American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, are nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases," the association said in an official position statement.

The ADA says "appropriately planned vegan and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets satisfy nutrient needs of infants, children, and adolescents, and they promote normal growth."

The vegetarian diet is mainly fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, seeds, and nuts in many combinations. Eggs, dairy products, or both may be included as well. The lacto-vegetarian diet is fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy foods; the lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet also adds eggs. The vegan, or total vegetarian, diet completely excludes all animal products, including meat, fish, fowl, and eggs as well as dairy products.

"Vegetarian diets can be healthful for people of all ages," said Julie Covington, a registered dietitian in Gastonia, N.C., and head of ADA's vegetarian nutrition practice group. "The toddler and preschool years particularly are important for developing healthy eating patterns that can establish a foundation for a healthful adult diet. A vegetarian diet, like any other, has the potential to be healthful or unhealthful," Covington said. "You're looking for variety."

In a review of more than 100 research studies from around the world, the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine found evidence that the vegetarians studied had 57 percent less heart disease, 40 percent less cancer, and 50 percent less high blood pressure than meat eaters.

The American Heart Association conducted research based on the concern among some nutritionists that vegetarian diets may lack enough protein. "You don't need to eat animal products to have enough protein in your diet," the association concluded. "Plant proteins alone can provide enough of the essential and nonessential amino acids as long as sources of dietary protein are varied and caloric intake is high enough to meet energy needs. Soy protein has been shown to be equal to proteins of animal origin. It can be the sole protein source if desired."

Few doctors disagree with the American Dietetic Association recommendations, although some deficiencies are possible with any diet. The ADA warned that "all vegan children should have a reliable source of vitamin B-12, and if sun exposure is limited, vitamin D supplements or fortified foods should be used."

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association said, "Like omnivorous diets, well-planned vegetarian diets can meet dietary recommendations for essential nutrients. However, the more foods eliminated from the diet, the greater the risk for nutrient deficiencies."

The vegetarian food products industry is now a multibillion dollar business, and the baby foods segment of that business is growing quickly, indicating that a generation of children is growing up organic. Organic and Natural News, an industry trade magazine, reports in its March 2001 issue that natural and organic baby foods are a growing category in conventional grocery stores and in natural foods stores.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/7yvug

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