Are vegetarian diets healthy and safe for children? What are the risks? Which nutrients and vitamins do vegetarian children need to pay extra attention to? Should they be taking supplements? Why do children choose to be vegetarian? Are there any benefits to a vegetarian diet? What about vegans? What does Dr. Dean’s dog have to do with this subject? Listen as Dr. Lena and Dr. Dean discuss these issues and more in this episode.
This episode written by Dr. Dean Blumberg and Dr. Lena Rothstein.
The authors thank dietitian Staci Collins for reviewing this topic, although Drs. Dean and Lena take responsibility for any errors or misinformation.
Supplemental material:

* Drs. Meredith Renda and Philip Fischer Pediatrics in Review article Vegetarian Diets in Children and Adolescents

* My Plate model website, vegetarian page

* Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website, vegetarian menu ideas

Photo from UC Berkeley