Caring for Infants and Children Following Alternative Dietary Patterns

The number of people that refrain from eating meat has apparently increased. This is due to a variety of factors other than economic constraints or religious concerns, which have long been reasons for such dietetic conduct. Several reasons for adopting diets excluding meat include improved health, concerns regarding animal welfare, the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock, and the excessive exploitation of environmental resource. Consequently, the number of children whose parents decide to follow alternative diets, such as vegetarian, vegan, macrobiotic, or fruitarian, is also growing. Clinical research regarding adults adopting such diets has expanded, and their nutritional impact is now well documented. However, data on children following dietetic regimens excluding meat and the impact on their health are limited. We would like to raise the awareness among pediatricians regarding advising parents during pregnancy and for regularly caring for infants and children who grow up in families consuming atypical dietetic regimes, such as vegetarian and vegan diets.