Help! My daughter has become a vegetarian!

Q: My daughter has decided to follow a vegetarian diet. Do I need to worry about protein deficiency? ~ Worried Mom This is one of the most common questions that pediatricians are asked. A vegetarian diet, and especially one that includes fish, can be a very healthy option. Learn more about nutrition for vegetarians and ways your family can shift to a vegetarian diet. Q: Does my child need to eat meat to get enough protein? Complete nutrition, including adequate protein, can easily be obtained without eating meat. Meat is completely unnecessary if a diet is high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, fish, whole grains, eggs and dairy. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, eating healthy protein sources like fish, beans and nuts in place of red meat, especially processed red meat, lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and colon cancer. It is not necessary to seek out processed versions of meat substitutes like Tofurky, Meatless Meatballs or Chik’n Patties in search of protein. Real food –­­ ­beans, nuts and fish – ­can provide all of the protein your child needs. Q: My child won’t eat fish. How can she get adequate protein? If your child does not eat fish, make sure she gets at least three servings a day of some combination of dairy, egg, beans or nuts. Q: Does my child need a multivitamin? It is always healthiest to obtain nutrients in their real food packages, rather than from a medicine bottle. It is not necessary for vegetarians t...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Parenting Teen Health Dr. Carolyn Sax vegetarian Source Type: news