Considerations in planning vegan diets: Infants

Appropriately planned vegan diets can satisfy nutrient needs of infants. Th e American Dietetic Association and The American Academy of Pediatrics stat e that vegan diets can promote normal infant growth. It is important for pa rents to provide appropriate foods for vegan infants, using guidelines like those in this article. Key considerations when working with vegan families include composition of breast milk from vegan women, appropriate breast mi lk substitutes, supplements, type and amount of dietary fat, and solid food introduction. Growth of vegan infants appears adequate with post-weaning g rowth related to dietary adequacy. Breast milk composition is similar to th at of non-vegetarians except for fat composition. For the first 4 to 6 mont hs, breast milk should be the sole food with soy-based infant formula as an alternative. Commercial soymilk should not be the primary beverage until a fter age 1 year. Breastfed vegan infants may need supplements of vitamin B- 12 if maternal diet is inadequate; older infants may need zinc supplements and reliable sources of iron and vitamins D and B-12. Timing of solid food introduction is similar to that recommended for non-vegetarians. Tofu, drie d beans, and meat analogs are introduced as protein sources around 7-8 mont hs. Vegan diets can be planned to be nutritionally adequate and support gro wth for infants.