Vegetarian Diets in Children and Adolescents

Usually, the most controversial topics revolve around politics, medicine, education, sex and gender, and such other issues, mainly due to these issues usually affecting everyone. However, as the years have passed, the situation may have changed, as one of the most controversial issues has touched upon the topic of an eating preference. The issue, which is mentioned is veganism. Apart from being a food choice, it has gotten a rather negative connotation, due to having an ethical side to it, apart from the healthy one. One of the reasons for the public’s concern about veganism as a phenomenon is that this particular issue seems to have strictly divided parties, during the discussion: one of which actively promotes a vegan lifestyle, while others believe that this phenomenon is negative only.Vegetarian Diets in Children and Adolescents

Veganism as a phenomenon has existed for a long time, more specifically, it has been around since the first human civilizations appeared. However, until relatively recently, it has not come up in the public debates. What is also important to note, is that 30 years ago, the science was an ally to the anti-veganism party, with the main concern being humans health. For example, Vesanto (154) states that a university text dated 1976 states that “Adults, and only adults, can safely remove meat but nothing more, from their diets.”  Meaning that the respected institutions have long promoted such disbelief. With authority, which such organizations have, there is no doubt why people have negative, yet extreme opinions on this topic. However, since science has been in the rapid movement towards progress over the last few years, there have been multiple studies conducted, negating the previous statements about the veganism’s negative impact on the human body. While general peoples health has been the focus point in this debate, children’s health has been a specific factor discussed in the context of a vegan diet not being suitable for healthy development. As previously mentioned, the researchers have proven wrong, for example, Amit (309) have stated that “inclusion of soy products, nuts, and nut butter will provide more concentrated sources of energy and will support appropriate growth”, which means that vegan lifestyle is a proper choice of food, with the same nutritional value as the ones, with the inclusion of meat and diary.Vegetarian Diets in Children and Adolescents