3 Tips For Parents Who Want To Apply A Vegetarian Diet To Children

Diet Illustration (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The results of research from the University of Toronto published in the journal Pediatrics said children who follow a vegetarian diet have growth patterns and nutritional measures similar to children who eat meat.

However, research also underscores that vegetarian children tend to be underweight, so experts emphasize the need for special care when planning a vegetarian diet for children.

Similarly, the pediatrician at Nationwide Children's Hospital Dr. Amrik Singh Khalsa said that children on a vegetarian diet had no significant differences in growth or nutrition scores.

"For the record, there needs to be variation in vegetarian diets and it is important to do more in-depth research on dietary patterns," he told Healthline, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, May 8.

The study also noted that children who consumed cow's milk had higher cholesterol levels than children who did not.

According to Dr. Amy Sapola, a pharmacist with a bachelor's degree in nutrition, also needs to underline that cholesterol has an important role in building healthy cells and is used by the body to produce hormones.

"However, if cholesterol levels are very high, this could be a sign of familial hypercholesterolemia, which is very rare, but requires further evaluation and potential treatment," he added.

According to experts, the most important factor for providing nutrition to children is variety. Here are some suggestions for parents to add more variety to their child's vegetarian diet.

Try different flavors, textures, and colors

When children start eating solid foods, Sapola recommends that they be introduced to a variety of different vegetables with different tastes, textures, and colors.

"Make sure there is variety in the diet, including different colors of vegetables, beans, nuts, and eggs from pasture-raised hens," he says.

To help with meal planning, he suggests that parents can provide six variations of flavors in food such as sweet, salty, sour, spicy, spicy, and sepet.

Khalsa added that parents can also serve color variations in foods ranging from fruits, vegetables, to nuts.

"This will help children get the right balance of nutrients and micronutrients and prevent macro or micronutrient deficiencies," says Khalsa.

Give children a chance to choose

Sapola said the need for parents to let their children choose the type and amount of food served on the plate.

"This can be a challenge for parents, but it can be a way to rearrange dinner, serve ingredients separately and let kids arrange food onto their own plates," she adds.

Boost nutrition with fresh food

"Buy and prepare fresh food to maintain its nutritional content," said Sapola.

It also means that parents avoid overcooked vegetables when sautéing, grilling, or steaming.

He adds parents can also try adding olive oil to vegetables to help increase the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.