Is a vegetarian diet suitable for my babies?

Myth: Babies/young children taking vegetarian food will be lacking in certain nutrients.

Fact:
Vegetarian food for babies can be very nutritious. If you are bringing up your baby as a vegetarian, it means that you probably won't give him any meat, fish, seafood or animal by-products, such as gelatine. Most vegetarians, however, eat some animal products, such as milk, cheese (there're some made with vegetarian rennet) and eggs.

To help your baby enjoy his food and get the nutrients he needs, offer him a variety of foods from the four main food groups:

• bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods (carbohydrates)
• fruits and vegetables (green leafy vegetables are great source of iron)
• milk and dairy foods (some vegetables such as 黄花、香菜、油菜、洋白菜 contain 463g, 170, 140 and 100 of calcium respectively for every 100g of vegetables and walnuts are a great source of calcium as well)
• cooked-through eggs (including the egg yolk which is a great source of fats, Vitamin A and iron), beans and other non-dairy sources of protein, including soya, pulses, nuts and seeds

Some vegetarian food may have too much fibre and not enough energy (calories) for babies. So make sure your baby gets plenty of energy-rich foods, such as avocado and hummus.

It's also fine to give your baby white bread, pasta and rice as well as wholegrain versions. This is because too many high-fibre foods can stop him from absorbing important nutrients, such as calcium and iron.

Your baby will also need a source of milk. Oat, rice and soya milks (even if they are calcium-enriched) do not provide the same amount of energy, protein or essential nutrients that breastmilk and formula milk provide. Find out what some experts have to say about soya formula milk.

If you need advice on which milk is suitable for your baby, talk to your health visitor, practice nurse or a dietitian. They may suggest you continue to breastfeed or give your baby formula milk for longer than you were initially planning.

79th week of motherhood

5mar - 11mar'12

- went to the nearby food centre for lunch with TK and he said 'bird-bird' as he saw the birds
- Ma came to visit TK after dinner at 8plus on Mon

- sent TK to mum's in the morn and went to the supermarket for groceries shopping for diapers again (offer till tomorrow, and another till next Mon)
- hubby went jogging again on Tue
- TK took a square firm cushion to the floor and stood on it, and took another to make it higher, and this time he sat on it (after we've warned of the danger of standing on them before) , and started to sing and dance, moving his head and body as he 'oooh'
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78th week Dearest Baby TK

28feb - 5mar'12

532 days' old, you poo at a; used 0 disposable diapers in all;
533 days' old, you poo at a; used 0 disposable diapers in all; took 0h nap in all; 
534 days' old, you poo at a; used 0 disposable diapers in all;
535 days' old, you poo at a; used 0 disposable diapers in all;
536 days' old, you poo at p; used 0 disposable diapers in all;
537 days' old, you poo and pee at 810a; went to the market with Dardy and Marmy and helped carry the big umbrella; went to the nearby CC to read the newspapers and went to pee at the washroom; Ma came to visit you at before your lunch; nap at 258p;
538 days' old, you poo at a; gg to Grandmum's place for stay for a week

78th week of motherhood

27feb - 4mar'12

- carried TK as he is teething on Mon

- went to NTUC shopping with TK and grannies and bought brasmati rice, diapers and groceries etc
(there's no BYOB discount for buying disposable diapers unless you bring your own bags, carry by hand will not be considered for BYOB discount as the sticker 'PAID' pasted on the disposable diapers will be equivalent to using the plastic carriers from the supermarket)

- accepted an extra tuition class on Wed at Woodleigh (took more than 100min to reach from mum's place by MRT $2.06) to prepare student for test on Fri
- reached home 730p (after 40min chat with parent) and hubby re-heat food for dinner
- hubby bought the food from nearby food centre after jog (had wanted to jog together)

- Thur is Leap Day and waited long for bus in the morn
- attended a new Dharma class on Heart Sutra at PMT with hubby
- made boiled-cum-stir-fried beehoon for lunch-cum-dinner before going for class at 730p
- reached PMT at around 715p
- left upper arm muscle still ached for the 3rd day after carrying TK as he felt discomfort from teething

- fetched TK from mum's after dinner alone as hubby had a function dinner on Fri
- mum sent us to the MRT station control as usual since I didn't let her accompany us home (to-fro journey will be about 170 min)
- reached home around 940p (more than an hour's journey after having missed a train at CCL Buona Vista, waited another 4min and mistakenly went to the Street Level at Bishan instead of NSL platform to take train home)
- must be sleepy and unable to focus well

An old story of a sick King and The Happy Wood cutter

Once a King of rich kingdom fell sick, no doctors were able to cure him. The king was in severe pain and was not able to sleep at all. Finally the courtiers brought about a wise old doctor.

The wise old doctor listened to king, the king complained that he is not getting any sleep and and is always in pain. He also told Doctor that he would reward him very handsomely if he cures him.

The wise old doctor smiles and tells King and his courtiers that the cure was very simple, they just have to find a happy man and give his shirt to the king.

King sent his best messenger across the kingdom, first to meet him were Nobles. They said "we happy no way, king is ill, he can remove us any day he wants we always are stressed to remain in his good books".

Next messenger went to rich merchants, on asked if they were happy they said "Of Course not, how can we happy when King levies so much tax, business can fall any day.

And the list went on with servicemen, army and all.

Finally the messenger reached end of Kingdom and was sitting in forest and was about to give up, he heard a wood cutter whistling while working. He thought to give it a last try and asked him whether he is happy, The wood cutter replied "Of course, I have plenty to eat, there is enough wood in forest to sell in market and have decent living. "

Upon hearing this King's messenger said "quick man give me your shirt". The wood cutter replied "I have none".

Happiness and being rich or wealthy are two completely different things. This fact itself was first espoused by Buddha who was the prince of Kingdom and left his home to find enlightenment.