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.