GENERAL PAPERS

1

VEGETARIAN DIET IN CHILDREN
Dana-Teodora Anton-Paduraru1, Carmen Oltean2, Laura Mihaela Trandafir1,
Amalia Maria Mineata3
1
3-rd Clinic of Pediatrics, ”Gr. T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi
2
Children’s Emergency Hospital “Sf. Maria”, Iasi
3
Hiperclinica Medlife, Iasi

ABSTRACT
Vegetarianism may have implications on the growth of children and adolescents. There are different types of vegetarian diets: some may be suitable for children, other deficient in essential nutrients. If a vegetarian diet is done properly and includes fortified foods it can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases.
Restriction or exclusion of products of animal nature can lead to low intake of essential nutrients.
Keywords: vegetarianism, child

Childhood is the period when nutritional habits are acquired, when growth is intense and when deposits of essential nutrients are stored.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, vegetarianism is defined by “the consumption of a diet that contains vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals and sometimes eggs and dairy products” (1).
Vegetarianism may have severe implications on the growth of children and adolescents, therefore it is necessary to assess the nutritional status of vegetarians to insure optimum growth and a good health state and to prevent potential deficits.
There are different types of vegetarians (1) –
Table 1.
Each of these diets has implications on the nutrition and health of children and adolescents. The reasons for which one adheres to a vegetarian diet are different:
• economic reasons: in some countries, vegetables are cheap;
• the risk of omnivorous diets and the negative publicity on the diseases emerged as a consequence of the consumption of animal products;
• moral reasons: the belief that eating meat involves cruelty and environmental