In parallel with increased public awareness of the health and environmental benefits of consuming a plant-based diet, the demand for meat-free food products has surged, alongside sharp increases in the numbers of people who identify as vegan and vegetarian. This webinar discusses the question of whether vegetarian and vegan diets are appropriate for children, a longstanding and unresolved controversy. Evaluation of the research to date on the risks and benefits of vegetarian and vegan diets in children is challenging. Vegetarian diets vary in their inclusion and exclusion of food groups and are often poorly defined in research studies, and with a few exceptions, available data on vegan and vegetarian children are dated, poorly characterised and unaccompanied by validated health outcomes.
What will I learn?
- Know the nutritional requirements and vulnerabilities of children
- Learn about the complexities of global recommendations on vegan and vegetarian diets for children
- Understand what is required to achieve a complete vegan diet in children, and the potential risks