Feeding Vegan Children

Infants need plenty of energy. Home-prepared cereals should be made as a thick porridge and not as a thin gruel. Add a little vegetable oil to the cooked grains to increase their calorie content, and improve palatability by making them less glutinous as they cool.

Use more soya bean oil or rapeseed (canola) oil, and less sunflower, safflower or corn oils. The former may encourage the production of fatty acids that are important for the development of the brain and vision.

Do not allow infants fill up with liquids before meal-times.

Spread breads with margarine,seed or nut butters to increase calories.

Low salt yeast extract is a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Well-cooked and mashed pulses (e.g. lentils, mung beans and chick peas) provide energy and protein. Use black molasses to boost iron and calcium intakes.

Tofu prepared with calcium salt (usually calcium sulphate) contains more calcium than cow's milk. It is also rich in protein.

Make sure children have access to sunshine regularly and provide vitamin D2 supplements in winter.

Use non-dairy milks e.g. soya milk that is fortified with calcium, vitamin D2 and vitamin B12.