The pediatric population may be more at risk of nutrient deficiencies resulting from poor dietary intakes or particularly high requirements. Extra care should be taken by vegetarians (and by meat eaters), to ensure that nutrient needs are met at the most vulnerable times in the life cycle. Babies should be breastfed wherever possible, but if breastfeeding is not an option, an infant formula (either based on cows’ milk or soya protein) can be used instead for the first 4–6 months.
It is usual practice to begin to introduce solids at around 6 months, but breast milk or infant formula should remain a principal dietary component until at least 12 months. Differences in nutrient intakes between omnivore and vegetarian infants have not been widely observed, but regular monitoring of weight should be undertaken to ensure that energy intakes are sufficient to allow normal growth. As infants and…
