Vegan nutrition for a toddler

Hello Lisa

 

I hope that this message finds you well!  Last time we talked, I had just started a vegetarian diet.  I'm now eating nearly completely vegan and my wife is does the same with the exception of some cheese of dinners a few nights per week.  We have not given our daughter (16 months) any meat.  We HAVE, however, been giving her organic milk, yogurt and cottage cheese.  Her pediatrician says that she is healthy as can be and is growing as she should be.  She does have eczema, however.  It is not severe but she does have flare ups from time to time that look as though it would make her very uncomfortable.  We've been doing a lot of reading and it seems as though many parents of children with eczema have great success with relieving the symptoms by eliminating dairy from the diet.  We are strongly considering this and wondering if you could provide some insight or provide a reliable resource that would help us better understand how we could raise her healthfully on a vegan diet during this extremely formative time in her development. 

 

I believe that we have her covered on protein with beans, soy, and nuts.  Where I am worried is her fat intake!  I know that she needs a lot fat and saturated fat and that DHA and EPA are REALLY important.  Do you have any recommendations on how to get her all the fat she needs and specifically the DHA and EPA?  I found this supplement and thought that maybe something like this could be the key:  http://www.vitacost.com/barleans-total-omega-3-6-9-vegan

 

If saturated fats are important then can we simply supplement with coconut oil which is loaded with saturated fat?

 

Again, Lisa, I appreciate and respect your opinion.

 

Thank you so much for your help! 

Dear Friend,

thanks for the note.  I'm glad you and your wife are doing well with the vegetarian/vegan diet.

I must confess- pediatrics is not my forte.  But- I do know a few things!

My fear with a vegan diet in toddlers is lack of iron, vitamin D, calcium, zinc and B12 for growth.  Protein needs can be met with beans, lentils, soy milk and other soy products, but kids definitely need fat for brain development and as a calorie source for growth/energy.  It's not just the omega 3, 6 and 9 she needs.  

There are many other nutrients lacking in vegan diets, especially in toddlers because they are growing so rapidly.  If she's not already on a decent supplement containing all of the above nutrients, that would be my first advice.  You can season food with olive oil, light margarine, etc to get some fat in her diet as well.  I don't know much about coconut oil in kids- that would be a good question for your pediatrician.  I don't think it could 'hurt', but I don't know how palatable it is either by itself.  I suppose you could put it in iron-fortified cereal, rice and other foods.

Rather than eliminating food (or beverages in the case of milk/dairy from her diet), I'd consider going to a pediatric allergist and having her tested to see WHAT is causing the eczema.  It could be dairy, but it could be another food as well (bananas, tomatoes, wheat, etc).  Peanut allergy could also be the culprit, but I think the recommendation for nut exposure is 3.  

That's my 2 cents!  Let me know how it all turns out.

Lisa

What's a typical day like for a dietitian?

Thank you for taking the time to talk on Tuesday.  I am a recent graduate from Indiana University and has recently joined the IT consulting profession in Cincinnati. Due to my current work experience and a strong interest in dietetics I am considering going back to school to become a dietitian. Therefore, I wanted to reach out to you to ask about your experience in this profession and would appreciate your advice on the following questions:

 

What is an average day for you like?

At the hospital, it is very busy.  The first thing I do is go through admissions, discharges and transfers then make a list of patients I need to see.  I cover the MICU (medical intensive care unit) and SICU (surgical intensive care unit).  I see patients that have had major surgery or are on life support due to respiratory infections or disease.   I may also see patients with acute renal failure, liver disease, gastrointestinal bleeding or acute heart attacks.

With consulting, I could be at the doctor's office I rent space from seeing individual patients or at a company working a health fair or doing a lecture.  Or, I may be at home making invoices, handouts or lectures.  My days vary quite a bit with consulting.  I could also be at Kroger doing a grocery store tour.

What is your interaction like with patients/clients on a day-to-day basis?

At the VA, I talk to patients about their diets and see how they are eating, order supplements and write progress notes.  If the patients cannot speak for themselves, I talk w/family members, nurses, MDs or other staff.  I spend a fair amount of time charting on the computer.

From your Linkedin profile, I understand you have experience in a hosptial setting, what was the drive for you to start your own practice?

I needed some variety in my career and was interested in wellness.  I like to teach and write, so the business is a good fit for me.

How do the two settings compare?

I have a set schedule with the hospital, I make my own hours (more or less) with consulting.

The hospital is hectic and I see sick people, the business is more laid back and I see healthy people.

I have more variety w/my business than the hospital, though the VA is a challenging and interesting place to work.

At the hospital, I have co-workers whereas my business, I am on my own.

What type of personality do you see in people who are successful in this field?

You need to be confident and like to work with people.  You have to enjoy reading and understand a lot of science and consumer interests.  In business, you need to network.  There is a lot of customer service in both positions.  Provide more than is expected of you!

And lastely, what do you most enjoy about your job, and what are some of the drawbacks of it?

I love teaching patients about healthy eating and seeing people get better, lose weight, etc.  The drawback of a hospital setting is that it never closes- so you have to work around holidays, etc.  I enjoy working with other medical personnel (speech therapists, RNs, doctors, etc).  I also get to teach interns at the VA.

Carbs on labels

I have a question…when I look at a label…it might say total carbs 5…then further down the label…it will say ….other carbs 1…what is that all about…?

Thanks for your question.  The nutrition facts section of the food label lists all carbohydrate sources including grains such as oats, wheat, bran, etc, fiber, sugar and any "fillers" that may contain carbohydrates.  These could be cellulose, methyl cellulose, corn or wheat starch, etc.  ALL carbohydrates can raise blood sugar and do contribute to the caloric value of a food.

I just found a great reference for food additives that may be helpful in understanding "what's in your food".
http://www.amazon.com/Consumers-Dictionary-Food-Additives-7th/dp/0307408922