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For: Immediate Release December 5, 2000
Contacts: Davida Breier (410) 366-8343
Jeannie McStay (410) 366-VEGE

VEGAN NUTRITION IN PREGNANCY AND CHILDHOOD

Know a child or future mother on a vegetarian diet? To help with nutrition information, The Vegetarian Resource Group is now offering a free brochure covering Vegan Nutrition in Pregnancy and Childhood.

Registered dietitian Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D. addresses basic needs in pregnancy, plus requirements for infants, toddlers, and school age children. Especially helpful are sample meal plans and ideas for foods popular with children.

Dr. Mangels covers calorie needs, protein, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and folate. Other topics of interest include DHA (a fatty acid often found in animal foods), and use of soy formula (when not able to breastfeed).

To order the comprehensive brochure Vegan Nutrition in Pregnancy and Childhood send a self addressed stamped envelope with two first class stamps to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. The brochure is also available online at www.vrg.org/nutrition/pregnancy.htm.

GENERAL TIPS

During pregnancy, the body requires extra calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals in order to support the baby’s growth and to allow for changes in the mother’s body. Important considerations in pregnancy include calories, protein, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, vitamin D, zinc, and folate.

It is important to note that soymilk, rice milk, and homemade formulas should NOT be used to replace breast milk or commercial formula during the first year.

Introduceone new food at a time to your baby in order to identify possible allergens.

Do not restrict fat in your baby’s diet before 2 years of age. Some sources of fat are avocados, olive oil, and nut butters. Nut butters are possible allergens, so watch your child carefully for signs of an allergic reaction. Nut butters should only be given to babies over one year of age, and only with supervision.

MORE TIPS

Use an iron skillet when preparing acidic foods, such as tomato sauce. This helps “unlock” the iron.

Goodsources of zinc are peas, beans, brown rice, nuts, spinach, tofu, wheat germ, fortified breakfast cereals, and tempeh.

Try these foods popular with vegan children: oven-baked French fries, soy yogurt, and milkshakes made with calcium-fortified soymilk and fruit. Also try peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, muffins, mashed potatoes, veggie burgers, tofu dogs, bagels with nut butter or hummus, pasta with marinara sauce, pizza with soy cheese, or pizza without cheese and topped with vegetables and meat analogs.

For more information on vegetarianism, visit the vrg homepage. A more detailed discussion of vegan pregnancy and raising vegan children can be found in the book Simply Vegan by Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D. and Debra Wasserman. Simply Vegan contains 160 quick and easy recipes, as well as an extensive vegan nutrition section. This excellent resource covers topics such as protein, fat, calcium, iron, vitamin B12, feeding vegan kids, and a nutrition glossary. Also featured are sample menus and meal plans. To order Simply Vegan (ISBN 0-931411-20-3) send $13 to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Or call (410) 366-8343.

Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans do not eat meat, fish, or fowl, and do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs. For information about vegetarianism or veganism, send a self addressed stamped envelope with two first class stamps to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Visit their web site at www.vrg.org.

VRG Home | About VRG | Vegetarian Journal | Books | Vegetarian Nutrition F.A.Q. | Subscribe to Journal | Game | Vegetarian Family | Nutshell | VRG-News Recipes | Travel | What's New | Bulletin Board | Veg Kids | Search | Links

© 1996- The Vegetarian Resource Group PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203 (410) 366-8343   Email: [email protected]
Last Updated December 11, 2000	Graphic design by
The contents of this web site, as with all The Vegetarian Resource Group publications, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. Any pages on this site may be reproduced for non-commercial use if left intact and with credit given to The Vegetarian Resource Group. Web site questions or comments? Please email [email protected].