Ridiculously false. All dietary groups have risks of nutrient deficiencies that need to be taken into account. Every diet needs proper planning, or do you actually think the standard western dino nuggets, frozen fries, mac and cheese, and fast food burgers, that too many parents default to, doesn’t pose a nutrient deficiency risk? From the linked systematic review:
We conclude that there are dietary inadequacies in all dietary groups. In people following self-selected plant-based diets, especially vegan diets, intake, and status of certain nutrients is lower compared to meat-containing diets, with an increased risk of inadequacy for vitamin B12, vitamin D, EPA, DHA, calcium, iron (particularly in women), zinc and iodine. Of these nutrients, also meat-eaters were found to be at risk of inadequate vitamin D and calcium intake. On the other hand, people following plant-based diets, particularly vegan diets, had higher intakes of PUFA, ALA, fiber, folate, vitamin E and magnesium, which were found to be at risk of inadequacy among meat-eaters. Additionally, the intake of vitamin B1, B6 and C was considerably higher, especially in vegans.
Our results show the need for additional public health strategies to help consumers transitioning to a more nutritionally balanced and sustainable diet by education on diverse nutrient-dense plant foods, food fortification and possibly supplementation.
And here are a collection of statements from leading nutrition authorities from several countries. Just one for example:
It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. These diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, and for athletes. Plant-based diets are more environmentally sustainable than diets rich in animal products because they use fewer natural resources and are associated with much less environmental damage.
Of any nutrient that vegans might be at risk of deficiency of, protein is virtually never one of them. It is entirely feasible, easy even, to get more than enough protein on a plant-based diet - even for people who do strength training. From Christopher Gardner, who specializes on the subject:
Does it matter if you get your protein by consuming plants or meat?
Gardner: In terms of meeting your protein requirement, it really doesn’t. Protein contains the same 20 amino acids, regardless of where it comes from. It isn’t the amount of protein consumed as much as the proportions of amino acids, which make up proteins, that matter most. Meat and animal products have amino acid proportions that align perfectly with human needs. Plants aren’t aligned as perfectly, but they’re really close - so much so that it doesn’t matter if there isn’t any meat in your diet. You can still get the needed proportions of amino acids from plants. A lot of people think that plants don’t have enough total protein to meet human requirements. But the truth is vegetarians and vegans usually meet and exceed their protein requirement as long as they’re eating a reasonable variety of foods.
Now let’s talk about this idea of “imposing beliefs on your child.” In the first place, what a ridiculous notion, every parent imposes their beliefs on their children. What’s relevant is whose beliefs are better, which ones cause less harm. You speak of informed consent; then given how often children react with shock and sadness when they find out meat comes from animals, doesn’t it make sense to at least wait until they’re old enough to comprehend where their food comes from, and everything that happens to animals before feeding them products that come from animals? Would you feel comfortable showing your child a documentary like Dominion?
And going back to the point about health, I already established that plant-based diets are entirely adequate for all stages of life, including pregnancy and childhood. What about the typical western diets? Heart disease can start as early as the womb, and often does start as early as childhood. Plant-based diets generally don’t have that problem.
As long as a parent is taking basic steps to enure adequate nutrition, vegan diets for kids are a great choice with lots of benefits. It’s the typical western diet that is abusive.
It’s really weird that it seems the overriding purpose for your account is to attack vegans. You also must be really desperate, to go so far out of your way to miss the point, seeing the trees for the forest. I chose that article because it contains policy positions from several health authorities, not just one. But sure, maybe it would have been better to quote the others if one of them is technically expired, despite the fact that they actually do support the same policies, just with different wordings and in different papers. But let’s look at some of the others that were sourced, and you just completely ignored. From Dieticians of Canada:
Anyone can follow a vegan diet – from children to teens to older adults. It’s even healthy for pregnant or nursing mothers. A well-planned vegan diet is high in fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. Plus, it’s low in saturated fat and cholesterol. This healthy combination helps protect against chronic diseases.
Vegans have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer than non-vegans. Vegans also have lower blood pressure levels than both meat-eaters and vegetarians and are less likely to be overweight.
During pregnancy and when breastfeeding, if you follow a vegan diet you’ll need to make sure you get enough vitamins and minerals for your child to develop healthily.
Find out more about a vegetarian and vegan diet while pregnant.
If you’re bringing up your baby or child on a vegan diet, you need to ensure they get a wide variety of foods to provide the energy and vitamins they need for growth.
And I can go on with others. But you’re probably already going out of your way for another bad faith argument. By attacking my comment on the grounds of that statement being “expired”, you distracted from what is relevant and matters: are the claims true. And yes, they still are, and they will continue to be. Properly planned vegan diets are nutritionally adequate for all stages of life.
And now you’re just outright lying. They explain directly in the updated paper why they changed things around - something that was already addressed in one of the articles I linked you to. Either you didn’t bother to read it, or as I said before, you are a liar.
This position paper addresses vegetarian dietary patterns in adults aged 18 years or older who are not pregnant or lactating. Facilitating vegetarian dietary patterns in individuals younger than age 18 years and/or for those pregnant or lactating requires specific guidance that considers how vegetarian dietary patterns may influence these crucial stages of growth and development and is outside the scope of this position paper. The target audience for this article is RDNs, NDTRs, and other health care practitioners.
Those topics are literally just outside the scope of that particular paper. There’s nothing about the paper itself, or any other resource on any of their other websites to suggest it means they’ve changed their position. From their position paper on nutrition in child care:
Some children may also require dietary modifications for certain cultural or religious preferences, including vegetarian diets,4 which may also have added benefits. A recent study of one child-care center in South Carolina found that adding vegetarian meals to the menu improved the nutrient content of foods provided while keeping total energy, saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol relatively low.
And from another of their articles, reviewed on June 5th 2024:
A well-planned vegetarian or vegan diet can meet the nutrient needs of people during all stages of life, including pregnancy, lactation and childhood, as well as for those who participate in competitive sports. It’s just about making sure you get the nutrients you need.
Fortified foods and beverages can help to increase the intake of certain nutrients. For nutrients that are primarily found in animal foods, like vitamin B12, or when nutrient requirements increase during certain life stages, a supplement may be needed. During pregnancy, for example, more iron is needed, but iron is not absorbed as well from plant-based sources. Pregnant individuals should eat plenty of iron-rich foods, plus a source of vitamin C to help increase absorption, and discuss the possible need for a supplement with their health care provider. Try these iron and vitamin C combinations: beans and salsa, broccoli and tofu, black-eyed peas and collard greens.
For infants, children and adolescents, a well-planned vegetarian diet can promote normal growth. Calorie and nutrient needs typically can be fulfilled if the diet provides enough calories and diversity of foods. Incorporating fortified foods and beverages and/or supplements may be needed in order to get the recommended amount of certain nutrients.
And while most competitive athletes require increased energy, protein and nutrient needs for optimal performance, there’s no reason they can’t get everything they need nutritionally from plant sources. All it takes is a little carefulness with menu planning.
They explain directly in the updated paper why they changed things around … Those topics are literally just outside the scope of that particular paper.
but they weren’t outside the scope of their previous position.
No, they are not making a weaker claim at all, especially given they make the exact same claims on their other website I already linked to. You are seriously one of the most obnoxiously dishonest, bad faith actors I have ever come across. Get your head out of your ass.
Among an otherwise lengthy list of other citations, and ignoring how I’ve established that their position has not actually changed. You truly are skilled at honing in on the most irrelevant shit, and giving things the most bad faith interpretations possible.
Ridiculously false. All dietary groups have risks of nutrient deficiencies that need to be taken into account. Every diet needs proper planning, or do you actually think the standard western dino nuggets, frozen fries, mac and cheese, and fast food burgers, that too many parents default to, doesn’t pose a nutrient deficiency risk? From the linked systematic review:
And here are a collection of statements from leading nutrition authorities from several countries. Just one for example:
Of any nutrient that vegans might be at risk of deficiency of, protein is virtually never one of them. It is entirely feasible, easy even, to get more than enough protein on a plant-based diet - even for people who do strength training. From Christopher Gardner, who specializes on the subject:
Now let’s talk about this idea of “imposing beliefs on your child.” In the first place, what a ridiculous notion, every parent imposes their beliefs on their children. What’s relevant is whose beliefs are better, which ones cause less harm. You speak of informed consent; then given how often children react with shock and sadness when they find out meat comes from animals, doesn’t it make sense to at least wait until they’re old enough to comprehend where their food comes from, and everything that happens to animals before feeding them products that come from animals? Would you feel comfortable showing your child a documentary like Dominion?
And going back to the point about health, I already established that plant-based diets are entirely adequate for all stages of life, including pregnancy and childhood. What about the typical western diets? Heart disease can start as early as the womb, and often does start as early as childhood. Plant-based diets generally don’t have that problem.
As long as a parent is taking basic steps to enure adequate nutrition, vegan diets for kids are a great choice with lots of benefits. It’s the typical western diet that is abusive.
this is no longer their position
Yeah, it basically still is.
you should have quoted their true position, instead of an expired one then.
It’s really weird that it seems the overriding purpose for your account is to attack vegans. You also must be really desperate, to go so far out of your way to miss the point, seeing the trees for the forest. I chose that article because it contains policy positions from several health authorities, not just one. But sure, maybe it would have been better to quote the others if one of them is technically expired, despite the fact that they actually do support the same policies, just with different wordings and in different papers. But let’s look at some of the others that were sourced, and you just completely ignored. From Dieticians of Canada:
From the Association of UK Dieticians:
From the UK NHS:
And I can go on with others. But you’re probably already going out of your way for another bad faith argument. By attacking my comment on the grounds of that statement being “expired”, you distracted from what is relevant and matters: are the claims true. And yes, they still are, and they will continue to be. Properly planned vegan diets are nutritionally adequate for all stages of life.
if this were true, the AND would not have removed that claim from their latest position.
And now you’re just outright lying. They explain directly in the updated paper why they changed things around - something that was already addressed in one of the articles I linked you to. Either you didn’t bother to read it, or as I said before, you are a liar.
Those topics are literally just outside the scope of that particular paper. There’s nothing about the paper itself, or any other resource on any of their other websites to suggest it means they’ve changed their position. From their position paper on nutrition in child care:
And from another of their articles, reviewed on June 5th 2024:
but they weren’t outside the scope of their previous position.
it’s clear they are making a weaker claim.
No, they are not making a weaker claim at all, especially given they make the exact same claims on their other website I already linked to. You are seriously one of the most obnoxiously dishonest, bad faith actors I have ever come across. Get your head out of your ass.
your uk dieticians link is referencing the same now-expired AND position
Among an otherwise lengthy list of other citations, and ignoring how I’ve established that their position has not actually changed. You truly are skilled at honing in on the most irrelevant shit, and giving things the most bad faith interpretations possible.
yes, it has