Vegetarian Child. The Term Almost Sounds Like An Oxymoron Weve Joked About Through The Years, Like Jumbo Shrimp. The Words Just Dont Seem To Go Together! It's Not As Unnatural As It May Sound. Actually, Kids Are Almost Natural Vegetarians. Its Imperative That You Offer Your Growing Vegetarian Child A Wide Variety Of Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Nuts, Seeds, And Soy Based Proteins To Ensure They Have The Energy And Nutrients Needed To Grow Up Strong, Healthy, And Happy. Consider Including Items In Your Daily Menu Planning For A Well-rounded, Nutrient-dense Healthy Diet: 2.5-3 Cups Fortified Soymilk 14-12 Cup Iron-fortified Cereal2-5 Servings Grains (12 Slice Bread, 14 Cup Cooked Rice, Pasta, Quinoa, Etc)2-3 Servings Veggies (12 Cup Salad Or Raw Veggies, 14 Cup Cooked Veggiesbear In Mind That The Younger Your Child Is, Cooked Vegetables Might Be Easier For Them To Chew And Digest, Then Introduce Raw Veggies As They Grow Older.) 2-3 Servings Fruit (12 Fresh Fruit, 14 Cup Cooked Fruit, 14 Cup Juice)2 Servings Protein Foods (14 -13 Cup Cooked Beanslentils, A Slice Or So Of Calcium-fortified Tofu, Or Peanut Or Almond Butter Be Sure That Nut Butters Are Fed To Children Whove Been Tested And Shown Not To Have Nut Allergies; If Youre Unsure, Wait Until Your Childs Healthcare Provider Has Had The Opportunity To Test For Such Allergies In Your Child Before Trying Them)Vitamin B-12 Source - Nutritional Yeast, Breast Milk, Formula, Fortified Soy Milks And CheesesVitamin D - Sunlight, Breast Milk, Formula, Fortified Soy MilkOmega-3 Essential Fatty Acids - Flaxseed Oil, Freshly Ground FlaxseedAnd Heres Some Finger-food Friendly Options For Your Growing Vegetarian Toddler: Fresh Or Frozen MangoFresh Or Frozen PeachesnectarinesplumsCubed AvocadoTofu (put In Microwave Or Steam For 10-30 SecondsFresh Or Frozen PeasPasta That Is Slightly OvercookedCubed Soy Or Rice Cheeses Canned Beans- Black, Garbanzo, Black Eyed Peas, Or KidneyToast, Cut Into Little Pieces
