My daughter is 10 and she wants to be a vegan ive been doing some reading should she take a b-12 supplement?

Question

she already takes perscription vitamins but i dont what they have in them

Answer 1

Vegan, why exactly? Meat is not bad for you, and secondly for the ones that find it inhumane to kill and eat the flesh of another creature, I must advise you were not the only species that does this. At least we cook it. However a b-12 vitamin/ supplement and possibly E vitamin complex ( with b-6, b-12, and folic acid) my doctor said it helps with heart and immune health. Still you cant go wrong with boneless chicken b*****s slathered with spicy bbq sauce. Good luck with the anti-meat thing.

Answer 2

oh god, i hope your not the one that brainwashed her into it

she is way too young to be vegan

she is at the age of growing and puberty and needs meat and diary to grow

god put animals with nutrients on this planet for a reason

i assure you, you will see a big difference in her, she will have weak bones and may become anemic

Answer 3

A growing child needs high-quality nutrition, with lots of proteins, vitamins, and minerals - especially calcium and iron. 10 is far too young to take the risks of a vegan diet, even if she thinks she wants to.

You are her mother and you are still responsible for her good nutrition. You just have to overrule her and tell her to wait till she's grown.

Answer 4

Actually all the B supplements but especially B-12. Protein should be a major concern. Really the list of supplements are too long to be listed .Maybe you should speak with her Dr. or find a really good book for vegans in her age group.

Answer 5

WEll, if i was her mom, i wouldnt want my daughter to be a vegan you can get anorexic from it and that is really bad. also you do need to have dairy in you or else your bones will be not strong when you get older. plus, therre is no point of being a veagan.

Answer 6

Why does a 10 year old want to be a vegan? You've been doing some brainwashing, haven't you?

Edit: Brainwashing aside, consider your daughter's health. We ARE omnivores whether PETA likes it or not. You've got a growing child to consider and I'm sure she's smart. Please don't jeapordise her health (her choice or not - and I'm sure your views haven't influenced her at all).

Answer 7

I heard that older people and vegans can become Lactose intolerant!! (If a body is not using the enzyme that digests cheese-lactose-milk) then the person can actually become lactose intolerant!! wow! what a strange occurrence! I had no idea that such a thing was possible! !!  Do you know that 75% of the world's population is lactose intolerant!? That includes Asians and Africans.. who are pretty much 100% all lactose intolerant, from what I heard. I can never find the right website link when I am searching for it!

I have been vegan for about a year! I loved cheese! It was really hard to give that up! I allow my baby to eat organic cheese and organic happy farm chicken eggs! I don't see the harm in that! I think it's very good for her, actually. Little ones need lots of those special oils for brain development! Especially Omega3s (I eat a lot of walnuts for that. Personally, that's my favorite source.) Flax seed oil is very good for that, but I have an unfortunate digestive reaction to that. Is it just me? or do others get that too? my grandma used to eat flax seed oil like crazy and nothing happened to her! (that I know of!) She's very old and healthy! Canola oil has some Omega 3's , however some is lost in the heating of the oil to cook with.  My older baby (she's 13 months old) loves to eat peanut butter!!!!! She's crazy about it!

As for B12, I heard exactly what the other posters have said. That it comes from earthy matter or fecal animal type matter... um um... I also heard that a lot of people (not just vegans) are lacking some of this vitamin , yes, because of our sterile environment now. Lots of bacteria inside our bodies is going away now. Interesting! I heard it on National Public Radio. Maybe I can find that link.  Anyway. I also heard that MOST of us can get sufficient amounts through our fortified cereals!!!! yeah!!!!!! That's good news! Although, I must admit it conflicts with the statement that "a lot of people are b12 deficient now"..... (?) huh? well, I read this info on various websites. So, I kept finding conflicting reports.

I hate to sound cliche. But one should really ask their Doctor about this.  Personally, I don't see the harm in giving a child some organic cheese? I save lots of money by not buying meat? So, I can use that money to buy "expensive" organic cheese? I buy these wonderful organic lentils in bulk for $1.99 lb!!! These special lentils from my local co-op (or a link below will deliver to your home) have 13 grams of protein! That's equal to the protein in a can of tuna fish! So, don't listen to the silly people that tell you vegans don't get enough protein! That's silly! People need to do some research before making statements like that! Humans do not need large amounts of protein either! only the size of a deck of cards!

a handful or almonds has more calcium than a glass of milk! We do not need cow milk either! There are wonderful milk alternatives! soy, rice, almond milk, oat milk

Answer 8

i'm vegan and i don't take a supplement... i'm healthy but some people like to take it

i think letting her do this is amazing on your behalf. you sound very smart and openminded.

don't listen to these people

some children are vegan since forever and it's fine

these people are stupid

Answer 9

Yes on the B-12.

In the interests of full disclosure, I am vegetarian (not vegan) but my kids are not - their choice.  

The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics, neither of which is left-wing moon bat have stated that you can eat a healthy diet as a vegetarian/vegan, even if you are 10 or younger. There are plenty of good sources of iron, protein, and calcium that aren't meat or dairy based.

THAT BEING SAID - you DO have to do some planning, especially if you go full vegan, to make sure you get all the nutrients you need.  There are plenty of good books on Veg. for kids that aren't "eat a rainbow and grass clippings".   I'm talking solid nutritional science, not new agey stuff.

Answer 10

Talk to her doctor before you attempt something like this for a 10 year old.

Children's nutritional needs are different than adults.

Answer 11

Something is wrong with your story, doctors don't put children on prescription vitamins unless there is a medical reason for them. You really need to ask her doctor these questions and not a bunch of strangers on YA.

Answer 12

First of all, your kid takes prescription vitamins and you don't know what is in them.  I suggest finding out.

Second, If I were you, I'd tell my 10 year old kid to eat her meat and shut up.  Number one, it will be cheaper and easier for you, and number two, it will be healthier for her.  Yes yes, I realize that there are plenty of other sources for the things that meat gives you, but at that young of an age, I'd say it is better to get them naturally.

Besides, one week without Pizza, Tacos, and Hot Dogs and I'd suggest that this little Vegan phase will be well played out of her 10 year old body.

Answer 13

Hey that's cool about your daughter looking at the world like this.

It is common for vegans to take B12 supplements but not necessary. (I don't)

But this is what I recommend; do a blood test on her before she takes on the diet, and every 3 months in to it.

Do some research and make sure every vitamin and mineral is replaced with a rich source from a plant based origin.

It is a safe diet to take on - and very beneficial. Since I went vegan at 14yo my respiratory system is so much clearer.

EDIT: I admire you are open to this lifestyle for your daughter; it's a shame so many people on this forum are against it. It is not dangerous if you take care.

Answer 14

Yikes, whenever someone under 18 is mentioned, people go nuts.

Okay, first read and save this:

http://www.bestbread.ca/QUICK_-_REFERENC...

B12 is only needed in a very small quantity.

B12 come from the p**p of once celled organisms.

Found in your mouth, digestive tract, in and on foods.

Eating sterile foods, living in a sterile environment, taking antibiotics, junkfood diets, and other things that contribute to low B12 is why some people are low in B12; has nothing to do with a vegetarian/vegan diet.  Most all people with B12 deficiency in N. American are obese meat-eating junk-food eaters (eating the typical American diet).

I know people that grew up vegan in India (very common there) and they never took a vitamin or any kind of supplement their whole life.  They are big, tall, strong, and hard working normal people.  They told me that in India, a vegetarian diet is seen as a whole diet.  There is no dispute there because people have been eating this way for thousands and thousands of years without a problem.  Only in places such as modern N. America do people have such questions.  In India, about 60-80% of the whole population are farmers, and in touch with nature etc.  Most people in N. America live in cities, or in the suburbs, and in places devoid and out of touch with nature, thus, they have silly notions.

My own children have been vegan their whole life.  They do not take supplements.  They eat a good healthy diet, get lots of exercise, sunshine, outdoors, .... what you are worried about is propaganda.  Hey, sure, taking vitamin pills cannot hurt too much.  But vitamins can cause imbalances.  It's better that people's bodies learn to take nutrients from food and not learn to expect nutrients to come from pills.

Living in Canada, it can get pretty dark in the winter, so I do give them Floradix Kindervitial Multivitaminn for children -- I take some too... just for the Vitamin D.  If you are going to give her some vitamins, use these Floradix products as they are real food extracts, and not chemical laboratory produced vitamins (which are not real whole vitamins).  Get the vitamins from real food sources.  As an athlete I sometime use the Floradix Formula Liquid Iron during intensive exercise training or competition.

www.florahealth.com

Answer 15

I'm really sorry you are getting such bunk answers from people who swallowed the industry dogma (some are downright rude following you into your other question and assaulting you). You know who says we need dairy for strong bones? The dairy industry. You know who says we need meat for protein? The meat industry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazi...

Truth is that beans, nuts, seeds, green leafy veggies, seaweeds (there are many), figs, and many others provide a lot of protein, calcium, iron and a plethora of other vitamins that are lacking in meat and dairy along with fiber which you don't get in either.

Further, even a vegan gets on average more than twice the RDA of protein and too much protein (which is what we suffer from in the West) is harmful for our bodies. Being an acidic food it causes calcium to be drawn from the bones to make the blood alkaline. This causes issues with our kidneys and meat eaters suffer from a number of diseases including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, cancers, and more in far greater numbers with these starting to accumulate in childhood,  while veg*ns live on average 7-10 years longer and in better shape while alive.

There are many children that grow up vegan from birth and are perfectly healthy. Even if your daughter is an iffy eater she'll likely be in better health without the animal products; and they displace healthier foods anyway. My daughter is much healthier now than she was (her choice as well and I followed her because the real information is compelling)

Here are some resources to check out for further infomation:

http://vegkitchen.com/kid-friendly-recip...

http://www.vegforlife.org/kid_parents.ht...

http://www.peta.org/MC/factsheet_display...

Doctor Spock, the celebrated pediatrician advocated for vegan diets for children. He went vegan himself, losing 50 pounds and being able to walk again:

http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/60...

Regarding the B12 supplement. B12 is something your body stores so if your daughter has been eating meat and dairy until now she likely has quite a back up which could last a couple years. B12 is actually a soil bacteria that we used to get because we didn't need to clean our veggies so thoroughly (factory farming of animals have made that an issue) and in fact is how animals obtain it. But, deficiency is very, very rare, and when it does happen is usually caused by a faulty gene and not veganism. To be on the safe side though a weekly supplement, that can be obtained over the counter, should be sufficient. Fortified foods are okay sources but they are basically just supplements disguised as foods so if you don't like the food (say perhaps soy milk or cereal) there is no reason to eat it when you can just swallow the pill instead of the food the pill is wrapped up in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12...

But don't rely on most doctors as they rarely get nutritional education and if they do it is a few hours at best. Their training is how to medicate the consequences of the Standard American Diet (SAD). Sometimes the best they can do to be supportive is give blood tests to verify the diet is more than adequate and marvel over the health of you and your child "despite" the diet.

EDIT TO ADD:

Here is a site about a mom making a to go vegan lunch for her son; there are four years worth of entries to go over and lots of ideas (my daughter read the entire thing in a couple weekends and learned a lot -- I guess it's pretty entertaining):

http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/

with a separate site containing the recipes for the food she puts in:

http://shmooedfood.blogspot.com/

She's award winning and even came out with a book (self-published) that is being released by a publisher in a few weeks (it may even be out now).

Answer 16

Yes, although you should ask her doctor for the recommended mcg for that age.  B12 is only found in meat sources, and unless you buy a lot of vegan brand frozen foods that are enriched with it, she won't get any in her diet, and B12 is a very needed nutrient.

Answer 17

it is a misconception that you MUST have vitamin supplements if you are vegan.

include lots of variety in the diet - fresh green leafy veggies (including cabbage which has high folic acid content), other fresh vegetables & fruits, whole grains & pulses, whole wheat & soy products and dry friuts.

going veggie doesn't mean eating all the burgers & fries & pizzas - no nutrition there for sure.

you can visit some indian stores & sites to get a diversified view & choices & look up the nutrition data too.

you can also help your little girl make the transition gradually - reducing the intake of meat to specified days of the week; then keeping the milk & eggs; then going the entire length ....

Answer 18

You can just buy vegan products that have b12 added such as soy/rice/nut milks

Ignore the people who clearly have never even talked to a nutritionist a vegan lifestyle is extremely healthy and lowers your chances for almost all forms of cancer, Make sure she eats a variety of food that's the biggest problems people face when it comes to food vegan or not.

Edit Be sure to look up the facts about a vegan lifestyle yourself, Talk to a nutritionist if you have concerns do not take your "facts" from random people on here

Answer 19

She needs to either take a b12 supplement, or consistently eat foods that are fortified with b12, such as soy milk, breakfast cereal, etc. I don't know how people can accuse you of brainwashing, considering they know nothing about you. There seem to be a lot of people who aren't very educated about a vegan diet... The American Dietetic Association considers a well-planned vegan diet "appropriate for all stages of the life cycle" (This would include puberty). Don't let the ignorant people scare you. If your daughter wants to be vegan, let her, it's very healthy. I would still say that talking to a doctor would be a good idea.

Answer 20

Wow you are the first parent I have heard of who is so understanding about their very young daughter wanting to be a vegan.  No offense to her but how can she know what she wants at the age of 10.  My daughter is 10.  I am a strict vegan but my daughter eats meat.  I told her that she can bea vegan when she is older if she wants but right now I fear that being a vegan would do serious damage to her body.  Ten year olds just aren't the greatest eaters at least not any that I know so I think that a vegan diet would be very unhealthy.  I can't picture my daughter eating veggie burgers, beans, seeds, nuts, and protein shakes.  She would need a B-12 supplement if she weren't getting enough in her diet.  I drink Rice Dream Rice Milk which is delicious and it gives me a daily serving of B-12.  You have to focus on her getting enough calcium and protein.  At the young age of ten I would think that it is a phase but I think that it is great for you to support her if she wants to do it.  Just make sure that you check with her doctor.  He can be very helpful as far as vitamins and an eating plan for your daughter.  I don't think it is a great idea at this age but most likely it won't last.

Answer 21

If don't take b-12 supplement than you need to consume foods fortified with b-12.

In my country, I could find any foods fortified with b-12 in the supermarket.

So I have to take b-12 supplement.

Answer 22

Silk soy milk contains all the B12 a person needs.  Each serving contains 50% of your daily allowance of it.  Putting 8 oz on her cereal in the morning and giving her 8 ounces to drink with her dinner will be fine.

If she doesn't like the taste, you can either get very vanilla or put some flavoring in it when she is drinking it straight.

Answer 23

The vitamins she already takes probably have enough B-12; if it doesn't say on the label, I'd just put the name of the vitamin into Google or ask her doctor. Just be aware that the other vitamins in a multivitamin supplement can diminish the B-12, so make sure the supplement has a ridiculous amount of B-12, at least 1000 percent daily value. Also make sure that she gets enough calcium. Calcium is extremely important, especially for an adolescent, and many multivitamins don't have nearly enough calcium. She should drink soy milk or orange juice fortified with calcium every day; these have about as much calcium as dairy milk.

Answer 24

Yes & so should you. I just this morning read an article The Farminham Study(World's Longest Heart Study) is finding 39% of ALL people lack B-12 & folic acid. They give the reason as the animals are no longer getting the nutrients they need to make it, so even a flesh eater is not getting it.