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Resources to help answer patient questions and encourage health-promoting dietary patterns for children and families

Evidence-based nutrition for

Health Professionals

Why focus on plants?

Children's health professionals have a unique ability to influence the short- and long-term health of their patients simply by focusing on nutrition. One powerful way to amplify your impact is by encouraging the consumption of more whole-plant foods and providing families with the information and tools to make it easy.

98% of the people do not meet  whole grain recommendations [1]

98%

Nearly 97% of Americans are fiber-deficient

97%

90% of the population does not eat enough vegetables [1]

90%

80% of the population does not eat enough fruit [1]

80%

More than half of American adults and many children and adolescents have or are at risk for one or more chronic conditions. [16,17] Many of these diseases are directly related to and modifiable by diet. [16]

 

Chronic conditions are often long-term consequences of dietary behaviors which develop early in life. [18] Thus, establishing healthy dietary behavior, particularly during childhood, is essential for life-long health.

Diet & Health Outcomes

"It is often easier to balance a diet that is already rich in whole plant foods than a Western diet high in animal products and low in nutrition." 

 

Tami Turner, RD, Ph.D

"We form our eating habits very early in life. This gives pediatricians a great opportunity to influence a child's long-term health."

​

Allan Kornberg, M.D., M.B.A., FAAP

The nutritional needs of most persons, including pregnant women and growing children, can generally be met by eating a wide variety of foods. However, whenever food groups are restricted or eliminated, the risk of deficiencies can increase without proper replacement of the nutrients from other foods and/or supplements.

​

A plant-based diet, including vegan and vegetarian diets, can meet nutritional needs, given they are balanced. [1,2,4,20] Reviews on vegetarian and vegan diets in children typically report adequate growth, lower obesity risk, higher-quality diets, [10,11] and in women, lower pregnancy complications, such as lower risk of excessive pregnancy weight gain. [12] Typical concerns are vitamin B12, calcium, vitamin D, and iron, and supplements may be needed.  See our review on child growth and vegan and vegetarian diets for more information.​

Safety and nutritional adequacy of plant-based diets

Nutrition for Families' resources provide a comprehensive view of plant-based nutrition.  As dietary behavior develops early in life and the importance of nutrient adequacy is high during rapid growth and development, many of these resources focus on conception throughout childhood. However, the nutrition basics provided in these resources apply to all populations.

Resources

  • Key nutrients to monitor in a plant-based diet are described in detail, including the RDA, food sources, signs and symptoms of deficiency and excess, biomarkers and other diagnostics, treatment, drug interactions, and more.

  • View commonly-used food and behavioral therapies for diet-related issues, including: 

    • inadequate weight gain and obesity

    • constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and other GI issues

    • socioeconomic-related food challenges

    • food behavior (e.g., picky eating, superstitions)

    • nutrition in athletes

    • body image and disordered eating 

  • Read the latest research and articles hot off the press, including top nutrition papers from experts worldwide. ​ View our white paper on plant-based diets, particularly vegan and vegetarian diets, in childhood and their effects on growth and nutritional adequacy.

  • Provide your patients with evidence-based nutrition information on balanced, plant-rich diets to support:

    ​

    • Pregnancy and breastfeeding

    • Feeding infants and toddlers

    • Feeding children and adolescents ​

     

    Our resources provide more than just information - they include how to implement healthy lifestyle behaviors.

  • View all of our resources, including excerpts from our clinical guides on diagnostic and treatment options for key nutrients to monitor in a plant-based diet.

​Every single type of diet has some nutrients that are especially easy to come by, and other nutrients that require more attention.  ​Just like any diet, a few key nutrients need to be monitored when consuming a plant-based diet.

All Diets Need to be Balanced

Protein

Protein is typically not a nutrient of concern in plant-based diets unless it lacks adequate calories or greatly lacks food variety (e.g., food insecurity, extreme food rules). [20] In fact, most Americans meet or exceed protein requirements. [1]  See the Nutrient Library for more details.

Underrepresented in diet

  • Fiber

  • Potassium

  • Calcium and Vitamin D

  • Iron (pregnancy)

  • Folate (pregnancy)

Overrepresented in diet

  • Sodium

  • Saturated Fats

  • Cholesterol

  • Added Sugars

  • Refined Carbs

  • Animal Sourced-Foods

Traditional Western Diet

Underrepresented in diet

  • Vitamin B12

  • Calcium and Vitamin D

  • Iron (pregnancy)

  • Iodine (pregnancy and lactation)

  • DHA

Overrepresented in diet

  • Sodium

  • Added Sugars

  • Refined Carbs

Unbalanced Plant-Based Diet

All Diets Need to be Balanced

​Every single type of diet has some nutrients that are especially easy to come by, and other nutrients that require more attention.  ​Just like any diet, a few key nutrients need to be monitored when consuming a plant-based diet.

​

Our nutritional needs generally be met by eating a wide variety of foods. However, whenever food groups are restricted or eliminated, the risk of deficiencies can increase without properly replacing the nutrients from other foods and/or supplements. Thus, balancing all diets is necessary. ​

 

A plant-based diet, including vegan and vegetarian diets, can provide adequate nutrition, given that they are balanced. [1,2,4,19] Fortified foods and/or supplements may be needed to replace nutrients that are low or absent in plant-based foods. Knowing which key nutrients to concentrate on and what foods to eat helps to balance any plant-based diet.

Overrepresented in diet

  • Sodium

  • Saturated Fats

  • Cholesterol

  • Added Sugars

  • Refined Carbs

  • Animal Sourced-Foods

Underrepresented in diet

  • Fiber

  • Potassium

  • Calcium and Vitamin D

  • Iron (pregnancy)

  • Folate (pregnancy)

Traditional Western Diet

Protein

Protein is typically not a nutrient of concern in plant-based diets unless it lacks adequate calories or greatly lacks food variety (e.g., food insecurity, extreme food rules). [20] In fact, most Americans meet or exceed protein requirements. [1] See the Nutrient Library for more details.

Underrepresented in diet

  • Vitamin B12

  • Calcium and Vitamin D

  • Iron (pregnancy)

  • Iodine (pregnancy and lactation)

  • DHA

Overrepresented in diet

  • Sodium

  • Added Sugars

  • Refined Carbs

Unbalanced Plant-Based Diet

Pediatric Plant-Based Nutrition:

A Clinical Guide

A practical guide for healthcare providers caring for children interested in or consuming plant-based diets.

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