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Myth:Fish Is the Only Source for Top-Quality Omega-3s

Fact: Omega-3 fatty acids/DHA (docosahexanoic acid) can be acquired through nonanimal sources as well as fish.

People don’t need to eat fish to get omega-3s/DHA, the essential fatty acid that promises all sorts of body and brain benefits in both children and adults. Where do fish get their omega-3s? The answer is sea algae, and humans can get omega-3s the same way, and without eating a single fish.

We caution against the sole use of flaxseeds, flax oil, and a number of other nut oils for your vegan child’s only source of omega-3s. They are rich in ALA (alpalinolenic acid) but deficient in DHA. The body tries to convert enough ALA to DHA, which is essential for the healthy development of your child’s vision, but is not able to do so adequately enough. Some good omega-3/DHA vegan supplements from sea plant sources are available. Ask your pediatrician or family medicine doctor if your child should be supplemented.

Myth:Dairy Is the Best Source of Vitamin D and Calcium

Fact: Milk is supplemented with vitamin D, so taking a vitamin D supplement is the best source and skips the middleman—or cow, in this instance. Calcium is available from many plant products and in supplemented orange juice.

Vitamin D isn’t actually a vitamin at all; it functions as a hormone used in the human body. D is a hot letter in health news lately because all the sunscreen we’re wearing and kids’ lack of playtime is creating a widespread case of vitamin D deficiency.

One of the best ways for your child to get vitamin D is through limited but regular sun exposure, even just 10 minutes a day on exposed, nonsunscreened, skin. A good vitamin D supplement helps eliminate any further D-deficiency worries. It’s true that most vitamin D supplements are derived from animal products, but look for a vegan option or go for the BPO.

That’s So Vegan

For more information on calcium and vitamin D, check out www.notmilk.com .

Calcium is also widely available in fortified orange juice as well as leafy greens, tofu, and some beans.

Social Myths

Now let’s address the social myths, such as whether it’s medically reportable child abuse to feed your child a vegan diet. Also, can vegan foods adequately replace the “joys” of the standard American diet for kids? Is an American childhood complete without ice cream, hot dogs, and mac and cheese?

Myth:Veganism Is Child Abuse

Fact: Veganism in itself is not child abuse. It has the potential to be healthy or harmful, just as does an omnivorous diet, depending on the parents’ level of nutrition education, motivation, and concern for the child’s welfare.

One study that focused on child neglect reports related to “complimentary therapies” lists a few unfortunate instances of meat-free diets being reported to authorities. These, however, were far from the typical vegan child’s diet. One of the cases involved restrictive dietary practices where the child was allowed to eat only uncooked fruits, grains, and vegetables and, as a result, starved to death. Another involved a 20-month-old boy whose parents refused to feed him anything other than lettuce and watermelon because they thought he was a religious prophet.

Parent Trap

Doctors and other health-care providers are legally required to report signs of abuse and neglect. If your child is having a diet-related health problem, partner with your child’s physician. No one wants to see a child off the growth charts (too light or too heavy) for a prolonged period of time or with a persistent nutrient deficiency. If your child is having weight or other nutrition issues, keep good records, attend all scheduled appointments, and build trust to be sure your doctor knows you’re working to correct the problem. (See Chapter 9 for more details.)

It’s not usually necessary to assume that a doctor’s questions about your child’s diet are an attack on veganism or your family’s choices. When an omnivorous child’s parents feed him foods full of saturated fat, cholesterol-laden meat, and