Gaining Support
Those who do not live in a supportive environment may receive criticism of their vegan diet and lifestyle. GPs, paediatricians and dietitians do continue to raise doubts about the adequacy of the vegan diet and in some cases advise against it. These recommendations are usually the result of misinformation and by sticking to vegan principles and following the simple guidelines in this booklet, babies and young children will thrive.
Guidelines
Many theories abound on the feeding and raising of children and healthcare professionals may make recommendations which differ from guidelines set out in this booklet. In general, a more relaxed attitude to weaning and feeding children is currently in vogue. However, it is important to bear in mind that this booklet is a guide and should not be used as a substitute for medical care in the event of any possible health problems.
Doing Your Homework
The way forward will be smoother if family, friends and healthcare professionals see that the new parents have a sound knowledge of nutrition and that, after the birth, the baby is thriving. It is recommended to read general books on rearing children and vegan nutrition. During the course of pregnancy and for the first months after the birth of the baby, healthcare professionals that may be in contact with the new parents include GPs, paediatricians, dietitians, nutritionists, health visitors, district nurses at your local GPs surgery, the hospital and child health clinics. They will be particularly impressed by sound knowledge on vegan nutrition and may even learn something themselves!
Support From A Doc
One of the many advocates of a vegan diet for children is Dr Michael Klaper. Dr Klaper, an honours graduate of the University of Illinois in Chicago, has postgraduate training in medicine, surgery, anaesthesiology and obstetrics. His clinical experience includes eight years of conventional general practice, and three years as physician in an isolated hospital in the mountains of northern California. He has seen thousands of patients in his general medical office. After prescribing a vegan diet to his patients he began to see beneficial changes in their health. Dr Klaper criticizes dairy products for their role in causing health problems - from runny noses to inflamed joints. Dr Klaper's recommendation that children should never consume dairy products raises a few eyebrows from his medical colleagues. He has written two informative books that provide a wealth of information on veganism.