Global Study: Kids' Plant Diets Offer Benefits, But Need Nutrient Planning

• A global study indicates children on vegetarian or vegan diets may lack essential nutrients like B12, calcium, iodine, and zinc without careful planning.
• The largest review to date, analyzing nearly 48,000 children, found deficiencies in calories, protein, fat, zinc, and B12 for vegetarians, and low calcium for vegans.
• Despite nutrient concerns, plant-based diets offer benefits including improved heart health (lower LDL cholesterol), higher fiber intake, and lower BMI.
• Experts stress that these diets require attention to nutrient balance, especially during growth, and deficiencies can be managed with thoughtful food choices and supplementation.
• Specific plant sources like cashews for zinc and fortified foods or shiitake mushrooms for vitamin B12 can help address common shortfalls.

Why It Matters: Plant-based diets for children require careful planning to ensure proper nutrition.