Ask the Expert Series: Veganism for Kids and Adults 101

Hi, there is ample protein available in plant sources. Eating a diet rich in beans (chickpea, black beans, tofu, tempeh etc), lentils, seeds (chia, sunflower, pumpkin etc), a fair quantity of nuts (almonds, brazil nuts etc) and a variety of vegetables (broccoli, green peas, kale, spinach etc) can provide us with all the protein we need for optimum functioning.

Hi! Vegan food is like any other kind of food. If one wants to eat expensive vegan food (like the vegan versions of cheese, butter, cream cheese, meat etc or use ingredients like maple syrup etc) then you may. But the vegan staples are very basic, cheap and easily available foods like Oats, Rice, Beans, Vegetables, Fruits, and some Nuts and Seeds. If you choose to buy organic then naturally the bill goes up. Eating vegan food at a fine dining restaurant will cost more than otherwise, just like non vegan food. But to remain healthy and fight diseases, all we need to do is stick to the basics and those are not more expensive than animal products. :)

Plant based eating is still picking up pace around the world so there is still a lack of options in school cafeterias. But I believe that there is also a massive lack of healthy options for children in these cafeterias. Since such is the situation, I prefer packing food for my daughter. Normally, the snack boxes would have fruits, tofu sticks, steamed corn, assorted nuts, pancakes etc. Lunch boxes have fried rice with tonnes of veggies, tofu and beans, pasta with veggies, tofu and beans and noodles with veggies, rice with a veggie curry etc

What I understood about parenting, not just eating specifically, is that labeling children can sometimes be counterproductive. It makes them believe that they are what the label says, which might not be true at all. So as a mother, I always discourage other parents to not call out their children as fussy eaters. You might feel it in your heart but they do not need to know everything you have in your heart right? ;) No child is a saint and nobody is a monster. They all are looking for validation and acknowledgement in everything they do from their parents, teachers and peers. So it is important to not compare them with other children and continue to have faith in them and encourage them to do what might seem inconvenient but right. Children can be fussy in many ways. They might even fuss when it comes to doing their homework. Just the way we, as parents, do not give up on them when it comes to their studies, we should continue trying. Start slow. Set small goals. Maybe start with pla

A well balanced vegan diet not only provides us with the nutrients we require in ample quantities but it also can protect us from very many chronic diseases like diabetes, heart ailments, hormonal issues, certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. In fact, research has proven and there are millions of people all around world who have also managed to reverse deadly diseases by switching to a plant based diet. I am not in a position to comment whether it is the best diet but it sure is one diet that has been put to test by many scientists and researchers and in most cases they have agreed wholeheartedly that it is better than a diet high in meat, dairy, eggs and fish.

hi! If you are eating lamb and beef to meet your protein or other nutritional requirements then I would say that they can be easily replaced with a plant based diet consisting of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. A plant based diet can provide us with all the nutrients in ample quantities for our body to function optimally and fight many chronic diseases like Diabetes, heart ailments, cancers and autoimmune diseases. If you are looking to substitute them for the taste then there are a few plant based meats that are quite popular nowadays like Beyond Meat, Omnimeat, Impossible Meat etc. They taste quite good and can easily substitute for meat in almost all recipes.

Hi. There are plenty of vegan videos on Youtube that you can choose from depending upon what your child likes to eat. I have a son who is 2.5 years old. He loves pancakes, oats, stir-fried broccoli, blended soups, rice, all kinds of fruits, smoothies and nuts (yea he is a big eater). I post kid-friendly vegan recipes every week on my social media handles. Please do check them out if you like. www.instagram.com/vegankeno www.facebook.com/vegankeno

Hi ivy, you may comment your question here and Ambaree will answer questions tonight from 8.30 to 9.30pm :)

No i do not use protein supplements. I have never felt the need to. But a lot of plant based athletes do consume protein powders.

Yes. A well balanced plant based diet can provide children of all ages with ample protein required for their growth and development. Offering plant based protein sources like Tempeh, Tofu, Chickpea, Kidney beans, Green peas etc on a daily basis can help them develop their taste buds to begin to like these protein rich foods. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics deduces that vegan diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence.