3 year old and being a Vegan?!

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I have been vegetarian or vegan for decades, and have met many, many vegetarian and vegan families over the years. I have never come across anyone who was unhealthy from their diet, or had problems with their family members. Most of the people I have met were aware that they need to eat a healthy diet. Contrast that with the standard American-style diet with mountains of junk food and a growing obesity epidemic, and I don't see what the problem is. But the kids really need to eat fruits and vegetables-- and an overall balanced diet, even if it's sneaked in through other foods. Even if they ate meat, they would not do well without the fruits and vegetables.

I think you should not criticize their decision to eat a vegan diet and raise their kids that way. It's not your place to say whether you're "okay" with that. But you could tell them they need to eat healthier because you're concerned they're eating too much processed junk food without real nutrition that's important for a developing child. Offer them constructive information on nutrition to make sure they're meeting all their child's needs with a healthy vegan diet-- not a junk food diet. One good resource is the Vegetarian Resource Group. http://www.vrg.org/ where you'll find a copy of the American Dietetic Association's position on vegetarian and vegan diets http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/2009_ADA_po… "It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes."

Growing young kids have very specific needs for nutrients-- carbohydrates, protein (amino acids), fats, vitamins and minerals that can be met with a vegetarian or vegan diet. But a diet of just soy milk, frozen sugary ice cream, and baked goods will not be sufficient. Neither will a diet of soy milk, sugary ice cream, baked goods and hot dogs.

(A diet in which you eat three donuts for a meal isn't good for your health either. )

The way you've phrased your question is terrible... it's not being a vegan that is terrible, it's that she's getting tons of sugar and the parents are neglecting to provide some of the things they should. I can only assume that you're aware of the fact that vegans/vegetarians eat vegetables/fruits. So perhaps try to give a friendly suggestion to them, that they consider giving the child more veggies and fruits.

they need to vary her diet majorly. fruits, veggies NEED to be a huge part of her diet., products made from soy, rice, almond, hemp are awesome nutrients! They can be made into products as, cheese, milks, "meats" ect... they need to cut out sweets and give her a good range of healthy snacks! My children are 2 and 4 and eat a mainly vegan diet. There ped. said they are extremely healthy... these parents seem like they need to do more research and talk to their ped...

There is no issues in being a vegan from birth. I am also one.
The issue here is absence of vegetables and fruits. What is preventing them from adding them in diet?
It is not a bad idea to also go for B12 supplement at this age.

Being vegan isn't the problem here. Children are healthier raised with a healthy vegan diet. My kids have been vegan from the start and are now young adults and thriving.
The problem here is that they aren't feeding their child a healthy diet. Yes, her problem might be poor diet related. She needs to have vegetables, fruits and grains. She'd be better off with little to no soy dream, and vegan sweets. Diabetes is a real problem. My son's meat-eating best friend was just diagnosed with diabetes and is supposed to drastially change his diet. He's not and we are worried about him.
I would do some research. Even if you don't beleive me, you need to approach them with the attitude that being vegan isn't the problem. You can give them studies and research to that supports being vegan, but informs that it's crucial for a balaned diet. If you go trying to convince them two things - veganism is wrong AND she needs to eat a health diet - the won't listen to a word you say. I'm including some sites to help you gather information.
Good luck.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article…

http://www.essortment.com/articles/plan-…

it's not by being vegan that a 3 year old would get sick. but anyway, they are not feeding her fruits and veggies, that's no good. they don't knoe hoe to feed her properly. and by the way, for mood swings it'S kindda normal for a 3 year old, and even more common proven for people to eat meat, proven. anger mostly. she can't be eating meat or dairy from animals by the way, the human body wasn't built to digest those things so it will screw her up even more. you can't FORCE a 3 year old to be vegan, humans ARE made to be vegan, and it's better if you always had been vegan to begin with (but that's not the point). but they gotta be feeding her properly though. i'm not sure how you can get it thru their minds though. and please, it's not just because they are vegan that they wouldn't feed their kids right and feed them only ice cream and bakies. i'm seen far worse child-abuse cases concerning foods, like everytime i go to the states. full of people just buy their kids a happy meal on the road, or like 5 times a week. disgusting.

NON-vegan

I thought vegans ate fruit and vegetables...but if they still arent feeding them to her, yes, that will prove to be a detriment to her in her growth and devlopment if she isnt being provided an altenative to replace the nutrients she isnt getting.

get information from a doctor and use this to convince your aunty and uncle, that until she has grown up and can make her own food choices, that she should not be forced into their ways.

Call DPS and say child neglect, not feeding the proper food.
When they come out and try to take the kid away, they'll get a nice wake up call.
Vegan diets are medically not appropriate for children under 10.

Nurse