What should vegetarians substitute?
As explained above, the need for nutrient substitution depends strongly on the form of vegetarianism. Ovo-lacto-vegetarians have the lowest risk of suffering a nutrient deficiency. If a sufficient amount of dairy products is consumed regularly, there is usually no need for nutrient substitution.
Only the iron level should be checked at regular intervals – or when symptoms such as tiredness or paleness occur – as iron deficiency can also occur in ovo-lacto-vegetarians. Iron substitution is also often necessary for vegans because not enough iron-containing food is consumed. With vegan lifestyle often further nutrients must be substituted.
In particular vitamin B12. In addition, with Vitamin D, calcium, iodine and zinc must be paid attention to a sufficient supply. If this is not secured over the normal nutrition, appropriate food auxiliary preparations should be taken. Our next topic could also be interesting for you: Iodine in the human body
The vegetarian diet during pregnancy
A vegetarian diet during pregnancy carries the same risks as outside pregnancy: protein deficiency, iron deficiency and various vitamin deficiencies can be a problem and play an important role for the unborn child during pregnancy. It is therefore crucial to have a sufficient supply of all important nutrients. If this is guaranteed, there is nothing serious against a vegetarian diet.
A purely vegane nutrition in the pregnancy is seen more critically by experts, from a vegane nutrition during the pregnancy is therefore tendency rather advised against. In any case – if the desire of a vegan nutrition in the pregnancy exists – a medical consultation and/or nourishing consultation should take place before entering the pregnancy around lack conditions and thus incalculable risks for the unborn child to minimize. You can read more information on this topic here: Vegan nutrition during pregnancy
Can I feed my baby a vegetarian diet?
The implementation of an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet (i.e. a vegetarian diet in which dairy products and egg products can be consumed) is in principle already acceptable from a health point of view for babies. Parents should inform themselves however exactly about it, how the Beikostbreie with meat can be replaced meaningfully around no nutrient deficiency to risk. For babies, meat is primarily a source of iron, so completely omitting meat products without replacing them with another iron-rich alternative can lead to an iron deficiency with anaemia.
As an alternative to the side dish porridge containing meat, cereal flakes can be added to the vegetable-potato porridge as an iron supplier. The addition of vitamin C – for example in the form of fruit juice or fruit porridge – increases the absorption of iron in the body.
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