A comprehensive new review involving nearly 50,000 children and teenagers across 18 countries confirms that vegetarian and vegan diets are safe for youth, provided meals are carefully planned.
Published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, the study analyzed data from over 7,000 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 1,200 vegans, and 40,000 omnivores.
Researchers found significant nutritional differences between the groups. Children on plant-based diets consumed higher amounts of iron, folate, Vitamin C, magnesium, and fiber.
However, these children also consumed lower amounts of protein, fat, calcium, Vitamin B12, and zinc compared to their omnivorous peers.
Health outcomes
Beyond nutrient intake, the study noted that children on plant-based diets tended to have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) and lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
The findings reinforce that while plant-based diets offer distinct health benefits, they require thoughtful execution to bridge specific nutritional gaps—a challenge not unique to vegans, as recent CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) data shows many omnivorous children also miss daily vegetable targets.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence, including research from Pediatrics and the American Society for Nutrition, supporting the viability of meat-free diets for younger generations.
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