Hello all! I am new to this forum, but I have been a vegetarian/vegan for a decade. I am so glad I found this forum!
Here is my dilemma. I have a 1-year-old son, and he has been on an animal-free diet since birth. His height and weight are both appropriate (22 pounds and 30 inches) and he is absolutely developmentally appropriate. He eats a really varied and awesome diet (far better than most of the other toddlers we know).
His doctor is a naturopath, and I love her because she completely supports our decisions not to circumcise and not to vaccinate. However, she is definitely anti-vegetarian. At Dylan's 1-year checkup she essentially confronted me and stated that a vegan diet for children is harmful and that I was doing damage to his brain and eyes by not feeding him meat. I don't know what happened, but I panicked.
*Guilt* I went to the store and bought the salmon and tilapia that she suggested, and promptly fed it to him that night. Then, my brain reconnected and I started thinking about all the nutrition information I have about my lifestyle.
So, I just really want to hear from other parents who have raised healthy, happy children on a vegan diet. I was so confident, and then all that came crashing down. I think new mommy guilt has a lot to do with it. I want to do the best thing for my son, and I really felt (and still do feel) that a vegan diet is. I am just confused, sad, disappointed in myself.... the list goes on.
Help!!!!!
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