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SINGAPORE, Jan. 20 – Six-and-a-half-year-old Ahaana Majumder Govil took a day off her favorite dishes, cheese and yogurt, when her parents switched to a vegan diet in 2016.
By the age of about four, Ahaana had learned that calves were taken from their mothers shortly after birth to ensure dairy cows continued milk production for the market.
"When I told my daughter that I will not eat these foods anymore, she was shocked and asked why. I asked her – with child-friendly language – how she would feel if they took me and my milk. She immediately understood what was happening and knew how terrible it would be, "said Ambaree Majumder, 37, a business badyst.
"We also shared with her the harmful effects of eating meat and dairy products on the planet. She understood and did not know until one day (to bring the meat products out of her diet), "she added.
Ambaree stopped eating meat and seafood 13 years ago for ethical reasons, but decided to abandon all products of animal origin in 2016 after discovering their link with various diseases through a documentary. She attributed her healing of thyroid problems to her vegan diet.
In a new study published this week in a medical journal The lancet on how humans can eat healthier for themselves and for the environment, experts have recommended about 14 g of red meat consumed per day and about 29 g of poultry a day.
The average Singaporean consumed more than two types of meat in the recommended quantities, according to statistics from the Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.
More than 820 million people around the world are short of food and many are eating an unhealthy diet that contributes to premature death and morbidity, The Lancet reported.
Food production is the main cause of global environmental change, the statement added. Agriculture occupies about 40% of the world's land and food production is responsible for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of freshwater use.
Vegan baby at home
"As parents, we endow our kids with all kinds of skills like swimming, martial arts. I thought that I should also teach my child to eat well so that even when I'm gone, she will know how to eat food that will be good for her, "said Ambaree.
His 14-month-old son Aarish is currently one of the youngest vegans in Singapore and has never been exposed to animal or dairy products.
Like Ambaree, a small but growing community of Singaporean families raise their children on a plant-based diet.
Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi has seen more mothers ask for help planning herbal diets for their children in the last four years. These are mainly those who have teenage children on a vegan diet.
Ujjwala, founder of the nutrition consulting company and Poshan-Cure Thru Diet, currently meets about five of these parents each year.
There are currently no official statistics on vegan families, but most of them gather to attend events and keep in touch with social media such as the WhatsApp group, said Michael Broadhead, volunteer coordinator at Animal Allies, an outreach project of the Vegetarian Society Singapore. that supports people who become vegan.
Ambaree, who blogs and organizes conferences in schools and corporate and community events to raise awareness of herbal food consumption, is part of a WhatsApp discussion group. composed of about 40 people who raise vegan children or who go veganism.
Ujjwala said that increased sensitivity for the animals had led families to adopt the diet.
The easy availability of herbal alternatives on supermarket shelves and at eating places has also facilitated the adoption or testing of the diet, she said.
Last year, the Grand Hyatt Singapore hotel debuted with Beyond Burger's herbal patties and then served other herbal proteins such as vegan eggs (to mung bean base) and sausages (made from peas, beans, rice, beetroot and coconut oil). ).
The three vegan options are available at the poolside Oasis Poolside Restaurant, which is popular with families.
Alleviate worries
"Compared to the United States and Melbourne (Australia), for example, restaurants and hawker centers usually lack (varieties of vegan foods), but slowly things get better. We dine at a few vegan restaurants or places with vegan options because I do not want us to become vegans at the cost of the boring life of my children, "said Ambaree.
While her children had no trouble adjusting to a meat-free, dairy-free diet, her greatest challenge was the lack of understanding from family members.
"It was difficult for my family to understand and accept that when I stopped eating meat 13 years ago. And when we became vegan in 2016, they were even more opposed because I included my child, "she said.
"They thought that meat and dairy products were essential for the growth and regular functioning of the child and were very scared (for Ahaana), which I totally understand. The fact that you can get these nutrients from herbal sources was brand new to them. "
To make sure that her children have a plant-based diet, Ambaree is enrolled in a certification course in herbal nutrition. It cost about $ 1,000 (RMB 3,021) but she said it was worth it.
"It was very confident in my choice (switching to a vegan diet), and my child's pediatrician also supported her," she said.
His children are growing up well and this has helped to dispel his family's worries.
Ahaana loves sports and currently follows gymnastics, martial arts and swimming lessons. Children take supplements such as vitamins B12 and D to fill the nutritional gaps.
"When the family members saw Ahaana growing up and doing well in her sporting and sports activities, they were really impressed and convinced that I was doing the right thing. With my son, they are surprised to see how many vegetables he eats for his age, "said Ambaree laughing.
Get expert advice, consider supplements
According to a widespread belief, a plant-based diet can lead to vitamin B12 and iron deficiency, essential nutrients that prevent anemia and nervous system damage and are found naturally in animal and dairy products, a Ujjwala said.
However, it is possible to raise healthy children and even babies on a plant-based diet, she said.
"After bad milk, weaned babies with plant-based foods such as fruit purees, lentil soups, vegetable mashups, rice porridge and congee can support optimal growth with essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, first-clbad proteins, complex carbohydrates and fatty acids needed for healthy stages in years of growth, "said Ujjwala.
Pregnant women can also support fetal growth and health through a well-planned plant-based diet, supported by a registered dietitian, she added.
Research (published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2000) found that vitamin B12 from cereals and fortified dairy products was linked to higher B12 status than people consuming red meat, poultry and fish, Ujjwala said.
"This has led researchers to suspect that cooking damages vitamin B12 from meat," she said.
Pediatrician Anita Menon from Anita's Kids Clinic met with children who could not grow and grow as a result of a vegan diet. Some had severe iron deficiency.
Children born before term or with low birth weight, as well as those with underlying medical problems, should not follow a plant-based diet, she said.
"Infants and children who follow a very restrictive vegan diet (which excludes meat, fish, dairy products and eggs) may have a deficient caloric and protein intake, which affects the growth and level of nutrition." energy, as well as deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids. , iron, calcium, zinc and vitamins A, D and B12, "said Dr. Menon.
Parents who wish to raise their children with a plant-based diet should ensure that they get enough calories and nutrients for brain growth and development, and consider the use of supplements. she said.
Ujjwala said it was important for parents to know that an herbal diet, like any diet, can be healthy or unhealthy, depending on what they bring to the table and choose to eat.
"You can follow a bad vegan diet if you skip fruits and vegetables and just want to eat carbohydrates like noodles and rice, with little help from beans and legumes. The consumer is free to make the right choices, "she said.
Signs that a child may not flourish include poor weight gain and growth, weight loss, lack of energy, and frequent infections, Dr. Menon said.
Ujjwala advised people in transition to follow a plant-based diet to join support groups such as the Vegetarian Society Singapore, Animal Allies Singapore and The Veg City.
Ambaree said parents who want their children to start following a vegan diet should be educated, change their content gradually, and not force their offspring to eat overnight.
"With my daughter, the change is made overnight, but it depends on each child. In addition, if you want your child to adopt a plant-based diet, you will have to do it too, "she said.
Go without meat? How to do it well
- Those considering starting a vegan diet should consult a professional to do so. Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi shares some child-friendly advice on how to take full advantage of a vegan diet.
- Provide foods fortified with vitamin B12 two or three times a day
- Provide herbal supplements suitable for children to meet daily nutrient requirements if the child is difficult to eat
- Serve good sources of vegetable iron. They include lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu, cashews, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, nuts (also rich in omega fatty acids). -3), kale, dried apricots and figs, raisins, raisins, fortified breakfast cereals
- Support foods rich in iron with foods rich in vitamin C to help your child absorb iron. Examples include pepper, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kiwis, oranges, strawberries, pineapples, grapefruit or orange juice. – TODAY & # 39; HUI
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