Vegan Nutrition with Dina Aronson, M.S. R.D.

Dina Aronson, MS, RD is a vegan dietitian whose specialties include chronic disease prevention, vegetarian/vegan nutrition, and lifestyle management. She is the founder and director of VeganRD.com, a nutrition consulting company. Active in many vegetarian nutrition organizations, Dina was the recipient of the American Dietetic Association's Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award in 2002.

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Is fortified soymilk a suitable alternative to breastmilk for a 1-year-old vegan baby?
- Melinda

Dear Melinda,

I hesitate to consider soymilk an "alternative" to breastmilk. Rather, fortified soymilk is an appropriate nutrient-rich food to provide along with a wholesome vegan diet in children over one year of age. Some caregivers make the mistake of depending too heavily on milk (whether from a cow or a soybean) for their child's nutrition. After weaning, the nutrients that were supplied by breastmilk or formula should be supplied by a varied diet, with fortified soymilk used as a supplementary beverage. Fortified soy milk is nutritious but falls short of many necessary nutrients that are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and other legumes.

To address the question of whether fortified soymilk is suitable for a 1 year old vegan baby (to whom no breastmilk is given): If the baby in question got a whole year of breastmilk and/or formula, eats enough calories from a variety of healthy vegan foods, and is thriving in growth and development, then the answer is probably yes. If the baby is or has been malnourished, is not growing optimally, and/or is not a hearty eater, then he or she should still be given breastmilk (or infant formula) until the diet provides enough to meet his or her needs for optimal growth and development. If you are not sure, visit your baby's healthcare provider.

Disclaimer: The advice given here is for eductional purposes only. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.

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