Vegan Health Tips with Michael Klaper, M.D.

Michael Klaper, M.D. is the author of Pregancy, Children, and the Vegan Diet; one of only a few books that covers vegan pregnancy on the market today. He has postgraduate training in medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, and obstetrics. He continues to educate people on the benefits of a vegan diet.

Disclaimer: The medical opinions stated here are for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.

Question:

My son is almost 10 months old. When is it a good idea to introduce legumes and tofu to his diet? What are good sources of protein and iron? I am still nursing him and he is enjoying fruits, veggies, and grains as well.

Answer:

Ten months of age is about the earliest time I feel comfortable in recommending the addition of complex proteins such as legumes and tofu - to avoid developing allergies and sensitivities to these complex proteins. However, if at this time, he is able to enjoy grains and most vegetables, he probably will not have difficulty with the legumes and tofu. As with all "new foods," introduce them in very tiny amounts (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per meal for several days) before increasing to substantial volumes. Good sources of protein and iron are nut butters - especially walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and almonds - as well as bean spreads, hummus (made from garbanzo beans and sesame seed tahini) and pureed green vegetables (mixed with applesauce or other sweet flavors to increase palatability). If your child is taking a liquid multivitamin - a good idea in order to assure adequate intake of vitamin B12 and riboflavin (nutrients that can be difficult for infants to ingest in sufficient quantities) - be sure that the vitamin supplement contains a suitable amount of iron (check the label - approximately 5 to 10 mg. elemental iron daily).

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