Any Vegan/Vegetarian Mommies out there?

brennarobbie · February 2013

My husband and I recently started eating a strict vegan diet. We want to incorporate this into little man's diet. We have to finish off the formula we bought (I breastfeed but have to supplement about 8 oz per day of formula...it's too expensive not to use the rest of what we have) and then will see how he does with non dairy formula.

Just wondering if there are any websites out there that you'd recommend to guide us when trying to give him a well balanced diet when it's time. Right now we're making our own baby food and introducing one every few days.

Thanks in advance )

crunchylove77 · February 2013

I don't know how much research you've done on soy formula, but there are estrogens in it, and I would question switching him to it. I know it's only a little bit a day, but it's best avoided in little boys if possible. Maybe you already have tried, but what about taking some fenugreek, blessed thistle, alfalfa, etc to try and boost your BM production? That way you could get rid of the formula altogether!

allardr · February 2013

My parents are vegans so they often pass along recipes to me. I love cheese/milk/yogurt too much to go vegan. However some of the recipes aren't bad. Often you can start with a regular recipe and "tweek" it to be vegan. Most often I use 1tbsp flaxseed w/ 3 tbsp water to replace an egg in a recipe. You can use applesauce or a banana too, depends what you're baking/cooking.

They make non-dairy yogurt so you can always mix fruit in that. My favorite vegan recipe is for raisin bran muffins. They'd be a good toddler snack when LO is a little older.

tjkdlhb · February 2013

I'm not vegan or vegetarian... but maybe post on the eco friendly family board and even the cloth diaper board as NBR (since that one has a lot of eco-friendly tips too)

jil1210 · February 2013

Congratulations on making the switch! My family is vegan. Even though my husband and I have been vegan for more than a decade, this is our first child and we have been reading a lot to make sure she's meeting all of her nutritional needs.

This website is a good place to start:
https://www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/nutrition/infantsandchildren.aspx

Have you looked into meetup.com groups? There may be vegan meet up groups in your area, which could make the transition easier.

brennarobbie · February 2013

pookey118:
I don't know how much research you've done on soy formula, but there are estrogens in it, and I would question switching him to it. I know it's only a little bit a day, but it's best avoided in little boys if possible. Maybe you already have tried, but what about taking some fenugreek, blessed thistle, alfalfa, etc to try and boost your BM production? That way you could get rid of the formula altogether!

After lots of research about soy...the cons of dairy based formula are much greater than the cons of soy. By the time we finish the dairy formula, there will only be a month or two left to use formula with him.

I have tried everything under the sun to try to increase my milk supply with no avail. The supplements, brewer's yeast, oatmeal, apple juice, power pumping, the works!! The only thing I wasn't able to try was domperidone because they have stopped supplying the main ingredient in my area completely. (

brennarobbie · February 2013

allardr:
My parents are vegans so they often pass along recipes to me. I love cheese/milk/yogurt too much to go vegan. However some of the recipes aren't bad. Often you can start with a regular recipe and "tweek" it to be vegan. Most often I use 1tbsp flaxseed w/ 3 tbsp water to replace an egg in a recipe. You can use applesauce or a banana too, depends what you're baking/cooking.
They make non-dairy yogurt so you can always mix fruit in that. My favorite vegan recipe is for raisin bran muffins. They'd be a good toddler snack when LO is a little older.

This is great advice!! Thank you so much! ) I had heard of applesauce as a supplement for egg, but not flaxseed! I use it in my protein shake for breakfast, so I already have it on hand. Thank you!!

brennarobbie · February 2013

jil1210:
Congratulations on making the switch! My family is vegan. Even though my husband and I have been vegan for more than a decade, this is our first child and we have been reading a lot to make sure she's meeting all of her nutritional needs. This website is a good place to start: https://www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/nutrition/infantsandchildren.aspx Have you looked into meetup.com groups? There may be vegan meet up groups in your area, which could make the transition easier.

You are wonderful! Thank you for the website! I've heard of meetup.com, but I'm a little apprehensive. Have you found others in your area to connect with? When I was pregnant and looking for groups around our area to talk natural birth with, I didn't feel like I fit in... ;o)

Just like the other girl who suggested talking with cloth diapering people. There may be people on that board who are vegans, but it's kind of stereotypical...

jil1210 · February 2013

Glad to help. I second PP's comment about dairy free yogurt. My LO has had a coconut based one it is pricey though and loved it.

I haven't seen infant food ideas here, but I love this blog for meal inspiration.
https://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/

This one is another overview from a medical perspective
https://www.pcrm.org/health/diets/vegdiets/vegetariandietsforchildrenrightfromthestart

I have had really good luck with meetup, but I try to meet people at public places until I feel comfortable. In my area there is actually a meetup group for vegetarian/vegan families. You can check for local groups before joining. Are you near a large city?

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