Младенцы и дети до 5 лет на веганской диете > Правильное питание для детей-веганов с 6 месяцев

• foods containing gluten – such as bread, pasta or chapattis
• nuts and seeds – including peanuts, peanut butter and other nut spreads.

• Never offer anything other than milk or water in a bottle.
• Never dip dummies in anything sweet.
• Be careful with sweet foods and avoid those with added sugar and fruit juice.
• Processed fruit baby foods in pouches and jars are often high in free sugars, so use of these should be limited.
• Never let babies suck directly from baby food pouches.
• Brush baby’s teeth twice a day every day as soon as teeth appear, using a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste.
• Start taking babies to the dentist as soon as teeth appear.

• First foods for babies over 6 months of age can include a wide range of unprocessed foods: vegetables, potatoes, cereal foods (such as rice, oats, polenta, semolina, pearl barley), pulses (peas, beans and lentils), tofu, ground nuts and seeds, and fruits. See below Foods to introduce to infants from 6 months for examples of suitable first foods to give.
• Never add salt, sugar or artificial sweeteners to foods for infants.
• Naturally sweet fruits (such as apples or bananas) or vegetables (such as carrots, sweet potatoes or butternut squash) should be used to sweeten foods rather than adding sugar.
• If using commercial foods, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. However, these foods are usually expensive, less nutritious, sweet and bland in taste and too smooth compared to foods you can easily make yourself.

Suitable drinks

• The only drinks that are recommended for infants in the first year are breastmilk or an appropriate infant formula, and water (see Drinks – and how to give them).
• Unsweetened calcium-fortified soya milk alternative can be used in cooking for vegan children from 6 months, but should not be used as the main milk drink until after 1 year of age. Breastmilk or an appropriate first infant formula should remain the main milk drink from 6-12 months of age. Unsweetened calcium-fortified soya milk alternative is cheaply available in most supermarkets. For more information on non-dairy milk alternatives see table below in Milk and non-dairy milk alternatives section.

• Ready meals or take-away foods 
• Savoury or salty snacks
• Very high-fibre foods (such as high-bran-type cereals)
• Any foods with special ingredients, designed for adults – for example, low-fat or low-sugar products, or fortified products
• Artificially sweetened foods
• Foods with the additives E102, E104, E110, E122, E124, E211 or E219
• Honey (Most vegans avoid honey, but it is particularly important not to give it to babies.)
• In addition, avoid whole nuts or chunks of food such as apple that might be a choking risk. (For more on food safety, see Good hygiene and safety section below)

• Soft drinks, squashes, fruit juices or cordials, either with or without added sugar
• Drinks with added caffeine or stimulants 
• Artificially sweetened drinks
• Drinks with the additives E102, E104, E110, E122, E124, E211 or E219
• Rice milk alternative or rice drinks 
• Any types of tea or coffee 
• Alcohol

• At 6 months, babies should be able to sit up with some support and they should be in a sitting position when they are offered food.
• If you are offering a baby food on a spoon, sit opposite or close by and make eye contact as you do so. This means you can follow the baby’s cues on when they are ready for the next spoonful.
• Avoid distractions at mealtimes, such as sitting a baby in front of a television, phone or tablet. Mealtimes are an ideal opportunity for interacting with baby and making conversation.
• Offer small amounts of food before milk feeds at mealtimes, and give individual tastes to start with, focusing on savoury foods.
• Don’t be surprised if the baby initially spits the food out or appears to dislike it. New tastes take a little getting used to and you may have to offer a food between five and ten times before it becomes a favourite.
• Never force babies to eat. Allow them to go at their own pace, to handle food, and to start to feed themselves as soon as they wish.

• Always stay with babies during meals and keep an eye on what they are eating to make sure they don’t choke.
• If using a highchair, make sure the baby is safely strapped in.

• Make sure finger foods don’t contain any pips, stones, tough skin or stringy bits.
• To start with, offer soft or cooked vegetables and fruit.
• Avoid whole grapes, chunks of apple or carrot, nuts and popcorn, as these are the foods babies are most likely to choke on. Also avoid small, hard foods and those that are in gelatinous pieces. Always stay with babies when they are eating.
• If you are offering raw food, make sure it is washed thoroughly.

• wheat
• nuts, ground nuts, or nut butters
• seeds, crushed seeds, or seed butters.

• diarrhoea or vomiting
• a cough
• wheezing or shortness of breath
• itchy skin or throat
• a rash
• swollen lips and throat
• runny or blocked nose, or
• sore, red and itchy eyes.

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