I do not eat meat and am expecting a baby. Can this hinder the baby's development? If so, what alternatives are there to provide similar nutrients?
By William Klish, M.D.
Vegetarians can have totally normal babies. If you are an ovo-lactovegetarian make sure you eat plenty of eggs and dairy products during your pregnancy. If you are a vegan, it is necessary to watch your diet carefully eating plenty of high protein foods such as legumes (soy etc.). It probably is a good idea to also take a daily vitamin and mineral supplement designed for pregnancy.
William Klish, M.D.
Pediatric Nutrition
William J. Klish, M.D., is Professor of Pediatrics, Head of Pediatric
Gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine and Chief of the Nutrition
and Gastroenterology Department at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Dr. Klish has served as chair of the Committee on Nutrition of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
