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The death of an infant who died of malnutrition after his parents fed him a vegan diet of mostly soy milk and apple juice has brought to light the importance of ensuring that kids who are being raised as vegetarians get proper nourishment.

The 6-week-old boy weighed just 3½ pounds when he died. The couple told the court they’d never intended to harm their baby and were only trying to lead a vegan lifestyle. They were sentenced to life in prison after an Atlanta jury found them guilty of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children.

Vegans are vegetarians who do not eat meat (red meat, poultry, or fish) or any products that come from animals, such as eggs or dairy products.

People following less-strict types of non-meat diets might eat eggs, but no meat; eggs and/or dairy products, but no meat; or eggs and dairy products, poultry and/or fish, but no red meat.

What This Means to You
A well-planned vegetarian diet can be very healthy for parents and their kids. But it’s crucial that those kids, especially babies, get the nutrients, fat, and calories they need to thrive.

Breast milk is the ideal form of nutrition for babies — as long as the mother’s diet is adequate to ensure that the breast milk she produces contains all the nutrients her infant needs. If you’re a vegetarian with a new baby, breast milk or formula is the only nourishment your baby needs for the first 6 months. For mothers who cannot breastfeed, or decide not to, iron-fortified infant formula (cow’s milk or soy) is a good alternative.

Soy milk, condensed milk, and juice are not safe or healthy alternatives to infant formula or breast milk.

Any mother who is breastfeeding must eat and drink enough (up to 500 additional calories a day) so that her body can produce enough milk and have the energy to keep her going. It’s essential to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and calcium-rich foods. And it’s a good idea to keep taking prenatal vitamins.

If you’re a vegetarian and are breastfeeding, talk with your doctor, a lactation consultant, and/or a registered dietitian about your diet to ensure that both you and your baby get the nourishment you need to stay healthy. Find out whether either of you will need to take supplements in order to get enough of these key nutrients:

Calcium — Found in milk and dairy products, green leafy vegetables, calcium-enriched tofu, white beans, chickpeas, bok choy, almonds, and calcium-fortified products (orange juice, soy and rice drinks, cereals).
Iron — Sources include tofu, enriched grains, dried beans and peas, dried fruits, leafy green vegetables, blackstrap molasses, iron-fortified breakfast cereals, dark poultry, tuna, salmon, and eggs.
Protein — Found in beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, nuts, eggs, fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy products.
Vitamin B12 — Sources include meats, dairy products, fortified soy milk, and fortified yeast.
Vitamin D — Produced by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. The AAP now recommends that all breastfed babies start getting daily vitamin D drops by the time they are 2 months old.
Zinc — Sources include poultry, oysters, dairy products, nuts, whole grains, and fortified cereals.
Fatty acids — The “good” kinds of fat (DHA and ARA) are found naturally in fish oils and eggs, usually in breast milk, and in some milk- and soy-based formulas.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: May 2007