Plant-based diets are healthy for children, but there is a critical catch

For years, playgrounds, paediatric clinics and dinner tables have echoed with the same uneasy question; Is a vegan or vegetarian diet really safe for children? In an era where food choices are shaped as much by ethics and the environment as by health, parents have often found themselves torn between values and worry. Now, one of the largest studies of its kind offers some long-awaited clarity.

According to a new meta-analysis published by Taylor & Francis Group, plant-based diets can indeed work for children and adolescents, provided they are thoughtfully planned. The research examined data from over 48,000 young people across 18 countries, making it the most comprehensive review so far of vegetarian and vegan diets in under-18s. The verdict is neither alarmist nor blindly enthusiastic. Instead, it strikes a familiar journalistic balance: promising, but with clear conditions.

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Researchers from Italy, the United States and Australia compared children following lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets, vegan diets and omnivorous diets. They found that youngsters eating plant-based meals often consumed more fibre, vitamin C, folate and magnesium. Even more striking were the heart health markers. Vegetarian and vegan children tended to have lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL, commonly labelled the “bad” cholesterol. In simple terms, their hearts appeared to benefit early on.

Besides, the study also raises a quiet red flag. Without supplements or fortified foods, several nutrients consistently fell short. Vitamin B12 topped the list, followed closely by calcium, iodine and zinc. Vegan children, in particular, showed notably low calcium intake, an issue that could matter during years when bones are still forming. Growth patterns were largely normal, but plant-based children were, on average, slightly leaner and shorter, with lower body mass index and bone mineral content.

Here’s what parents need to watch closely

Vitamin B12: essential and not naturally present in plant foods Calcium: especially important for vegan children Iodine and zinc: often overlooked but vital for development Iron intake: generally adequate, but absorption needs attention Professional guidance: dietitians can help close nutritional gaps