More families in the UK and around the world are choosing vegan vegetarian or other specialist diets for health reasons, medical requirements or ethical reasons, and when this is the case it is particularly important that children who are following a specialist diet still get all of the vitamins and minerals that they need to grow strong and healthy.

Although many specialist diets have lots of health benefits, when not carefully planned they can also mean that you and your family can be lacking in some essential vitamins.

For growth, children need to have a range of different vitamins and minerals. These include vitamin D which supports the health and growth of bones, B vitamins that are used to help and support the brain and nervous system, vitamin C for immune health, iron which transports oxygen throughout the blood and calcium to support the teeth and bones in the body.

Many of these essential vitamins and minerals are found in animal products – things like dairy, meat and eggs for example, so children who do not have any of these in their diet will need to make sure that they are getting what their body requires in other ways.

Taking a daily multivitamin like these kids multivitamins vitortho.co.uk/supplements/categories/multivitamins/kids-all-in-1  is good for all children regardless of diet to help make sure that they are getting what they need. Here are some other alternative sources of various vitamins and minerals that you could include in your children’s diet if they are vegan or vegetarian…

Vitamin B12 is something that is almost solely found in foods that are derived from animal products, so use foods that are fortified with B12 – plant-based milks and Marmite are both excellent alternative sources of B12.

Vitamin D is something that many people in the UK can struggle with as it mainly comes from sunshine – in the winter in particular it is quite hard to come by! Eggs are a source of vitamin D but a supplement on a daily basis will make sure that you have the required amount.

Iron is another thing that tends to come from animal products however it can also be found in certain leafy greens like spinach, and some beans and lentils.