DON’T SCOFF! HOLLY CAN MAKE YOUR BABY VEGAN
But parents hit out over food advice
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TELLY host Holly Willoughby faced a backlash last night after claiming babies can be raised as vegans from six months.
In her cookbook Truly Scrumptious Baby she claims that it is “possible for a baby to get all the nutrients he needs” from the diet.
But the mum-of-three’s controversial claim raised eyebrows last night. Some called it “drivel” while others asked why anyone would limit their tot’s food options.
Parents also doubted whether Holly, who is not a vegan, is qualified to give advice on nutrition.
In the book, rated by parents’ website Mumsnet, the 36-year-old This Morning presenter admitted: “Energy density of food can be a concern as vegan food is often high in fibre but not very energy dense.
“Foods such as hummus, tahini, bananas, nut or seed butters, dried fruit, nutritional yeast and fortified (unsweetened) milk make great additions, but it does all come back to balance and variety.”
Diet
Advice from the NHS dictates: “Take care when giving children a vegan diet. Young children need a good variety of foods to provide the energy and vitamins they need for growth.”
It recommends youngsters should be given supplements if they are not eating meat or dairy.
Fans blasted Holly online, asking: “What are her qualifications?”
One posted: “Feel sorry for the people who buy into this drivel. Not a qualified nutritionist.”
Another added: “She looks good after losing weight but as far as nutrition and diet are concerned she knows nothing.”
Nutritionist Claire Baseley said going vegan should never be a snap decision as it is potentially harmful.
She added: “Taking out entire food groups can result in nutritional insufficiency unless you replace them with appropriate alternatives.”
A spokesman for Holly did not reply to requests for comment last night.