Green light for a vegan diet
SANDRA HOOD vegan and I’ve just found out I’m pregnant. Will me eating only vegan food give my unborn child enough nutrition, and is it safe to only feed my baby vegan food when it’s weaned?
Hood, author of Feeding Your Vegan Child, says: “A wellplanned vegan diet can provide all the nutrition needed for every life stage, and this includes from pregnancy through to raising a vegan child. Indeed, such a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds, has been shown to be protective.
“As with any diet, it’s important it’s balanced and contains a widerange of plant foods. Pregnant and breastfeeding women can meet all their nutrient needs on a vegan diet. There are some nutrients that need particular attention as they aren’t found in plant foods, i.e. vitamin B12 and vitamin D, so need to be provided by supplements or [vegan-friendly] fortified foods [such as cereals and plant milks].
“Vitamin B12 is made by bacteria and omnivores obtain it by eating animal products. For vegans, it can be provided by fortified foods or supplements. Vitamin D is only found in animal products or fortified foods but is usually obtained from sun exposure. However during different life stages, whether an omnivore, vegetarian or vegan, a supplement is recommended, for example during pregnancy and lactation and for children from six months to five years of age.
“Breastfeeding or formula feed should be the main food for the first six months. When weaning begins, breastfeeding should continue for as long as desired. Up to one year of age, infants grow and develop very quickly so the focus should be on high energy foods. Monitoring growth is the best way to ensure energy requirements are being met. Infants should be offered a wide variety of foods and suitable high energy foods include nut butters, avocado and tahini which can be added to dishes or spread on vegetables and breads.
“All the essential fats and proteins come from plant foods, and these requirements can be easily met on a vegan diet. Good protein sources include beans, grains, nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables. High fat sources include nut and seed butters, avocados, tofu and soya foods. Iron requirements are high during this time and breast milk continues to be a good source, along with fortified cereals, mashed beans and lentils.
“The Department of Health recommends a daily supplement containing vitamins A, C and D for all children from six months until five years of age. In addition, vegan children should take a vitamin B12 supplement of at least 1mcg per day, starting at six months of age.
“Plant foods provide many protective nutrients including phytochemicals which may reduce many diseases, fibre associated with lower risk of cancer and heart disease, and they are low in saturated fat. Finally, choosing a vegan diet is compassionate, healthy and a while pregnant will provide all the nutrition babies need sustainable way to live.” ■ Feeding Your Vegan Child by Sandra Hood Is published by Hammersmith Health Books, priced £14.99. Available now.
Everyone deserves a treat off the barbecue – it’s a British summer right of passage. But BBQS pose a number of dangers for dogs – and it’s not just the hot grills or corn on the cob.
Poor Riley dodged death not once but twice after eating a barbecue cleaning brush.
His owner Leon said: “We had absolutely no idea of the dangers but when he started chewing at it, because of the flavours and scents of the cooking, the tiny bristles just came off. He was sick within minutes and our vets were incredibly worried. There were literally hundreds of bristles, and it would have been impossible to operate and get them all out.”
A few tense days followed, when Riley was put on a diet of bulk food to flush out the hazardous bristles.
His owner is calling for the products to be scrapped from the shelves.
Leon added: “These brushes should be banned. If you scrub a grill with a cheap one, you’ll see these bristles just fly off.”
A very lucky couple called at one of our recent roadshow events with a couple of old gold chains and a silver charm bracelet and a bag of old silver sh coins. We paid them over £1600.00 just for the coins alone . They turned out to be pre 1947 silver coins thatwere normal currency a fewyears ago and are nowhighly collected.
We asked them for their permission to pass on this story to help other people realisewhat theymay be ng on and theywere only too pleased to allow us to let everyone knowthat they might be si ng on a goldmine and not even knowit!
Like most people, who can only dream of winning the pools or the ery, a lot of normal households have a hidden treasure of old gold jewellery, silver jewellery, teapots, trophies, trays and old objets d’art. Why not get a free valua on from our expert at our roadshowat: NORTON GRANGE HOTEL, MANCHESTER ROAD, ROCHDALE, OL11 2XZ. With free parking at the hotel. We will be there from 10.30 am to 16.00 pm. There is no queing and our expert will give you a one on one appraisal of the value of your treasured possessions in a private area, where there are no prying eyes, watching the process evolve. If you like the valua on our expert will make you the same offer in cash which you can accept or decline at no cost to yourself. valuable. You will be surprised to hear thatwe have paid THOUSANDS of pounds for certainwar medals and even thegeneral Servicemedal group isworth bringing especially if you have the original box and le ers to accompany them. Also of great interest are oldmilitary uniforms, tunics, hats and any army, navy or RAF
There are rarely any queues at our events andwe can normally end to every callerwithin a fewminutes. We will give you a free valua on whichwe back upwith a cash offer, there and then.
You can accept or decline our offer, so come along and seewhatwe can offer for your old gold or silver jewellery, coins and collectables.