Cats have to eat meat to survive, while dogs can manage on a vegetarian diet. But what about human infants? Will eating only grains, vegetables, and fruits stunt their growth?
The safety of a plant-based family regimen, particularly of vegan diets during pregnancy and infancy, is debated, and large population data on infant growth are scarce.
Now, a landmark study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beersheba that included almost 1.2 million infants examined at well-baby clinics (tipat halav) suggests that they’ll be fine without meat, chicken, fish, or even dairy foods.
According to estimates, between 5% and 8% of Israelis are vegan (whose diets do not include any animal products), while 10% to 13% are vegetarian (diets that include eggs and dairy), so about one in eight Israelis don’t eat…