Pregnancy and Vegetarian Eating

May 22, 2007

By Michael Greger, M.D.

A healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby are possible when eating vegetarian.

For years, the official position of the American Dietetic Association, the largest association of nutritional professionals in the world, has asserted that "[w]ell-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence." This is based on research dating back 20 years showing that vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy pregnancies and healthy children.

In fact, Dr. Benjamin Spock, who was perhaps the world's most esteemed pediatrician, embraced vegan diets in his final edition of "Baby and Child Care"—described as the best-selling book in history (second only to the Bible). Dr. Spock wrote, "Children who grow up getting their nutrition from plant foods rather than meats have a tremendous health advantage. They are less likely to develop weight problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and some forms of cancer."

For more information on raising healthy children on plant-based diets from birth to adolescence, see:

"Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care" by Benjamin Spock, M.D. and Steven Parker, M.D.
"Pregnancy and the Vegan Diet" by Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.
"The New Becoming Vegetarian" by Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D. and Brenda Davis, R.D.

Michael Greger, M.D. is director of public health and animal agriculture for The Humane Society of the United States.

See the Video

Factory Farms Slideshow

Related Links

The HSUS Guide to Vegetarian Eating