Children are not an alien life form or made from unique ingredients—although sometimes the way they act leaves room for doubt. Like adults, they are mammals, Homo sapiens, and human beings. The biochemical processes, and the foods that drive those processes, should be common for both children and adults...should they not? So why when most people accept the idea of adults embracing a vegetarian diet, do we—even adult vegetarians—balk at the notion of the same diet for children?
The irony of course is that children are the ones, because they are growing, who may stand to lose the most by consuming the wrong foods. The four nutrients we hear about most when it comes to children and heath are iron, calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Americans believe that it is these nutrients that children will be short-changed on if they follow a vegan diet.
Children are reliant on adults to make the right decisions for them. They do not possess the knowledge to make choices that are in their best interests. It would be a crime for children to be harmed because we neglected to educate ourselves. Class is now in session.