Introduction: The goal of a healthy diet for children is to promote growth, development and healthy eating habits. More and more families are on the vegetarian diet. The basic principle of a vegetarian diet is to avoid animal products. There are several variants of the vegetarian diet. The more restricted the diet is, the greater is the risk of a lack of essential nutrients. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the intake of macro and micronutrients and the health education of parents. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to present the impact of vegetarian diets on children's health. The diploma thesis aims to present vegetarian diets, benefits, risks and consequences of them, review of micro and macronutrients in the diet of vegetarians and different views on the effects of vegetarian diets on children's health. Methods: A descriptive work method was used to produce a thesis. Literature was searched through the University of Ljubljana digital library, DiKul remote access and the UpToDate, Medline, ScienceDirect and CINAHL databases. The review of domestic and foreign scientific and professional literature used articles that were published in full volume and published between 2006 and 2019. The text in selected sources was related to keywords and phrases: children, adolescents, vegetarianism, vegetarian diet, risks, benefits, health. Results: If the vegetarian diet is properly put together and includes enriched foods, it can promote health and reduce the risk of diseases. Limiting or excluding nutrients of animal origin may result in low intake of essential nutrients. Daily recommendations for dietary fiber, protein, fat and fatty acids, vitamins A, B2 and B12, calcium and vitamin D, iron, zinc and iodine should be followed. Discussion and conclusion: Balanced food is crucial to a child's growth and development. As more and more families eat vegetarian for various reasons, parents must be well-informed in order to properly prepare and prepare vegetarian meals for children. It is sensible to follow the dietary guidelines (VegPlate Junior) developed specifically for children. As you grow, your energy and nutrient requirements are higher and children are especially vulnerable and more at risk of nutrient deficiency. Have your child regularly consult a pediatrician to identify the essential nutrient deficiencies at the right time.
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