Holly Willoughby, a British television presenter and model, recently stirred up controversy when she claimed babies can lead perfectly healthy lives with an entirely vegan diet.
Many people don't agree with Holly, including the UK's National Health Service.
Holly is by no means an expert on vegetarianism and veganism — in fact, she isn't even vegan herself.
She is, however, a famous television personality and mom of three.
In 2016, Holly wrote Truly Happy Baby, a practical guide for parents everywhere. After that book was successful, Holly decided to publish Truly Scrumptious Baby, a feeding and weaning plan. This book was released in September 2017.
Holly claims in the second book that it's "possible for a baby to get all the nutrients he needs" from a vegan and plant-based diet.
Unfortunately, many people strongly disagreed with Holly. Keep reading to find out more about Holly's controversial idea and what others think about it.
[H/T: Daily Mail]
Holly Willoughby is an author, television presenter, and mom of three best known for her work on the UK's ITV channel.
She recently released her book about weaning babies, Truly Scrumptious Baby, which has caused quite a stir.
Although Holly and her family are not vegan, she suggests in the book that babies can be completely healthy while living on a vegan diet.
Many people do not agree with Holly.
Babies under 6 months old need breast milk or formula in order to thrive, but after that it's up to the parents how to wean their babies onto solid food.
While it is possible for babies to be healthy on plant-based diets, they aren't recommended.
The UK's National Health Service explains, "As your child gets older, there's a risk that a vegetarian or vegan diet may be low in iron and energy and too high in fiber."
On top of that, putting children on a vegan diet has other dangers as well.
The NHS explains:
Take care when giving children a vegan diet.
Young children need a good variety of foods to provide the energy and vitamins they need for growth.
A vegan diet can be bulky and high in fiber. This can mean that children get full before they’ve taken in enough calories.
Because of this, they may need extra supplements. Ask a dietitian or doctor for advice before introducing your child to solids.
While it is possible to raise babies on a vegan diet, it isn't easy. It requires a lot of planning and preparation.
Many parents who try to give their babies plant-based diets don't do it correctly, which can lead to malnutrition.
Critics of Holly bring up the fact that many parents don't know enough about veganism to raise their children in healthy ways.
Others think babies should be exposed to all types of foods in order to get all the nutrients they need.
Do you know anyone who is vegan? Do you think children should be raised vegan?
This topic is definitely controversial, and Holly's comments seem to have really stirred the pot.
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