The number of vegan children is rising in the UK. No-one knows exactly how many there are, but the Vegan Society’s most recent survey in 2019 found there were 600,000 vegans aged over 15 in the country, more than twice the number found in 2016; a quarter of them were aged between 15 and 24, and it is widely assumed that the number of vegan children is increasing sharply as well.
A survey in 2018 found that one in 12 British parents were raising their child as a vegan.
While a vegan diet for the under-fives can be an emotive topic, dietitians generally agree children can receive all the nutrition they need from meat- and dairy-free food. ‘A vegan diet is sustainable and can, with careful planning, advice and a little supplementation, provide a healthy, balanced diet,’ says Clare Thornton-Wood, spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
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