Is a Vegan Diet Feasible for Infants?
A Feasibility Study
For
Pediatricians, Dieticians, and
Professor B. Pratt
Technical Report Writing Instructor
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
By
Georgina Wood
COM 221-09
April 12, 2018
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1200 Floral Springs Blvd.
Port Orange, FL 32129
April 12, 2018
Professor B. Pratt
Technical Report Writing Instructor
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Attention: Pediatricians, dietitians
Attached is my feasibility study of a vegan diet for infants. A vegan diet is known for being
healthier, environmentally friendly, and against animal cruelty. However, it can be
dangerous for an infant to follow a vegan diet. Infants require numerous nutrients in order
to thrive while they are young. An infant following a vegan diet may have trouble receiving
an adequate amount of certain nutrients, leaving them with a deficiency. In addition to
having a deficiency, a vegan diet can be expensive, time-consuming, and vegan options are
not always available everywhere.
This report analyzes the benefits of a vegan diet, the nutrients a vegan infant must receive,
the effects of a deficiency, and the inconveniences of a vegan diet. With these findings, the
report suggests a vegetarian diet for infants, and a vegan diet for infants whose parents are
prepared and committed.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (386)301-6252 or
woodg5@my.erau.edu. Thank you for your time and your consideration.
Sincerely,
Georgina Wood
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. IV
AUDIENCE SCENARIO …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… V
ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. VI
INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
SOURCES OF DATA ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
SCOPE OF ANALYSIS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
COLLECTED DATA ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 3
VEGANISM ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………… 3
0-6 Months …………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
6-24 Months ……………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………… 6
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS FOR INFANTS ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Iron and Zinc …………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Vitamin A ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Vitamin B12…………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Calcium and Protein …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
RISKS …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
Inconveniences ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
CONCLUSION ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
SUMMARY AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS ……………………………………………………………………………. 11
RECOMMENDATIONS …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11
REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Amount of times the word “vegan” was entered in Google per year. …………………….. 5
Figure 2. Pros and cons of a vegan diet …………………………………………………………………………….. 10
AUDIENCE SCENARIO
The target audience for this analysis is pediatricians and dieticians. The secondary audience
is vegan mothers or fathers, who want their infant to follow a vegan diet too. The
