One of the most common parent questions about plant-based eating — from vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore parents alike — is whether a solely plant-based diet is safe. In this episode, our first in a series exploring the many ways to delve into plant-based eating as a family, we speak to two experts about the health and safety of veganism and vegetarianism for kids at every age.

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Plant-Based for All (Who Are Willing)!

In their new book, Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families–With Tips & Recipes for Bringing Health, Joy, & Connection to Your Dinner Table, Dr. Reshma Shah and Brenda Davis walk you through the benefits of a plant-based diet, as well as how to make the switch with kids — or optimize, if your family is already plant-based.

And by optimize, we mean relax. Because, as it turns out, just like with any diet, going vegan or vegetarian is done more healthfully with just a little planning an intention. Despite popular belief: it’s no more complicated than any other way of eating, nor does it have to be any more expensive.

Get the low down on how to go plant-based with kids!

Nourish the Book

Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families–With Tips & Recipes for Bringing Health, Joy, & Connection to Your Dinner Table is an evidence-based, practical resource that explores the many benefits of a plant-based diet and provides parents with the tools they need to feed their families for health and with joy.

Nourish offers the solution parents have been waiting for when it comes to deciding what and how to feed their families. Authors Reshma Shah, MD, a plant-based pediatrician and affiliate clinical instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Brenda Davis, RD, a world-renowned expert and pioneer in plant-based nutrition, will empower parents to become the experts of nourishing their families.

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Brenda Davis

Brenda Davis is a registered dietitian widely regarded as a rock star of plant-based nutrition. Veg News called her “the Godmother of vegan dietitians,” and the Complete Health Improvement Program founder referred to her as “the High Priestess of Vegan Nutrition.”

Davis has been a featured speaker at medical and nutrition conferences in over twenty countries on five continents. Among the most exciting adventures include a personal consult and lecture for a member of the royal family and his staff in Saudi Arabia (with colleague, Dr. Michael Greger), and lectures for dietitians at national nutrition conferences in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Taiwan, the United States, and the United Kingdom, as well as ongoing diabetes intervention research and education in the Marshall Islands.

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Dr. Reshma Shah

Dr. Reshma Shah is a board-certified pediatrician and an affiliate clinical instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine where she teaches nutrition to pediatric residents. As the nutrition director for the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Fellowship at Stanford, Dr. Shah created nutrition modules that emphasize a plant-based approach to optimizing health and is an active member of the core Integrative Medicine faculty.

Dr. Shah obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Johns Hopkins University and her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. She has received teaching awards at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital as well as Stanford University School of Medicine. He can follow Dr. Shah on Instagram at @reshmashah.

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