Vegan Nutrition with Dina Aronson, M.S. R.D.

Dina Aronson, MS, RD is a vegan dietitian whose specialties include chronic disease prevention, vegetarian/vegan nutrition, and lifestyle management. She is the founder and director of VeganRD.com, a nutrition consulting company. Active in many vegetarian nutrition organizations, Dina was the recipient of the American Dietetic Association's Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award in 2002.

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We are adopting a baby and are concerned about using a dairy based formula - but we have also read that soy formulas can cause allergies - what do you recommend?
-Alyssa

Dear Alyssa,

Congratulations on your future little one!

Soy formula does not cause allergies. In fact, soy is often used in babies who have an allergic reaction to dairy-based formulas. That said, some babies are indeed sensitive to soy; you really won't know until you try. Here are your four basic choices for feeding your baby:

Breastfeeding: You can certainly breastfeed your adopted baby by pumping in advance, and possibly taking medication that will help your body lactate. Visit this site for more information.
Soy-based Formula: This is a good choice for vegan families who decide not to breastfeed. If you decide on this option, I recommend organic soy formula such as Baby's Organic, which you can buy in health food stores or order online. The vitamin D in this product is not vegan (it is derived from sheep lanolin), but it is the closest to vegan that is currently available.
Dairy-based Formula: This is the most popular option, and the least expensive. It is not appropriate for vegan families, as the proteins are from cow's milk. I do not recommend dairy-based formulas as the first choice because cow's milk proteins are often difficult for infants to digest, and in some babies, dairy proteins cause small amounts of bleeding in the intestine, leading to iron deficiency. If you choose to use dairy-based formula, again I recommend organic.
Elemental Formula: The most expensive type, elemental formulas are the choice for infants who have trouble tolerating dairy- or soy-based formulas. Examples of this type of formula are Nutramigen, Pregestamil and Alimentum. None of these are vegan.

Whatever formula you choose, I recommend one with the essential fatty acids DHA and ARA added.

There are other variations as well, such as lactose-free formula (cow's milk proteins are still present), which usually is not needed, as most infants can digest lactose (breastmilk has lactose); follow-up formula (designed for older infants who are not getting enough nutrients from food); and others.

Disclaimer: The advice given here is for eductional purposes only. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.

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