Parents & Teachers Portal
Medical disclaimer
This information is educational and general. It is not medical advice. Children's nutritional needs vary with age, growth and health. Please speak with your GP, paediatrician or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to a child's diet, and follow your national health service's supplement guidance.
Nutrition guides for growing children
Vitamin B12
Essential for nerve function, DNA synthesis and red blood cell formation. It is the one nutrient that must be supplemented or reliably fortified on a plant-based diet.
Good sources
- B12 supplement (the recommended route)
- Fortified plant milks
- Fortified breakfast cereals
- Nutritional yeast with added B12
Do not rely on unfortified plant foods. Paediatric dietitians recommend a regular supplement for children on vegan diets.
Protein
Supports growth, immune function and tissue repair. Needs are easily met when a variety of plant protein sources appear across the day.
Good sources
- Beans, lentils and chickpeas
- Tofu and tempeh
- Soy milk
- Peanut butter and nut butters
- Quinoa and oats
Variety across the day matters more than combining proteins at a single meal.
Iron
Carries oxygen in the blood and supports concentration and energy. Plant (non-haem) iron absorbs better with vitamin C.
Good sources
- Lentils and beans
- Tofu
- Fortified cereals
- Pumpkin seeds
- Dark leafy greens
Pair iron foods with orange, pepper, tomato or strawberries. Tea with meals reduces absorption.
Calcium
Builds bone density during childhood and adolescence — a critical window that does not come back.
Good sources
- Calcium-fortified plant milks (shake the carton)
- Calcium-set tofu
- Kale and pak choi
- Almonds and tahini
- Fortified yoghurt alternatives
Spinach is high in calcium but poorly absorbed due to oxalates; kale and broccoli absorb far better.
Omega-3 (ALA, EPA, DHA)
Supports brain and eye development. ALA comes from plants; conversion to EPA/DHA is limited, so a direct source is often advised.
Good sources
- Ground flaxseed and chia
- Walnuts
- Rapeseed oil
- Algae-derived DHA supplement
An algae oil supplement is the most direct plant source of DHA and is commonly recommended for children.
Iodine & Vitamin D
Iodine supports thyroid and brain development; vitamin D supports bone health and immunity, and is low in most diets during winter.
Good sources
- Fortified plant milks
- Iodised salt (used sparingly)
- Vitamin D2 or lichen-derived D3 supplements
Many national health services recommend a daily vitamin D supplement for all children in autumn and winter.
Classroom lesson plans
Each plan maps onto activities in this site. Print this page to take the plans with you.
Animals Have Feelings Too
Ages 5–8 · 40 minutes
Learning objectives
- Identify emotional cues in three familiar animals
- Explain why observation beats assumption
- Practise respectful ways to greet an animal
Lesson flow
- Warm-up: mime an animal feeling and let the class guess (5 min)
- Use the 'How Does This Animal Feel?' game as a whole-class quiz (15 min)
- Draw an animal showing one emotion and label three body-language clues (15 min)
- Share and reflect in a circle (5 min)
Discussion prompts
- How do you show someone you're happy without speaking?
- What might an animal do if it wants to be left alone?
- Why is it important to ask before stroking someone's dog?
From Seed to Plate
Ages 7–11 · 50 minutes
Learning objectives
- Trace a plant food from seed to finished product
- Describe one nutrient a plant food provides
- Design a balanced plant-powered plate
Lesson flow
- Explore the Plant Food Explorer journeys in pairs (15 min)
- Groups map their own food journey on paper (20 min)
- Build and present a plate using the Plate Builder (15 min)
Discussion prompts
- Which part of the plant are we eating — root, stem, leaf, seed or fruit?
- What surprised you about where a food comes from?
- How could you make your favourite meal more colourful?
Designing a Sanctuary
Ages 9–13 · 60 minutes
Learning objectives
- Define the five welfare needs
- Justify design decisions for rescued animals
- Present a plan to peers
Lesson flow
- Introduce the five welfare needs (10 min)
- Play Build a Sanctuary to see needs in action (15 min)
- Teams design a sanctuary enclosure on paper, budget included (25 min)
- Gallery walk and peer feedback (10 min)
Discussion prompts
- What does 'enrichment' mean and why isn't food enough?
- How would you design for an animal who is frightened of people?
- Who makes decisions about animal welfare where we live?
Evidence & Ethics for Changemakers
Ages 13+ · 60 minutes
Learning objectives
- Evaluate the quality of a source
- Summarise evidence on animal sentience
- Construct a respectful, evidence-based argument
Lesson flow
- Source-quality sorting exercise (15 min)
- Read summaries of sentience research and note the method used (20 min)
- Structured debate: how should evidence shape policy? (25 min)
Discussion prompts
- What makes a study more trustworthy than a headline?
- How did octopus sentience evidence change UK law?
- How do you disagree with someone without making them defensive?
Printables
Coloring sheets
Print any drawing you make in the Coloring Book, or start from a blank page.
My Plant-Powered Plate worksheet
A blank plate to fill in with drawings of five food groups.
Kindness badge chart
A wall chart to tick off kindness challenges at home or in class.
Animal observation diary
A structured page for recording body language seen in a real animal.
The Coloring Book saves any drawing as a picture file you can print at home or in class.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed for source relevance and working links on 16 September 2026. Guidance should be checked against your local health service.
- Position on vegetarian and vegan diets — British Dietetic Association
- Vegan diet guidance and supplement advice — NHS (UK)
- Vegetarian diets for children — American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Review of the evidence of sentience in cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans — London School of Economics
- Animal welfare research and the five welfare needs — RSPCA
- Animal welfare science publications — World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
- Animal Welfare Program research (dairy cattle cognition) — University of British Columbia
- Sheep facial recognition study — University of Cambridge
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