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Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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'Balancing' Proteins for Vegetarians
QUESTION
Dear Ms. Silva,
Can you suggest a good resource for Moms whose kids choose to be vegetarians (from toddlers to teens)? And what is the issue about "balancing" proteins?

— A Friend of Marjie Greenfield's in University Hts, OH

ANSWER
March 22, 2001
Dear A Friend,
Many parents are placed in this position of learning more about vegetarianism as a result of the children's choice. The issue of "balancing" proteins refers to the fact that proteins are made from individual building blocks called amino acids. Plant foods are often said to have incomplete proteins because they have low amounts of (or lack specific) amino acids needed to build a whole protein. However, when a plant food lacking specific amino acid(s) is eaten with another plant food that has an excess of this amino acid(s) then a whole protein can be made.

For instance, the combination of grains with legumes complement each other to form whole proteins. This is mostly an issue for people who do not eat any animal products (vegans) and is usually dealt with by eating a wide variety of plant foods.

The Vegetarian Resource Group (www.vrg.org) is a good source for information on feeding vegetarians.

— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D.

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