• My child is very picky and refuses to eat most of the dishes on the Planter meal plan. What can I do?

  It is normal for children to start being a bit picky about their food from the age of two onwards. However, it can become a problem and lead to nutritional deficiencies if the range of food they eat becomes too limited. Offering alternatives doesn’t really work in the long run and can actually make the situation much worse. It’s important not to fixate on this issue and refrain from forcing your child into tasting or finishing food. Try putting a very small amount on their plate instead, to makeFew readers

• What supplements do I need to give my children and teenagers following a plant-based diet?

  All children who don’t get the chance to go outside in the sunshine or live in countries with a lack of sunshine, should take a daily supplement of 600 IU of vitamin D, at least until they stop growing, whether they follow a plant-based diet or not. A daily 100 mg supplement of DHA is also recommended, regardless of their diet up until the age of three. How much vitamin B12 supplement (cyanocobalamin) to give them varies according to age. Between 6 months and 4 years: 5 mcg per day. Between ageFew readers

• My child follows an animal-based diet in the school canteen. Should I give them vitamin B12 supplements anyway?

  Yes, it’s best to. Only 5 meals are eaten at school, out of a total of 35 meals per week. This quantity of animal-based food is not sufficient to guarantee an adequate intake of vitamin B12. A vitamin B12 deficiency can be very dangerous, whereas there’s no need to worry about an excess as it is eliminated in urine since it’s soluble.Few readers

• If my child follows a plant-based diet, do they need to take routine blood tests?

  There’s no need! If they have a varied, well balanced diet (like the one tailored for them by Planter), their growth is normal and they have always taken the correct dose of vitamin B12 supplements since starting a plant-based diet, blood tests are not required. If this is not the case, talk to their paediatrician to assess the situation. However, if your child needs to have blood tests for any other reason, ask for their vitamin B12 levels to be checked at the same time and adjust the supplemenFew readers