Vegetarian Babies Develop at Same Rate as Meat-Eaters
February 25, 2026
Medical Research
Danit R. Shahar, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, BGU
Times of Israel—A landmark new study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and the Health Ministry Nutrition Department is challenging long-held assumptions about infant nutrition. The peer-reviewed research, led by BGU doctoral student and clinical dietitian Kerem Avital and Prof. Danit R. Shahar from BGU’s Department of Epidemiology, analyzed nearly 1.2 million infants over 10 years. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study found that babies from vegetarian and vegan households developed at rates nearly identical to those of their omnivorous peers by age 2, dispelling concerns that plant-based diets may hinder early childhood growth.
Drawing from Health Ministry data collected between 2014 and 2023 — representing roughly 70% of children in Israel — the researchers tracked weight, height, and head circumference during the first two years of life. “This is a huge mass of data that we had access to thanks to the fact that in Israel, nearly 95% of babies are brought to a Tipat Halav [baby wellness center],” Avital said to Times of Israel. “It’s an amazing statistic.” The findings showed that while vegan infants had slightly higher odds of being underweight in the first 60 days, those differences disappeared by 24 months, with no statistically significant disparities across dietary groups.
Avital also emphasized the reassuring implications of the results. “In the context of developed countries, these findings are highly reassuring,” she said. “The data suggest that with the proper environment, plant-based diets do not compromise the fundamental physical development of infants.” The research directly counters what many consider conventional wisdom about meat consumption and childhood growth.
Addressing common concerns about iron levels, Avital was clear in challenging misconceptions. “Unlike the myth, plant foods like beans have more iron than meat,” she said, adding that although iron from meat is absorbed faster, balanced plant-based diets can meet infants’ nutritional needs. She stressed that the most important takeaway for parents is not whether a baby eats meat, but whether the child “eats real food and not ultra-processed food and junk,” underscoring that thoughtful planning and proper nutritional guidance are key to healthy development.
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