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Building a sense of security: an interview study of parents’ experiences of raising their children on a vegan diet
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.ORCID iD: 0009-0001-6728-5587
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nursing. Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8801-5423
Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5464-5686
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9263-9578
2026 (English)In: Appetite, ISSN 0195-6663, E-ISSN 1095-8304, Vol. 227, article id 108714Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Plant based diets are gaining popularity in accordance with international recommendations regarding health and sustainability. More adults following vegetarian diets leads to more parents choosing vegetarian diets for their children. However, little is known about parents' experiences of raising their children on vegetarian diets, vegan diet in particular. This study aimed to describe parents' experiences of raising their children on a vegan diet and explore differences over time. Parents of children fed a vegan diet were interviewed in two cohorts, in 2016 (n = 8) and 2025 (n = 14), using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. One overarching theme, building a sense of security, was abstracted from what was described as an evolving process as a parent. Regardless of initial status, the sense of security evolved over time. Parents described the choice of diet as natural, but they experienced lingering insecurities and internalization. They faced these insecurities by striving to do things right and found foundations for security in societal shifts and safe environments. There were large similarities between cohorts with the main difference being that the 2025 cohort encountered less questioning reactions. The findings suggest that choosing a vegan diet for one's children adds an additional layer of anxiety related to worry over hostile reception and own concerns for the children's health. Healthcare can facilitate the process of building a sense of security or add to stigmatization. This highlights the importance of relationship-building aspects of the professional meeting, and the necessity of evidence-based knowledge regarding alternative diets.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2026. Vol. 227, article id 108714
Keywords [en]
Complementary feeding, Parenting, Qualitative research, Stigmatism, Veganism
National Category
Nutrition and Dietetics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-256893DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2026.108714Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105044707019OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-256893DiVA, id: diva2:2087838
Funder
Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationRegion VästerbottenÅke Wiberg FoundationAvailable from: 2026-07-23 Created: 2026-07-23 Last updated: 2026-07-23Bibliographically approved

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Sande, PetterRingnér, AndersHörnell, AgnetaBerglund, Staffan K.

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