New trends in vegetarian latent food diversification: from evidence to clinical practice

• Main Authors: Joana Miranda (Author), Liliana Borges (Author), Celeste Godinho (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.29352/mill0223.31947; 0873-3015; 1647-662X
• Keywords: health professionals; vegetarian diet; early childhood; child development; Special aspects of education; LC8-6691; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Millenium, Vol 2, Iss 23 (2023)

Introduction: Food is a strong determinant of health and an act of expression of affection. Alongside a vast array of updates in latent food diversification, we are witnessing a paradigm and cultural change, with new food trends emerging in family diets. There is also evidence of the health benefits of consuming plant-based foods and for the sustainability of the planet. Objective: After a need identified in practice, this study aimed to systematize health professional's perspectives on the dietary diversification of latent vegetarians, supporting measures to improve the quality of care. Methods: According to the methodological principles of a systematic review, the EBSCO and PUBMED platforms were used, based on the PRISMA protocol, and the terms were measured as MesH Browser descriptors, from which 13 articles were extracted. Results: With this review, it was possible to map the current scientific evidence and identify parallels between the studies found, the standards of the European reference entities, and clinical practice, which promote a more sustained nursing intervention. Conclusion: The results obtained are relevant to better empower families, by specialized professionals and holders of adequate training. It is important to produce more knowledge, emphasizing diet planning and monitoring, in order to mitigate the risks of nutritional deficiencies (appropriate and individualized supplementation), which could compromise the child's development.