Q: I am a vegetarian and have decided that my son will also be veggie. But for some reason people are telling me it's a bad idea and his health will suffer. I will be making his food myself and will take extra care to ensure he has a good diet, so surely this can't be the case? I don't see why I have to include meat for him to be healthy, and I really don't want to.

A: A vegetarian diet is absolutely fine for a baby, and a good vegetarian diet will provide just as many nutrients as a meat-based one. As with any diet, the key is to include lots of variety so that your son gets the right blend of nutrition. Additionally, extra care should be taken to ensure that nutrients of particular importance to a baby - comprising protein, iron and vitamin B12 - are in adequate supply.

Protein is required to ensure healthy growth and development, and you will need to ensure that you include plenty of vegetarian protein sources. These include pulses such as lentils, dairy products and eggs. Tofu is also a good source of protein, and this is a perfectly healthy choice for a baby. Additionally, you can include Quorn into your baby's diet, but be careful with quantities as it can be high in fibre and low in calories.

Iron is another important nutrient. This mineral helps the body to make red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting oxygen around the body. As your son's own reserves of iron will be used up by around six months of age, it is important to include plenty of vegetarian sources. Iron can be found in most dark green vegetables (such as broccoli), apricots, cereals and pulses.

Vitamin B12 is responsible for a number of key actions, including keeping the nervous system healthy, making red blood cells, and releasing energy from food. It is found in virtually all meat products, so extra care needs to be taken to ensure its inclusion in a vegetarian diet. Good sources include eggs, soya milk and cereals. Additionally, it is in good supply in both breast milk and formula milk.

Do speak to your health visitor if you would like more guidance with regard to a vegetarian baby, or you can use the internet which has hundreds of vegetarian baby recipes. There are also many vegetarian baby cookbooks, some of which will provide a balanced menu planner, which can help you with your menu choices.

Is your child a vegetarian? Is it easy to provide a vegetarian balanced diet?