Glossary · Nutrients
Vitamin B12 (children)
A vitamin that helps nerves and red blood cells, found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy but not in plants. Vegan families need a plan with fortified foods or a supplement, so ask your pediatrician what suits your child.
Where B12 comes from
B12 is found in meat, fish, eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese. Plants don't bring it on their own. In vegan kitchens it comes from foods with B12 added, such as some breakfast cereals, unsweetened soy drinks and nutritional yeast flakes. That's why B12 only needs a plan in some homes.
By family diet
Families who eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy usually cover B12 without trying. In vegetarian homes, eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese bring B12. Vegan families need a plan, because it has to come from fortified foods or a supplement. Plant drinks for young children are usually chosen unsweetened, with calcium, vitamin D and B12 added. Ask your pediatrician whether your child needs a vitamin B12 supplement on your family's diet.
Everyday habits for plant-based families
- Check the label for B12 on cereals and plant drinks. Not every brand adds it.
- Look again when you switch brands.
- Stir nutritional yeast into pasta sauce or scrambled tofu.
- Tell your child's doctor about your family's way of eating at checkups.
Where to find it on the label
On a nutrition panel, B12 may be listed as vitamin B12 or cobalamin. Fortified cereals and plant drinks often list it, but amounts vary by brand and by country. Nutritional yeast is sold both with and without added B12, so check the tub. Keep one or two fortified products you like on hand, so you're not rereading labels every week.
Read more
References
Related terms
Miriel uses this concept across food scans, meal plans, and AI Coach responses where it is relevant to a child's profile. For the underlying clinical and scientific basis, see the research page.