We are a 100% veg family and we eat quite a bit of soy. I try to serve a variety of foods (trying for more raw foods) but my boys are Tofu Dog junkies. I don't buy the meat analogues, my dh does. Anyway, sometimes I worry about the kids (and myself for that matter) getting too much soy in their diets. Any other vegan mamas worry about this? What did you do about it?
TIA!
Blessings,

My son is a tofu hot dog junkie, too! I do worry about getting to much soy in our diet. I try to limit to serving tofu/soy twice a day. I really should measurew to food out and calculate the soy grams but I am too lazy. You've inspired me to start!

As long as they are getting enough green food each day, is there such a thing as too much soy? How much are they eating? I've wondered about this too, but I sort of came to the conclusion that kids go through phases where they like to eat one thing all the time. I remember my brothers only eating macaroni and cheese and hot dogs for years, literally. So I guess that I think that it's better for them than other stuff they could be eating and if they are getting some veggies and fruits in there, it should be okay?

I think you're right-about kids eating the same things over and over for years and still are healthy. I am wondering if they have more than 26 grams of soy it will affect their kidneys or something. I know my son can't eat THAT many soy hot dogs, though. I should look into it, and get back to you!

Well...one way we limit soy is no soy milk to drink...we use oat or rice milk-or almond milk is great.

I love tofu with veggies-so we have that once a week...and we love to make Nori rolls...and edamame. Tofu dogs in baked beans are quite yummy.: )

I have to cut back on soy because I am hypothyroid. I have this condition because I was fed soy formula as a baby.
But-in that case the soy is ioo% of the babies diet and there are too many isoflavones in that little body-esp compared to the small body weight.

I think that moderation in all things is the way to go.

I too have given this a bit of thought. I think that 20 years ago (assuming we would still be vegan in the 80's!), we would never question this. There are so many "new" reports of the dangers of soy, etc etc... This seems plenty scary to me, especially because I have 2 male tofu heads! (soy in general... we snack on edamame!)
Anyway, I just look to the Asian countries where this is a staple of food... it has been a main staple for a VERY long time now... and they have no affects at all from this.
I think it is our western culture that seems they simply cannot except that there is a truly non-violent way of life, so there is always "new" studies to prove that. We are a fear-hungry nation, and anything sensational always sinks us. :) (referring to the "studies" about soy, etc.)

Hey Angelina-I totally agree with you-the only qualification that I would make is what do the Japanese people actually eat?....I know that they eat tofu, Miso, use soy sauce etc...but do they go crazy with it eating the whole gamut of vegetarian meat replacer stuff? I think when you do that you can risk really raising your soy intake much higher than the healthy soy eating Japanese.

I mean as a vegetarian in the states you can wake up and eat cereal with soy milk, tofu dogs or soy veggie burgers for lunch and tofu in your stir fry for dinner...then have soy ice cream for dessert...with edamame or soy crisps for a snack....That is a whole lot of soy servings a day. It is never good to have any one thing as the staple for your whole diet. Variety is better choice anyway.

I venture to say that japanese people do not eat that many soy choices a day. I know that they eat fish in replacement for what we would use meat replacement. Also-they weren't a culture hooked on cow dairy-and I doubt therefore they would switch to the large amounts of soy milk to replace the cow dairy...

Well...now I've gotta find out from some one who grew up in Japan what the whole soy scoop is-I am very curious.

You're definately right about all the soy meats, etc. I guess I wasn't considering that! We eat those maybe once every few days, but mostly eat tofu and edamame... but we do have plenty of soy milk, too. For me, the main issue with the soy meats, etc. is the high content of "non foods" in the ingredients. They are made with mostly soy isolates, etc.

I can't really have an informed opinion on those, because I just don't know that much about it. For me, I don't like to serve/eat anything with too many ingredients! I like to make things from ingredients, if you know what I mean! ;)

This is a great thread... and I hope my last post was coherent, as it was wee in the morning hours when I took a break from pumpkin pie (with tofu!) last night. I'm still tired!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! The birds of the USA thank us all today! :P

I don't know about Japanese diets, but when I was in China, tofu was served normally once a day, sometimes twice a day. There was so much variety though- we'd have at least 7 or 8 dishes at each meal, normally more like 10 things though. The dairy and egg consumption there is way low compared to here. I was never served milk, either soy or from a cow.

Is 27 grams of soy protein a day bad for you? Don't they reccomend more than that for daily protein? I never read those pyramid things so I don't know. It's funny because I'm always worrying about getting enough protein, lol, not too much! :)

This is an article I found, albeit sensationalized to a degree:

TRUTH: Soy has been the darling of the natural health media for years now, but the notion that "the more soy you eat the better" is very dangerous. As I began to explain on page 3 of this letter, more and more studies are showing that eating lots of soy can have harmful side effects, such as a compromised immune system, blocked absorption of minerals and thyroid disease. When this new information becomes mainstream, the soy craze will be over.

Women are particularly affected, since soy can inhibit the absorption of zinc. A deficiency of zinc can cause terrible mood swings and irritability in menopausal women and women with PMS.

My advice: I want you to benefit from soy's antioxidant properties without any of the risk. Make sure you choose the right kind of soy-- fermented products such as miso, tempeh and tofu. Avoid eating whole soy beans, soy milk or soy protein powders on a regular basis, since they include toxins that can contribute to disease. By the way, the Japanese have traditionally eaten only fermented soy.

Unfermented soy is only one of many "false friends" from your local health food store. Each month in my Medical Letter, I show you exactly the best ways to improve your health with natural products and I expose the common natural products that can harm you.

First of all, I think too much of any one food is not good. A balanced diet with a wide variety of food is obviously optimal.

Make sure you choose the right kind of soy-- fermented products such as miso, tempeh and tofu. Avoid eating whole soy beans, soy milk or soy protein powders on a regular basis
This would be my advice also, that is what I've read.

Has anyone else heard that boys/men should not eat soy at all? I heard this from FIL, who is a chiropractor... but I don't know where he heard it.

We are not vegan, but we do rice milk instead of cow's milk (Rice Dreams tastes better than any soy milk I've ever had!) and if we do "fake" meat, we usually try to do bean burgers and stuff like that, but we pretty much try to avoid soy because of what we've heard.

But, if you eat soy or familiy does, make sure its organic, because virtually all of non-organic is GMO. :mad:

Originally posted by mowglimonster
Hey Angelina-I totally agree with you-the only qualification that I would make is what do the Japanese people actually eat?....I know that they eat tofu, Miso, use soy sauce etc...but do they go crazy with it eating the whole gamut of vegetarian meat replacer stuff? I think when you do that you can risk really raising your soy intake much higher than the healthy soy eating Japanese.

I mean as a vegetarian in the states you can wake up and eat cereal with soy milk, tofu dogs or soy veggie burgers for lunch and tofu in your stir fry for dinner...then have soy ice cream for dessert...with edamame or soy crisps for a snack....That is a whole lot of soy servings a day. It is never good to have any one thing as the staple for your whole diet. Variety is better choice anyway.

I venture to say that japanese people do not eat that many soy choices a day. I know that they eat fish in replacement for what we would use meat replacement. Also-they weren't a culture hooked on cow dairy-and I doubt therefore they would switch to the large amounts of soy milk to replace the cow dairy...

Well...now I've gotta find out from some one who grew up in Japan what the whole soy scoop is-I am very curious.

I didn't grow up in Japan, but did spend 4 years there as a teen. The foods I saw most were noodles or rice, vegetables and chicken or fish.

my biggest concern is the amount of sodium found in the soy meats (boca burgers etc.). since my father's illness, i have been reading the sodium info, and wow...

veggie and mainstream frozen meals alike have unreal amounts of sodium! makes me swell up just thinking about it.

i guess there has to be a trade off. but i know i would much rather have my kids addicted to soy dogs than regular. how i wish my middle child would eat them! i have two very picky eaters on my hands...

also, i think it is easy for a veggie to get caught up in the ready made meat products. i too believe we should eat a wide variety of fruits, veggies, and then supplement our tastebuds with a little soy. too much of *anything* is not good! it would be like everyone living on tomatos. tomato chips, tomato juice, tomato sauce, burgers, pills, whew... :)

i think fresh soy, limited, would be fine. i *love* almond milk though. maybe i will make some today!

blessings,
am