Soy and boys

[DoulaLMT]

I'm trying to figure out how much soy is appropriate to feed a toddler boy. I've read so many conflicting things about the estrogenic effects of soy. I've been a vegetarian my whole life but ate dairy (and much less soy than is in our current diet) until right after DS was born. He's been vegan (with an occasional free-range egg) his whole life due to a dairy intolerance. He tolerates soy and wheat.

So how much soy does your baby/toddler boy get?
Any solid resources about the safety (or lack thereof) of soy in little boys?

[eepster]

In many Asian countries, people have used great amounts of soy products for thousands of years without it causing problems.

[425lisamarie]

I've independently decided that whole food soy products are ok for my family. My son doesn't eat much of them, he loves edamame, I use tofu mayo a lot, and in burgers of all kinds I use tofu. DD eats more of it, and does GREAT with it. In fact, being allergic to eggs and deciding she doesn't want to eat meat or poultry it happens to be one of her best protein sources. She cannot have most nuts either, only sunbutter so I'm glad she does well with soy. I don't consider tofu to be a highly processed food like some claim it is.

I've read all the stuff, I even preached against it and didn't give it to my kids for the longest time (though I still consumed a little), but I'm just not convinced to abstain from eating it. I think it's a healthy food. I don't know, maybe it got a bad wrap since you can so highly process soy and turn it in to all sorts of things. But that goes for a lot of things

[love2all]

I too have read and reread all the info I could find and have been feeding my boys tofu, miso, tempeh and soymilk many times a week for ten plus years- they all seem healthy.
I try to stay away from the 'fake meat' stuff and now just make my own with gluten as a base...

[DoulaLMT]

Originally Posted by love2all

I try to stay away from the 'fake meat' stuff and now just make my own with gluten as a base...

I make my own gluten too, and we switch back and forth between tofu and gluten for our protein. We do some coconut milk, but also some soymilk, and I do most of my cooking with soymilk.

I guess eating a ton of soy is still probably better than eating the "regular" (non-organic/free range) meat that most people eat. Gotta keep it all in perspective I guess!

[caiesmommy]

Ds would eat soy EVERY MEAL if I let him. And I wouldn't have many issues w it except, too much of anything isn't great. BUT I have no issues feeding im soy. He loves miso soup, loves tofu, loves edamame, loves dried soybeans....if it gets himto eat then I'm fine with it.

[AngelBee]

[MountainMamaGC]

Its all about moderation and using whole foods. I try to stay away from processed foods including processed soy like TVP. We eat tofu about 3 times a week and DD drinks a maybe half a cup of soy milk in her cereal. Dr. McDougall says it should be used more like a condiment instead of a main dish. Ie, tofu with lots of veggies is good or soy milk in your cereal is good, but to avoid eating a lot of TVP, fake meats, and even tofu in large amounts. I try to incorporate other beans into my weekly menu. Black beans and chick peas are a favourite here.