A vegan is a vegetarian who avoids all animal products. A vegan does not eat meat, dairy, or eggs and does not drink milk. However, a vegan diet can still provide all your body’s essential minerals and vitamins.
All it takes is good planning! If you’re considering going vegan or want to eat fewer animal foods, here are four essential tips you need to know. And before you eliminate all animal products from your diet, check with your doctor, health care provider, or dietitian to ensure a vegan diet is proper for you.
Eat enough protein
Vegans do not eat meat, fish, poultry, dairy, or eggs. These foods are rich in protein, essential nutrients for red blood cells and muscles.
Vegans should replace animal protein with plant protein sources. That way they will get enough protein.
Legumes
They are excellent sources of protein. Try eating lentils, peas, and dried beans
Nuts and seeds
Almonds, walnuts, cashews, sesame seeds, flax seeds all the great sources of protein.
Soy and soy products
You can have protein from tofu, edamame green soybeans, fortified soy beverages.
Whole grains
Well, you’ll get protein from quinoa, buckwheat too.
Meat substitutes
There are many meat substitutes such as textured vegetable protein (TVP), veggie burgers, veggie hot dogs.
Add Omega-3 Fats in the diet
Omega-3 fats are essential for babies’ heart health and brain and eye development. Non-animal sources of omega-3 fats will help make up for what you’ll miss from meat-based sources.
Oils
Well, canola, flax, nut, and soy oils are great source of omega 3 fatty acid
Soybeans and tofu
Not only both of these sources of protein but they also provide omega 3 fatty acid
Ground flax seeds and walnuts
Try adding these in your diets. Keep in mind you’ll need the amount you’re missing from meat sources.
Other sources
Certain foods such as soy beverages, bread, and orange juice may be fortified with omega-3 fats. Read the label and ingredient list to determine if the food has the nutrients you need.
Make sure you get the vitamins you need
Vegans may need to take vitamin B12 supplements. Before choosing a supplement, check with your doctor, health care provider, or registered dietitian to determine how much you need.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 contributes to healthy nerves and blood cells in the body. V itaminB12 is only found in foods of animal origin and fortified foods such as: Fortified beverages made with soy, almonds, or rice.
Red Star nutritional yeast is also a great source of vitamin B12.
You can also try enriched meat alternatives such as TVP, veggie burgers. But please read the label
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Our bodies naturally produce vitamin D under the sun’s rays. However, using sunscreen and wearing clothing that covers most skin can limit the amount of vitamin D you produce. There aren’t many vegan sources of vitamin D either. You can get vitamin D from soft margarine and fortified beverages such as soy, almond, and rice.
Some vegans choose to take vitamin D supplements. Before choosing a supplement, check with your doctor, health care provider, or registered dietitian to determine how much you need.
Make sure you get the minerals you need
Calcium
Calcium maintains healthy bones and helps regulate heart and muscle contractions. Vegans often don’t get enough calcium. Include the vegan sources of calcium in your diet.
Fortified drinks
soy, rice, or almond drinks contains calcium. You can drink them as milk substitute.
Calcium Solidified Tofu
There are these calcium solidified tofu out there. You can try to add them in your diet to get some calcium you need.
Legumes
You’ll find calcium in kidney beans, baked beans, navy beans
Almonds
Almonds, both nuts and almond butter are a great source of calcium.
Sesame seeds
It was new to me! Well, there’s calcium in sesame seeds too!
Molasses
They are healthy foods balanced in nutritions.
Dark green vegetables
Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, collard greens contains calcium.
Iron
Iron participates in the transport of oxygen in the body. Vegans need twice as much iron as meat-eaters because we don’t absorb iron from plants and animal foods.
Legumes such as kidney beans, black-eyed beans, red lentils
Molasses
Soy products such as tofu, fortified soy beverages, veggie burgers, TVP
Enriched pasta and cereals
Dried fruits such as prunes, raisins and apricots
Dark green vegetables such as collard greens, okra, book choy
Quinoa
To help your body absorb iron, eat iron-rich foods with a source of vitamin C. Foods rich in vitamin C include strawberries, broccoli, and oranges.
It’s also good to drink coffee and tea only after meals because some compounds in these beverages interfere with iron absorption.
Zinc
Zinc plays a role in wound healing and helps the immune system fight off viruses. Vegan sources of zinc include many foods.
Legumes
lentils, refried beans, lima beans
Soy products
tofu, fortified soy beverages
Nuts and seeds
peanuts, peanut butter, sesame seeds, tahini, pumpkin seeds, cashews
Grain products
wild rice, wheat germ
Take supplements if needed
With a bit of preparation, a vegan diet can work for anyone.
People of all ages and life stages can follow a vegan diet, from babies to older adults. The important thing is to ensure you get all the nutrients you need to stay healthy. If your child is vegan, they get all the nutrients and energy they need to grow and develop healthily.
Being vegan when pregnant or breast feeding
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to include sources of vitamin B 12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. Consult your doctor, health care provider, or registered dietitian about taking a prenatal supplement.
Being vegan as an elderly person
If you’re over 50, you’ll need more calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B 12. You may also want to talk to your doctor, health care provider, or registered dietitian about your food choices and supplements.
Regardless of your age, be sure to follow health care professionals’ recommendations and consult your doctor, pediatrician, health care provider, or registered dietitian about a vegan diet that is right for you.