Healthy eating for vegetarians and vegans - British Nutrition Foundation

Healthy eating for vegetarians and vegans

We aim to give people access to reliable science-based information to support anyone on their journey towards a healthy, sustainable diet. In this section you can read about how to plan a healthy vegetarian or vegan diet.

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Healthy eating for vegetarians and vegans

In this article, you can find information on healthy eating for vegetarians and vegans. The article looks at:

Key messages

  • Well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets can be nutritious and healthy.
  • The UK government suggests a vegetarian diet should be based on the Eatwell Guide.
    • Have at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
    • Base your meals on starchy carbohydrates– especially wholegrains and high-fibre versions.
    • Include some dairy or dairy alternatives (for example calcium-fortified soya, rice and oat drinks), choose lower fat and lower sugar products where possible.
    • Choose a variety of protein sources, for example pulses (lentils, beans and peas), eggs, Quorn (mycoprotein) and soya products like soya mince or textured vegetable protein (TVP).
    • Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and eat in small amounts. Unsaturated fats are monounsaturated fats (found, for example, in olive and rapeseed oil) and polyunsaturated fats (found in for example sunflower and corn oil).
    • Drink plenty of fluids – the government recommends 6-8 cups/glasses a day.
    • Remember that food high in fats, salts and sugars like cakes, biscuits, fried savoury snacks, pies, pastries and sugar sweetened soft drinks are not needed in the diet so if you include these, eat them less often and in small amounts.
  • When eating a meal with plant sources of iron like pulses (such as kidney beans, chickpeas or lentils), dark green veg or an iron-fortified breakfast cereal try to include some vitamin C to increase iron absorption (by adding some vegetables such as peppers or broccoli to your meal or berries to your cereal).
  • For vegans who strictly avoid all animal products, other sources of vitamin B12 such as vitamin B12-fortified foods or supplements should be included.

Did you know?

The sugars we need to reduce are called ‘free sugars’. Free sugars include all added sugars in foods and drinks in whatever form including table sugar, honey, syrups, and nectars, as well as the sugars naturally present in fruit, vegetable and pulses (such as soy and chickpeas) that have been juiced, pureed or made into pastes. Ingredients added such as lactose and galactose are also considered to be free sugars.

A vegan meal

What is a vegetarian diet?

A vegetarian is usually described as someone who does not eat meat, poultry, fish, shellfish or any by-products of slaughter.

However there is no single, accepted definition of ‘vegetarian’. People may define themselves as vegetarians because they largely choose plant based diets, will include some fish (pescetarian), or are what has been popularly described as flexitarian or ‘semi-vegetarian’ (someone who is mostly vegetarian but occasionally eats meat or poultry).

Some of the common types of vegetarians are:

  • lacto-ovo-vegetarians (the most common type) – eats dairy products and eggs
  • lacto-vegetarians – eats dairy products but not eggs
  • ovo-vegetarian – eats eggs but not dairy products
  • vegan – does not eat any products of animal origin so does not eat any dairy products, eggs or honey

How many people in the UK are vegetarian?

From recent dietary surveys (National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/2009-2011/2012) we can estimate that around 2% of adults and children living in the UK are vegetarian. This equates to more than 1.2 million people. In the survey, less than 1% reported following a vegan diet.

Why do people choose to follow a vegetarian diet?

There are many reasons why people choose to be vegetarian including parental preferences, health reasons, religious or cultural beliefs as well as concern for animal rights and the environment.

 

Choosing a healthy, balanced vegetarian diet

Appropriately planned vegetarian diets are nutritionally adequate across all life stages of the life cycle and can provide the nutrients we need. For more information on vegetarian and vegan diets during pregnancy read our page on this topic.  

Do remember that vegetarian options can also be high in saturated fat, salt and sugar. Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, reducing your salt and free sugars intake, keeping your alcohol consumption within government guidelines, maintaining a healthy bodyweight and leading an active lifestyle are all important.

The Eatwell Guide is the UK dietary recommendations and applies to vegetarians and vegans; you can use it to help you make good choices for a balanced and varied diet.

 

Suitable choices for vegetarians and vegans

*The full name of this group within the Eatwell Guide is 'Beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins'. The reference to meat and fish was removed on the basis that these are not suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets.

The Eatwell Guide also contains information regarding the foods to eat less often and in small amounts. If you would like more information on the Eatwell Guide you can find this here.

Potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates
  • Base your meals on starchy carbohydrates, choosing wholegrain or higher fibre versions – these include brown rice, wholewheat pasta, quinoa, wholewheat chapattis, buckwheat, porridge oats and potatoes with skin.

Tips

  • Try to avoid adding too much fat (such as butter or cream in mashed potatoes or cream-based pasta sauces) as these can considerably increase the calories and saturated fat content of the dish.
  • Remember to check the labels and choose products low in fat, salt and sugars.
  • If you are thinking of having chips, why not try baking wedges using a small amount of unsaturated oil or choose oven chips lower in fat and salt.
  • You can mix white and wholegrain versions to increase fibre content – like mixing white and wild rice or baking with half wholemeal and half white flour. 

Fruit and vegetables

  • Eat at least five portions of a variety of different types of fruit and vegetables every day.
  • All fruit and vegetables including fresh, frozen, canned (not in brine or syrups) and dried (with no added sugars) count!
  • Fruit/vegetable juices and smoothies can count as one portion but this should be limited to a maximum of 150ml a day.

Tips

  • Be careful when choosing canned fruit like lychee, pineapple and mango that they are not canned in syrup.
  • Add more vegetables to your main meals, for example add grated carrot, mushrooms or peppers to your bean chilli or veggie bolognese.
  • Try and keep fruit in your bag (and your fridge) ready to eat as a healthy, convenient snack.
  • Keeping vegetables in your freezer is a good way to ensure you do not run out.
  • Avoid adding salt to cooking water or adding sugars to fruit (like honey).
  • Seasonal vegetables are delicious as they are – why not steam them?
  • If you want to add dressings to vegetables or salads why not try lemon juice, chilli and olive oil, some of the less used unsaturated oils like walnut or sesame oil or dressings made from avocado or tahini?

Dairy and alternatives 

  • Include some dairy or dairy alternatives. Choose lower fat and lower sugar options where possible.
  • Many vegetarians consume dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt. Calcium-fortified dairy alternatives like soya, oat and nut drinks are suitable for vegans and others who do not consume dairy. Check the labels to ensure they are fortified.
  • Cheese can be high in saturated fat and salt so try to use reduced fat varieties, a smaller amount of stronger varieties or lower fat cheeses like quark or cottage cheese.
  • Free from cheese alternatives are available in some retailers but these are typically not fortified with calcium.

Tips

  • Grating cheese instead of freely slicing it is a good method to avoid using more than you need!
  • Try to use low-fat plain yogurt or fromage frais instead of cream, crème fraiche or mayonnaise. 

 

Beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins

  • Eat some beans, pulses, eggs and other proteins 
  • There are many options for vegetarians including Quorn (mycoprotein), tofu, soya products, textured vegetable protein (TVP), pulses (like lentils, kidney beans and peas), as well as eggs (if you eat them).
  • An 80g portion of pulses (lentils, beans and peas) can count as one of your 5 A DAY!

Tip

  • Why not try a spicy dal or a chickpea curry served with brown rice or flatbreads like a chapatti or a roti?

 

Oils and spreads

  • Choose oils high in unsaturated fat and low in saturated fat.
  • Do not forget all oils are high in fat so use sparingly.
  • Choose lower fat spreads where possible– check the labels.
  • Most of the oils sold as standard vegetable oil in supermarkets is rapeseed oil, an oil high in monounsaturated fats.

Tips

  • When heated, oils expand so heating oil in the pan before you use it will make it go further so you do not need to use as much.
  • You could also use spray oils to reduce the amount of oil you use for cooking.
  • Remember fats like coconut oil, palm oil and ghee are high in saturated fat.

 

Foods to eat less often and in small amounts 

  • Foods such as cakes, biscuits, chocolates, pastries, ice cream, fried crisps, cream and sugar-sweetened beverages are not required as part of a healthy, balanced diet. If you want to include these in your diet, have them infrequently or in small amounts.

Tip

  • If you add sugar to your food or drinks, such as tea, gradually reduce the amount you add until you may be able to cut it out completely

 

Composite dishes

The Eatwell Guide puts foods into distinct groups. However, we mostly eat dishes and meals like curries, stews and sandwiches which are made of foods from multiple groups - these are called ‘composite dishes’.

Here is an example of a vegan and vegetarian composite dish showing how the main ingredients fit with the food groups of the Eatwell Guide.

Spinach, chickpea and aubergine curry with brown rice (vegan)

You could also add a raita made with plain soy yogurt (dairy and alternative group), just add some finely chopped cucumber and a good pinch of cumin.

Wholewheat vegetarian spaghetti bolognese

Some important nutrients to consider

A well-planned vegetarian or vegan diet can provide the nutrients we need. However, some nutrients may come from different sources. For example over a third of calcium in the average UK diet comes from milk and dairy foods but in vegans calcium will be obtained from non-dairy foods and drinks.

In the next section we will look at:

Protein

Proteins are needed for many of the important functions that make our body work properly. A common misconception is that those who do not eat any meat or fish will not consume enough protein. However, vegans and vegetarians typically do get enough protein from their diet.

Proteins are made up of substances called amino acids. Our bodies can make some of these amino acids, but others known as ‘essential’ amino acids, are needed from the diet.

Consuming a range of plant protein sources will help ensure you are getting enough of all the essential amino acids. 

Good sources of protein

  • Eggs (vegetarians, not vegans)
  • Pulses (such as chickpeas, kidney beans, soya beans and lentils)
  • Tofu or bean curd
  • Quorn (mycoprotein), until recently, Quorn was not suitable for vegans as all products contained a small amount of egg. However, a new vegan range is now available. 
  • Nuts (choose plain, unsalted, varieties)

Although not considered in the ‘protein’ food group, cheese is often a popular choice for people following vegetarian diets. Cheese is a good source of protein, calcium and other nutrients. However some varieties can be high in saturated fat and salt. Check the label and try and choose reduced fat varieties or use stronger varieties in smaller amounts.

Some examples of meals/snacks that are sources of protein suitable for vegetarians and vegans

  • Baked beans on wholegrain toast
  • Vegetable soup with lentils and barley
  • Bean chilli with rice
  • Spicy chickpea stew with couscous
  • Houmous and pitta bread
  • Rye cracker and nut butter (such as peanut/almond/cashew butter)
A selection of pulses

Iron

Iron is essential for transporting oxygen around the body, brain function and the immune system. According to dietary surveys, 46% of girls aged 11 to 18 years and 23% of women aged 19 to 64 years have inadequate intakes of iron.

Females who are pre-menopausal (those who have a monthly cycle) are more at risk of iron deficiency.

The iron found in plant foods (called non-haem iron) is less readily absorbed in the body than the iron from animal sources (known as haem iron). Vegetarians may have lower iron stores so it is important to include good sources of iron in the diet.

Good sources of iron for vegetarians

  • Pulses (lentils, beans and peas)
  • Green leafy vegetables (such as watercress and spinach)
  • Wholemeal, seeded or brown bread
  • Some fortified breakfast cereals (with added iron)
  • Dried fruits (such as apricots and figs)
  • Nuts and seeds (such as cashews, almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds)

Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. Try and add some vitamin C rich vegetables to your meal. For example if you are making a vegetarian bean curry, add some peppers. You could also have a small glass of fruit juice with your meal (remember the dietary recommendation is a maximum of 150ml per day!)

Some compounds in tea and coffee can actually make it harder to absorb iron, so try and avoid these when consuming plant sources of iron (such as pulses, kidney beans and chickpeas).

Spinach leaves in a wooden bowl

Calcium 

Calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth as well as the functions of muscles and nerves. For vegetarians, dairy foods, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, are a good source of calcium. Try to select lower fat, lower sugar versions where possible.

If you do not eat dairy products, make sure you include other calcium-containing foods and drinks which include:

  • Bread (breads made with flour which does not contain the wholegrain, such as white and some brown breads in the UK, have to be fortified with calcium by law)
  • Some green leafy vegetables (such as kale, rocket and watercress)
  • Calcium-fortified breakfast cereals
  • Calcium-fortified dairy alternatives (such as soya, oat, rice or nut dairy-free alternative drinks and yogurts)
  • Calcium-set tofu (those prepared using calcium)
Glass of dairy alternative drink

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is needed for healthy blood as well as our nervous system and immune system.

Typically, vitamin B12 is only found naturally in foods from animal sources. So vegetarians who consume dairy products and eggs can get enough vitamin B12 from their diet; however vegans may not get enough of this vitamin, due to the lack of reliable sources. Studies have confirmed low vitamin B12 intake and blood concentrations (the level of vitamin B12 in the blood) in both vegans and vegetarians. Clinical symptoms from vitamin B12 deficiency because of poor dietary intake are rare; however cases have been reported in strict vegan diets, particularly in young children.

Vegan sources of vitamin B12

  • Vitamin B12 fortified yeast extract
  • Vitamin B12 fortified breakfast cereals (with added vitamin B12)
  • Vitamin B12 fortified dairy-free alternatives (such as soya, oat and nut dairy-free alternative drinks or vegan spreads)

Remember to look at food labels!

Alternatively, as suggested by the Vegan Society, you could take a vitamin B12 supplement. Do not take more than the recommended amount. You can always talk to a health professional if you are unsure.

Bowl of wholegrain fortified cereal with strawberries

Omega-3 fats

Omega-3 fats are essential to our health. Long-chain omega-3 fats like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the kind that you find in oily fish, may help lower our risk of heart disease, and contribute to normal visual and brain development. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and trout are rich sources of these long-chain omega-3 fats.

If you do not eat fish, you can get omega-3 fats from other foods (see list below). However, these are short-chain omega-3 fats known as α-linolenic acid (ALA). It has been shown that only a small proportion of these fats can be converted into long-chain omega-3s.

Although vegans and vegetarians have lower intakes of the important long-chain omega-3 fats than those consuming fish in their diets, there is no strong evidence that vegans and vegetarians have poorer health as a result.

Supplements containing long-chain omega-3 fats from microalgae are also available.

Foods containing short-chain omega-3 fats (ALA) include some nuts, seeds and their oils

  • Some seeds (such as flax and chia seeds)
  • Walnuts and walnut oil
  • Soybeans and soybean oil
  • Oils (such as flaxseed, rapeseed)
A bowl of flax seeds

Other nutrients

Iodine

Sources of iodine include fish, eggs, milk and milk products, with dairy contributing around one third to average daily UK iodine adult intake. Vegetarians and particularly vegans are at risk of iodine deficiency as they do not eat rich iodine sources (fish and/or dairy products). Soya and dairy alternative drinks are not typically fortified with iodine (check label) and therefore sources are limited.

Vegan sources of iodine include:

  • In some countries, iodine is added to salt. However, this does not occur in the UK and there is a government recommendation to reduce salt intakes. Therefore, iodised salt should not be relied upon as a means to increase iodine intakes.
  • Although seaweed is a concentrated source of iodine, it can provide excessive amounts (particularly brown seaweed like kelp) and therefore eating it more than once a week is not recommended, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Iodine supplements.

Selenium

Selenium is needed for the normal function of the immune system and to help protect your body’s cells. Dietary surveys show that a substantial proportion of the population may not have an adequate intake of selenium. However the health implications of this are currently unclear. Meat and fish are really good sources of selenium, and eggs are also a good source. If you're a vegetarian or vegan, it's important to make sure you're eating other foods which contain a source of selenium (although the actual levels are variable dependent on the soil in which they are grown), these include: 

  • Some nuts and seeds (especially Brazil nuts but also cashew nuts and sunflower seeds)
  • Some breakfast cereals (such as puffed wheat cereal, shredded wheat and cornflakes)
  • Some breads (such as seeded and wheatgerm bread)

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is needed for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from foods to keep bones healthy. We get most of our vitamin D through the action of sunlight on our skin during the summers months but oily fish and eggs, fortified cereals and spreads also contain vitamin D.

In addition to sunlight, good vegan sources of vitamin D are:

  • Vitamin D fortified fat spreads, breakfast cereals and unsweetened soya drinks
  • Vitamin D supplements

When choosing vitamin D supplements, read the label to ensure they are suitable for vegans. Vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 from lichen are vegan-friendly options.

 

Association of vegetarian diets and health

It is important to remember that removing meat from your diet alone is no guarantee of a healthier diet. However, there is some evidence that shows vegetarian dietary patterns may have a health benefit when compared to more traditional dietary patterns. Vegetarian or more plant-based diets are typically higher in fruit and vegetables, whole grains and dietary fibre while being lower in saturated fat, sweets and non-water beverages (such as sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol).

However, we also know that people who adopt vegetarian diets are often more health conscious overall and also adopt other healthier lifestyle factors. For instance, vegetarians are likely to be more physically active, less likely to smoke, consume less alcohol and are more likely to have a higher income and education. This may explain some of the observed health benefits.

Health conditions

Systematic reviews have found associations between the consumption of vegetarian diets and a reduced incidence of obesity and coronary heart disease, as well as a reduced blood pressure and blood cholesterol, and a lower energy intake.

Health condition

Modifiable risk factors

Overweight/obesity

High daily energy intake

Physical inactivity

Coronary heart disease

Being overweight/obese

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

Smoking

 

 Obesity

Obesity is classified as a BMI of 30kg/m² or higher and is associated with a range of health problems including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.

 Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood. It is an essential part of cell membranes in the body, a component of some hormones and also needed to produce vitamin D. However, having too much cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of getting heart disease.

Blood pressure

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) increases the risk of developing some health problems, such as heart attack or stroke. Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the highest level your blood pressure reaches when your heart beats. The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the lowest level your blood pressure reaches as your heart relaxes between beats. They're both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

Coronary heart  disease

Coronary heart disease, previously called ischaemic heart disease, is when your coronary arteries become narrowed by a gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls. These arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.

 

Vegetarian diets and cancer

Studies looking at the association between vegetarian diets and the risk of cancer are somewhat inconsistent.

Cancer is a complex disease and the risk of developing cancer depends on a combination of factors, some of which you cannot change like your genes. Cancer Research UK have said 4 in 10 cancers can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours such as not smoking, eating a healthy, varied diet, keeping active, maintaining a healthy bodyweight and not drinking alcohol or reducing alcohol consumption to within government recommendations.

World Cancer Research Fund recommendations for cancer prevention include eating more plant-based foods such as wholegrains, fruit, vegetables, beans and eating less red and processed meat.

For more information read our page on reducing the risk of cancer.

 

Plant-based eating

We also know that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ healthy diet, but that certain characteristics of dietary patterns are linked with better health. Such dietary patterns include higher consumption of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, pulses, nuts and seeds as well as lower intakes of fatty/processed meat, refined grains, sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, salt and saturated fat.

For more information on vegetarian diets see the Vegetarian Society website.

For more information on vegan diets see the Vegan Society website.  

 

For more information on the sources used in this text please contact postbox@nutrition.org.uk

Information reviewed March 2017. Revised July 2018. 

FAQ vegan diets: strengths and challenges

For anybody interested in vegan diets and nutrition, the British Nutrition Foundation answers some of the most common questions. This is not a comprehensive guide to a vegan diet, but provides some useful nutrition information in this area.

FAQ vegan diets: strengths and challenges

A FAQ resource about following a vegan diet.

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