Additional nutrients can also be introduced into the diet, although really oughtn't to be necessary. As a general rule, very few vegetarians suffer from nutritional deficiences. However, special attention should be paid to pregnant women, children and older people to ensure that they get a fully balanced diet.

 

The first thing that one thinks of when one thinks of a vegetarian diet is that it must be lacking in protein. Yet, the chances of a vegetarian lacking protein are very slim. Most vegetables contain some of the amino-acids used by the body to create proteins. However, not all of the vegetables contain all of the essential amino-acids, hence the need to eat a varied balanced diet.

It is important therefore to adapt one's food in order to consume all of the amino-acids that are essential for building proteins in the body. To do so, the general advice is to consume both vegetables and pulses. It's not necessary that the foods are eaten at the same meal, but within several meals of each other which is completely possible when eating a varied and balanced diet.

 

 

Cereals and pulses complement each other wonderfully. Here are some of the possible combinations: