Vegan Diet: What To Eat On A Daily Basis To Keep Your Body Healthy

'You need to be quite careful.'
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Veganism has never been more popular with more than half a million Brits now choosing to avoid food derived from animals.

If you're one of the people who's new to the lifestyle, knowing what to eat on a daily basis while keeping your body healthy can be an absolute minefield. 

As part of their latest report the team at Viva! Health have created a handy infographic suggesting what you should eat each day to help.

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Viva Health

The graphic suggests people following a vegan diet should eat eight portions of fruit and veg per day, three to four portions of wholegrains and three to four potions of pulses.

It also advises those going vegan eat vegetable oil in small amounts and at least one portion of fortified foods every day or a vitamin B12 supplement. 

British Dietetic Association spokesperson Frankie Phillips says the graphic is a "reasonable start" if you want to go vegan, but you should also seek advice from your GP or The Vegan Society before finalising your shopping list.

"A vegan diet can be healthful, but it does take more effort and you need to be quite careful you’re replacing the sources of several nutrients you would normally get from meat, dairy, eggs or fish. That is quite tricky unless you’ve had some advice," she tells The Huffington Post UK.

"You need to think about where you’re going to get your iron from, where you’re going to get your protein from and where you’ll get your B vitamins from as well."

Phillips points out that vitamin B12 is completely missing from a vegan diet.

"If you’re vegan you will not have any sources of natural B12 in your diet, and that can lead to types of anaemia and nerve damage, so it is very important that you have a source of B12," she explains.

"As the chart rightly says, you should eat fortified foods because the yeast extract is a good way of getting that, or take a vitamin B12 supplement." 

For anyone considering going vegan who hasn't yet taken the plunge, Phillips recommends transitioning slowly over time. 

"It might be worth looking at more of a plant-based diet, without necessarily becoming vegan, as an intermediate step," she says.

"[This will help} to see if you can get over the idea of not including any animal foods in the diet at all."

For more information about vegan nutrition, visit the Vegan Society or Viva! Health

15 Raw Vegan Lunch Ideas
Loaded Avocado(01 of15)
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Sure, it’s not a baked potato, but an avocado covered in lemon dressing full of adobo seasoning is still pretty delicious and healthy. Get the recipe at Yolo Get Healthy here.
Raw Rainbow Noodle Bowl(02 of15)
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Kelp noodles are a great raw substitute for noodles — you just have to rinse them and they’re ready to eat. In this recipe, edamame adds protein and chopped purple cabbage adds crunch. Get the recipe from Rawmanda here.
Raw Cauliflower Detox Salad(03 of15)
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Cauliflower is great for you, full of fibre and healthy compounds. This salad is extra filling, thanks to seeds like pumpkin and sunflower. Get the recipe from The Healthy Foodie here.
Veggie Nori Rolls(04 of15)
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You don’t have to give up sushi just because you’re avoiding animal products (or cooking). This sushi roll has the expected carrot and avocado and seaweed, so you get some of those same flavours. Get the recipe from The Kitchn here.
Summer Squash Pasta(05 of15)
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Summer squash and zucchini make a great substitute for pasta if you cut them into strips. Toss in some fresh tomatoes and shredded basil and you’d never guess it’s not summer. Get the recipe from Scaling Back Blog here.
Raw Lentil Tacos(06 of15)
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Sprouted lentils add flavour and plant-based protein to the smokey chipotle flavour of these healthy tacos. Get the recipe from Nouveau Raw here.
Zucchini Noodles With 'Alfredo' Sauce(07 of15)
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Eating a raw vegan lunch doesn’t have to mean giving up creamy alfredo sauce — you just have to get creative with the ingredients. Get the recipe from Vegangela here.
Raw Stuffed Mushrooms(08 of15)
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These mushrooms are full of healthy ingredients, and you’ll have a hard time believing the rich rosemary sauce on top is dairy-free. Get the recipe from Rawmazing here.
Avocado Chickpea Salad(09 of15)
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Missing creamy chicken salad for your sandwiches? Try this substitute with fibre-rich chickpeas and heart-healthy avocados instead. Get the recipe from Amuse Your Bouche here.
Vanilla Berry Chia Pudding(10 of15)
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Chia seeds are a great source of fibre and omega-3 fatty acids. Customize with your own favourite berries or other fruit. Get the recipe from The Iron You here.
Spicy Raw Thai Salad(11 of15)
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This salad may be raw, but it’s still got some heat! Broccoli slaw adds great crunch. Get the recipe from Linda Wagner here.
Raw Falafels(12 of15)
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This raw version of the Middle Eastern favourite has a lot less fat than fried falafels. Get the recipe from the Novice Housewife here.
10 Minute Raw Curry(13 of15)
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Craving the belly-warming spices of your favourite curry? This raw and vegan version uses zucchini noodles and only takes 10 minutes to prep. Get the recipe from The Fitchen here.
Cream Of Cucumber Soup(14 of15)
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Soup can be raw and vegan too! And this recipe gives you a great way to use inexpensive cucumbers. Get the recipe from The Veg Kitchen here.
Raw Vegan Heart Of Palm And Jicama Ceviche(15 of15)
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This vegan ceviche makes a great afternoon snack option and you can also enjoy it in lettuce leaves. Get the recipe from Raw Food Recipes here.

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