Question: My daughter (in college) has decided to be a vegetarian. I worry that she's not getting enough nutrients from plants alone and needs to eat some protein. She says that’s "old school" thinking. Who's right?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Your daughter is right, but so are you. There are plenty of plant sources of iron and other nutrients, including protein, that vegetarians need to take extra efforts to consume to avoid being deficient.
You should advise her to review her diet with a dietician, and then she can get directed tips on where her diet may need to be fortified. You are right, in that many vegetarian diets may be deficient in nutrients if they are not balanced.
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