Vegan friendly

QI’ve agreed to let my 16-year-old daughter try being vegan, but I’m worried there are important elements of her diet she’ll be missing now. Will she need supplements? Paula, York

AIf you opt for a vegan diet, it can be useful to start taking vitamin D and B12, typically found in animal foods. A B12 or vitamin D deficiency can lead to tiredness, so make sure you eat foods that are fortified with these vitamins, or start taking supplements. Also, make sure that you eat foods that are high in vitamin C, as this will help speed up your body’s absorption of these necessary minerals. The most important thing is to make sure your daughter eats a balanced diet. A vegan diet contains a lot of fibre, but can leave you with little energy. It is important to consume high-quality fat with your meals, such as olive oil, nuts, and avocado. Make sure she eats vegetable proteins, so she gets essential amino acids, too.