Therapeutic diet
Vegetarian & vegan plans
Meet full nutritional needs on a plant-based diet, including during illness.
Any conditionCultural and religious dietsKidney disease (with supervision)
Principles
- Combine pulses, grains, nuts and seeds across the day for complete protein
- Plan for the nutrients that need attention: B12, iron, calcium, iodine, omega-3, zinc, vitamin D
- Plant protein is less concentrated — larger portions are needed during illness
- Fortify during weight loss with oils, nut butters, soya cream and plant milks
Include
- Beans, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, soya products
- Fortified plant milks and cereals
- Nuts, seeds, especially ground flax or chia for omega-3
- Vitamin B12 supplement or reliably fortified foods (essential if vegan)
- Vitamin C with iron-rich meals to boost absorption
Avoid or limit
- Assuming a plant-based diet is automatically adequate without B12
- Relying on salad alone during illness — energy density matters
- Very high-oxalate intake if you form kidney stones
A sample day
- BreakfastFortified porridge with soya milk, flaxseed, berries
- LunchChickpea and vegetable stew with wholegrain bread
- SnackFortified soya yoghurt with nuts
- DinnerTofu stir-fry with brown rice and greens
Cautions
- · Vitamin B12 supplementation is non-negotiable on a vegan diet.
- · In kidney disease, plant-based diets can be beneficial but need renal dietitian supervision for potassium.
Recipes that fit
Afya Companion offers education and self-help support. It does not diagnose, treat or replace care from your doctor, nurse, psychologist or dietitian. If something in your health changes, speak to your care team.