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While vegetarian diets can provide many health benefits, people who choose to eat this way must be careful to plan meals that provide all the nutrients necessary for good health. This is especially true of certain populations.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding generally are urged to wait until a later time to switch to a vegetarian diet. Women who are already vegetarians may not have to alter their diet much to ensure that their baby develops normally. However, it may be a good idea to consult with a registered dietitian. Some experts recommend that vegetarians consume up to 300 additional calories a day during pregnancy.

Young children can eat a healthy vegetarian diet. However, it is crucial that parents closely supervise all meals to ensure that their children are receiving the variety of foods necessary to obtain nutrients crucial to growth and health. Children require sufficient amount of several vitamins, minerals and nutrients to grow and develop normally.

The amount of energy (calories) in vegetarian diets needs to be monitored to ensure adequate daily energy for children. Protein is vital for growth and is generally readily obtained from plant foods like legumes. Iron in plant foods is the less easily absorbable non heme iron and children may require additional iron-containing foods in order to meet daily requirements. In addition, vitamin C-containing foods should be included in the daily diet to help with iron absorption. Tannin-containing beverages such as tea should be avoided, because tannins interfere with non heme iron absorption. Calcium and vitamin D are essential for bone development, and childhood is a vital period for the development of strong bones for the entire lifetime. If a child does not consume dairy products, then calcium- and vitamin D-fortified foods are needed. Vitamin B12 is another vital substance contained only in meat, fish and dairy products. Vegan children require foods fortified with vitamin B12, or supplements as recommended by a pediatrician.

Fruits and vegetables can be introduced around the ages of 6 months to 9 months. Parents who wish to raise their children as semi-vegetarians may begin to introduce poultry around 9 months of age. Infants can get their protein from several vegetarian foods, including pureed tofu, cottage cheese, and pureed and strained legumes.

By the time a child is 1 year old, it may be necessary to include fortified cereals and nutrient-dense foods in the diet. Older children and teens can follow much of the same dietary planning as adults in fashioning a vegetarian meal regimen that is rich in important nutrients.

Older adults face the same nutritional challenges as other adults. However, many older adults may have limited exposure to sunlight. This makes older vegetarians more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency unless they drink milk. In addition, older adults may have trouble properly absorbing vitamin B12. Because many vegetarians do not obtain this vitamin regularly from their diets, supplementation may be recommended.

People with certain medical conditions are urged to consult with a physician or nutritionist to make sure they get adequate nutrients from a vegetarian diet. In many cases, a vegetarian diet is beneficial for people with certain health problems.

For example, people who are obese and have type 2 diabetes may lose significant amounts of weight after switching to a vegetarian diet. This can help improve their health substantially.