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Find a dietitian near you | Vegan and vegetarian nutrition
Help Optimize Your Nutrition and Health with a Plant-Based Diet
Can you live a nutrient-dense life on a vegan or vegetarian diet?
Have you recently decided to change your lifestyle? Perhaps you’ve been experimenting with vegetarian or vegan diets for health.
Or maybe you’ve been a vegan or vegetarian for a long time but life circumstances and/or different dietary requirements have you questioning if your plant based diet is adequate and optimized to achieve your goals.
Whether you’re doing this alone or as a family, you need expert guidance to navigate all of the questions, uncertainties and/or challenges that come with a change in lifestyle.
We have experience with different types of vegetarian diets including: Vegan, Pescatarian, Lacto-ovo Vegetarian, Lacto Vegetarian, Raw Vegan, and Flexitarian diets.
Questions around plant-based nutrition
While plant-based diets can be very nutritionally complete, there are a few key nutrients that need special attention – including vitamin B12, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and sometimes vitamin D and zinc. Our dietitians help you create balanced meal plans that naturally incorporate these nutrients through food sources and guide you on when supplements might be beneficial. We also help you recognize signs that your nutrition needs are being met through energy levels, mood, and overall health markers.
Plant-based eating can be incredibly diverse and flavorful! Our BC Dietitians share creative recipes and cooking techniques that celebrate different cultural traditions: from gluten-free vegan dumplings to plant-based Serbian cabbage rolls. We help you expand your cooking repertoire with simple, satisfying meals that use accessible ingredients and don’t require complex preparation or specialized equipment.
You don’t have to make an all-or-nothing commitment! Our dietitians embrace a “plant-forward” approach that emphasizes incorporating more plant-based foods without strict limitations. This flexible style allows you to gradually increase vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and plant proteins while still including other foods you enjoy. Even small shifts toward more plant-based eating can have meaningful health and environmental benefits.
Iron deficiency is a valid concern for people following plant-based diets, but it’s absolutely manageable with the right knowledge. Our BC Dietitians have explored practical solutions, including how cooking methods (like using cast iron pans) can actually boost your iron intake. We’ll help you understand which plant foods are rich in iron, how to enhance absorption by pairing them with vitamin C-rich foods, and when supplements might be helpful.
How Ontario Dietitians can help
Ensure you get the right amount of nutrients
- Conduct comprehensive nutrient assessments to identify potential gaps
- Develop meal plans that meet all your nutritional needs
- Provide guidance on key nutrients like B12, iron, omega-3s, zinc, and calcium
- Monitor growth and development in children and teens
Design practical meal plans that optimize plant protein intake
- Help you understand complete vs. incomplete proteins and how to combine foods
- Support you in meeting protein needs for your activity level and life stage, including athletic performance
- Address misconceptions about plant-based protein adequacy
- Develop realistic meal planning strategies that fit your lifestyle and stages (including pregnancy)
Navigate health goals and existing conditions
- Support workplace and school meal planning
- Address family dynamics around different eating styles
- Help manage chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or digestive issues
- Optimize energy levels and address fatigue and weight management
- Support immune function and overall wellness
Find your plant based dietitian
Browse local dietitians with expertise in vegan/vegetarian nutrition. Each profile includes their specific areas of focus, location, and booking information.
Frequently asked questions
Private practice dietitians are not covered by OHIP. However, many extended health benefit plans and insurance providers will cover a portion or all of the services provided by a Registered Dietitian (RD). Please confirm with your plan provider your maximum yearly and visit allowance.
Registered dietitians are authorized medical practitioners recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency.
If you pay out of pocket for your dietitian services, you can claim these expenses as medical expense for tax credit purposes.
A doctor’s referral is not necessary to book in with a ON Dietitian. While a referral is not needed to start your journey with us, we do appreciate connecting with your healthcare provider to coordinate care and provide a holistic and comprehensive care plan.
There are many reasons to consider a vegetarian diet—environmental and sustainability concerns, religious values, ethical issues over animal welfare, affordability, and even health benefits!
Vegetarian diets are shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, as well as prevent type 2 diabetes.
However, a vegetarian diet isn’t a healthy diet by default. You’ll still need to follow general guidelines for eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, reducing sugar intake, choosing whole grains over processed carbs, and limiting saturated and trans fats.
General guidelines for a healthy meal are half a plate of fruits and vegetables, a fourth a plate of protein, a fourth a plate of whole grains, and healthy plant-based oils in moderation.
We make it easy for your to find a specialized vegetarian dietitian in ON.
Check out the dietitians listed on this page (or jump here), click on their profiles to read more about their qualifications, experience, and services.
Connect directly with your plant based dietitian and get started!
We have experience with different types of vegetarian diets including:
- Vegan
- Pescatarian
- Lacto-ovo Vegetarian
- Lacto Vegetarian
- Raw Vegan, and
- Flexitarian
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