Question

• Vegetarian diets are often deficient in calcium, vitamin D, zinc, and iron.  Assuming Simon eats plenty of dairy products and enriched grains, is his diet likely to be low in any of these?  Why or why not?

Answer 1

Milk is most well known for providing the essential nutrient calcium. However, given that much of the nutritional concentration of milk is on calcium, it can he argued that the other essential nutrients and vitamins it provides, such as protein and vitamin B12 is often overlooked. Simon’s diet is likely low in zinc because zinc is not added to enriched grains and Simon does not eat meat, which is another good source of zinc. Milk nutritional content allows it provide versatile benefits in sustaining the health of consumers. Dairy products will provide Simon with calcium and vitamin D, and enriched grains are a good source of iron.

Simon can eat brown rice or whole grain pasta for dinner because they are low in fat. Milk proteins when added to foods generally give a good texture, mouth feel, moisture retention capacity, and flavor. The fat in milk is called milk fat or butler fat. Suggest a dinner meal for Simon that would be low in saturated fat and provide the nutrients that may be lacking in his diet. His diet may also be low in iron because the iron in plants and fortified grains is not well absorbed and he does not eat red meat, which is an excellent source of highly absorbable iron. Also whole grain pasta is good source of Zinc. Zinc is, however, added to many breakfast cereals. He can also eat some vegetables with the rice. If he remains hungry, he can eat some walnuts and almonds to raise his Iron and Zinc.

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