Many vegetarians are used to fielding concerns about their diet. They answer queries with anything from a short, humorous response to a detailed lecture. However, many vegetarian women find that when they become pregnant, the questions become more persistent. Well-meaning friends and family may openly express doubts about the safety of a meat-free diet. "How do you get enough protein?" "Don't you need meat for your baby to be healthy?" In the case of vegans, those who eat no animal products including eggs or dairy, the opposition increases.

Here are some facts about the vital nutrients in your diet to ease their minds – and yours – about the safety of vegetarian diets during pregnancy.

How many vegetarians do you know who started eating fish during pregnancy just to meet their protein needs? It is true that the need for protein increases during pregnancy, but only by about 20 percent. The fact is, most American women – including vegetarians – eat enough protein on an average day to meet the needs of a pregnant woman. Excess protein is simply stored in the body as fat.

A woman's body needs about 300 extra calories per day to grow a healthy baby. If you meet your caloric needs by eating a wide variety of foods – including whole grains, soy foods (soymilk, tofu, tempeh), legumes, nuts, nut butters, seeds, fruits and vegetables – you will meet your protein needs during pregnancy. And contrary to the old teachings, vegetarians need not combine foods during each meal to get complete proteins. A balanced and varied diet will take care of that.

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