A variety of foods as unprocessed as practical is important when no animal foods are used in the vegetarian diet. Legumes, grains, nuts, oil seeds, and fortified soymilk provide protein, iron, B vitamins, carbohydrates, fats, other vitamins, and trace minerals. Green leafy vegetables provide calcium, riboflavin, and carotene. Fruits and vegetables provide vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid,
... [Show full abstract] carotene, and other essential nutrients. Vitamin B 12 sources, when milk and eggs are not included, should come from vitamin B 12 fortified foods such as soymilk or soya meat products. It is unlikely that an infant or young child would develop protein deficiency if adequate calories from various sources are fed in which at least 5% are protein calories from milk, eggs, or other equivalent protein foods.