Nutrition
Can a vegan diet be balanced?
Short answer
Yes. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the NHS consider a well-planned vegan diet appropriate at every life stage, including pregnancy and childhood — with B12 supplementation.
“Well-planned” means: varied legumes and grains, calcium sources, iodine (iodised salt or modest seaweed), iron with vitamin C, omega-3 from flax/algae, and B12 from a supplement or fortified food.
Fries and cola are not balanced under any label. The issue is not the absence of meat; it is the absence of a plan.