While following a plant-based diet can provide many health and environmental benefits, vegetarians and vegans are at greater risk for certain nutritional deficiencies. They may also face challenges when grocery shopping, dining out, and interacting with friends and family.

More and more Americans are reducing or completely eliminating meat and other animal products from their diet. Some are motivated by concerns surrounding animal welfare and the environmental impact of meat, while others hope to improve their health by following a plant-based diet. Although a vegetarian or vegan diet can provide many benefits, it can also pose unique challenges and health risks.

Part of Greenwood's Q&A Health Guides series, Vegetarian and Vegan Diets: Your Questions Answered follows a reader-friendly question-and-answer format that anticipates readers' needs and concerns. Prevalent myths and misconceptions are identified and dispelled, and a collection of case studies illustrates key concepts and issues through relatable stories and insightful recommendations. Each book in the series also includes a section on health literacy, equipping teens and young adults with practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources of health information both on and off the internet—important skills that contribute to a lifetime of healthy decision-making.

• Offers practical guidance for readers interested in following a vegetarian or vegan diet
• Makes the subject approachable and accessible through a simple Q&A format
• Helps readers to hone their research and critical thinking skills in a Guide to Health Literacy section
• Presents real-world examples of concepts in case studies
• Dispels popular misconceptions surrounding plant-based diets and points readers toward accurate information in a Common Myths section