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Starting a Vegetarian and Vegan diet – Making and Managing the Changes

Last updated on 10 July 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team

More and more people around Australia are deciding to go meat, animal products and/or dairy-free. Whether you are doing this for ethical reasons, or because of the health benefits, it is important to ensure that your body continues to receive all the nutrients (particularly micronutrients) which it needs for good health.

Discovering the Benefits of a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet

Making the decision to embrace a plant-based diet, whether as a Vegetarian or as a Vegan, can have a life-changing impact on health and well-being. 

Many people report feeling healthier, having more energy and notice an improvement in the progression of chronic illnesses once they remove meat and/or dairy products from their diet.

Person holding a basket of fresh vegetables. Vegetarian and Vegan diet. Clinical Nutritionist Carindale. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

Changes in the Nutrients Your Body Receives 

If you have always eaten a conventional western diet, which incorporates animal products in fairly large quantities, eliminating them from your diet can cause significant changes in the type of nutrients your body receives and the quantities of vitamins and minerals provided.

Sometimes adjustment to a new way of eating takes time or requires the ingestion of larger amounts of particular foods to avoid nutritional deficiencies.

Vegetarian food. Vegan Dietician. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

Get Support in Making the Healthiest Permanent Change 

If you are eager to embrace the benefits which a Vegetarian or Vegan diet may bring, but are concerned about the impact a diet free of animal products may have on the quality of your nutrition, read on to discover why there is nothing to fear and how your Dietician or Nutritionist can help you adjust.

For example, they can show you how to get enough protein on a vegan diet and help you learn how to avoid gaining weight on a vegan diet.

Selection of vegetables at the market stalls. Vegetarian and Vegan diet. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

The Right Type of Diet can Help in Making and Managing the Changes

If you don’t know quite where to start when it comes to going meat-free or animal products free, why not ask our Dietitian or Clinical Nutritionist for some advice?

Vegan food bowls on the table. Vegetarian and Vegan diet. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

How our Dietician or Nutritionist Can Help You 

At Brisbane Livewell Clinic, we offer high-grade dietary advice which is personalised to meet your individual requirements. 

Not only do Vegetarians and Vegans need to eat a wide variety of foodstuffs to make sure they get all the micro-nutrients they need for optimal well-being, but some people may also need to adjust their diet to take into account pre-existing medical conditions, allergies or intolerances.

We can work with you to support and modify your chosen dietary regime, tweaking it so that it provides optimal nutrition for your individual situation. This type of structured approach ensures that you can make the switch to a plant-based diet without putting any undue stress on your metabolism.

Man eating healthy salad outdoors. Vegetarian and Vegan diet. MTHFR Gene Test. Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Woman eating healthy salad. Vegetarian and Vegan diet. Clinical Nutritionist Morningside. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

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Written by the Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team

Written by the Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team in accordance with our Editorial Policy and Content Standards.

Reviewed by Our Practitioners

Expert Review by our qualified Practitioners at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights) and Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Cannon Hill). Our articles are reviewed for accuracy, AHPRA compliance (for Allied Health Services) and alignment with current evidence and best practice under our Editorial Policy and Content Standards.