The biggest common concern is making sure you're getting enough protein. It is important that we have all of the essential amino acids in our diet. They are referred to as essential because a) we need them to build and repair muscle and b) the body cannot make them itself so they must be in the food you eat. 

A common issue that arises when people ‘go vegan’ is iron deficiency. To help your body absorb the mineral more efficiently it is important to eat vitamin C rich foods, such as oranges, at the same time as iron rich foods. Better still eat foods that contain both nutrients - namely broccoli and bok choy. Lentils, tofu and spinach are three of the top four sources of iron in a vegan diet. 

Nuts and seeds are a great way to get healthy fat (and fat soluble vitamins) into your body, but it's important that you eat them in moderation. Although they are healthy, they do contain lots of calories. Olive and avocado are also full of healthy fats. While we are talking about fat there is a specific kind of fat that the body needs. Known as Omega 3 fatty acids these are important as they are anti-inflammatory

Vitamin B12 is another nutrient that some vegans struggle to include in their diet. That is because it is not found in plant foods. Vitamin B12 is necessary for nerve function and to keep our blood healthy 

As you don't eat or drink dairy products on a vegan diet, not getting enough calcium can be a concern. Necessary for strong bones and teeth, dairy is not the only source of calcium. Foods such as kale and other leafy vegetables, broccoli, almonds, figs, broccoli, tahini and sesame seeds are all rich in calcium 

Vitamin D is also important for strong bones because it helps the body absorb calcium more effectively. The best source of this is sunlight exposure; hence its nickname the sunshine vitamin. However, during winter or if you tend to be indoors for the majority of the time, you can also get this vitamin from fortified foods.