Excluding just a few sorts of foods is unlikely to be associated with any significant nutritional deficit. You can learn more about observant practices with the help of groups listed in the Useful contacts.

Food allergies and intolerances
Many people believe they have a food allergy or intolerance and exclude particular foods from their diet. If this applies to just one or two specific foods, or if you can substitute another similar food in its place, such as rice instead of potatoes, or pears instead of apples, your diet is unlikely to suffer. However, you shouldn't exclude whole food groups, staple food items such as bread or meat from your diet, or long lists of different foods, without first speaking to a doctor or dietician.

One of the dangers of self-diagnosing food intolerances, especially in children, is that it can lead to very restricted diets that may lack important nutrients. Children with suspected food intolerances should always see a dietician to ensure they're consuming enough to meet all their nutritional needs. Children are often fussy eaters at the best of times, so you shouldn't add to the difficulties by excluding a food without good reason. Allergy UK offer excellent advice about food allergies and food intolerance and how to get properly tested for these - see www.allergyuk.org

Medical reasons
Certain medical conditions are treated by excluding particular foods from the diet. For example, patients with coeliac disease must avoid gluten, which is found mostly in wheat. Patients for whom diet is an integral part of their medical treatment should see a dietician to ensure they have a suitable diet. In some cases, special foods may be available.

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