Is it healthy for a teen to go vegetarian?!
Is it healthy for a teen to go vegetarian?
i am 14 years old and i was recently in the meat and poultry section of publix looking at all of the different animals and ive heard how people ko7ill them and im done with being a meat eater. i feel bad even when i kill a roach. i dont agree with pain in the world and i try to be less involved with it. sooo.....my only concern with a vegetarian diet for my age-14-is that it would not be healthy since im still growing. my mom, dad, and grandma all told me that i shouldnt do it until im finished growing.......but others that have lived as vegans their whole live said they are healthy with no problems.....i need advice from someone with expertise please. thanks =]
Answers:
Good for you for thinking about going vegetarian!
It takes a big person to be able to look outside modern norms to see what we are actually doing.
:)
You need proper nutrition while you are growing; you do not need the flesh of dead animals. There is a big difference, and you can get everything you need from a vegetarian lifestyle.
Here is a cool Parent-Teenager guide to teens going veg. Check it out and once you have looked through and understand it all, take it to your mom and discuss with her the way you feel and how you are capable of making a responsible and informed decision on the matter.
http://www.vegsoc.org/youth/parentteenag...
:)
Good luck
Source(s):
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-gxld3h0hc...
:)
u mite need certain vitamin supplements, but go for it!
Hun, You'll be completely fine.
1. Don't worry about protein. We eat too much anyways (have you ever heard of anyone in the u.s. with protein defiency)
2. Take Vitamin B12
3. Watch your iron intake
That's it : ]
Good luck!
A healthy vegetarian diet is fine for any age. You simply need to replace the protien you are no longer getting from meat with beans, nuts, soy, tofu, legumes, etc. The average person get way too much protien in thier diet.
You'll hear a lot of misinformation about not getting enough protien and vitamins, but it is untrue. With a varied diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, etc, you will be healthier than any meat eater.
By cutting you meat you are significantly cutting your risk of heart disease, obesity, dibetes, etc. You need to do research to find out information so you know how to eat healthy.
http://www.goveg.com/
http://www.vegsource.com/lyman/beginner....
http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/ten-tips-...
http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/veg...
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/... (message bord with great info)
You will be fine. I wish I would have started when I was younger.
yes but you need to take it slow like less meat every day then eventually none
ok quite frankly i think vegetarianism is really unhealthy and really...really STUPID.. no matter what i will always think that, because even if you take the vitamins and all that your still missing out on oils and what not that youre supposed to get from meats.
and look at it like this: just cause your gonna stop eating animals doesnt mean they're gonna stop killing them to eat them. since the animals are dying theyre basically dying for our healthy so make good use out of the edible stuff! get what im saying? dont think about how theyre killed. that might be mean to say but truthfully meat is really yummy you cant just stop eating all meat.
I had been a vegetarian since i was 13 (Im 27 now). There is no problem with that. Are you planning to be a pure vegetarian (vegan) or ovo-lacto vegetarian (still eat eggs, milk, dairy stuff). If you are going ovo-lacto, then you still have many protein sources like cheese and milk and eggs. However, if you are gona be vegan (No animal by-product, not even honey) then there are tons of fortified soy or rice milk available now that you can drink to meet the daily requirements. The KEY is to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Make sure you double up on dark green leafy veggie (spinach, broccoli) to aid in your iron intake and lots of beans, chick-peas for more protein. If you practice a balance diet, it will be helpful to also take a daily vitamin/mineral supplement. Check-out www.glosoli.biz. They have awesome herbal and natural vitamin and mineral supplements suitable for vegetarians. You need this to ensure you get your daily requirements.
I've been a vegetarian for almost a year now, and I started when I was 16. The main problems you will run into is not getting enough protein and iron.
Some great lowfat high protein snacks are cottage cheese, whole wheat breads, bagels, or tortillas, lowfat cheese, egg whites, bran, and soy 'meat' products.
As for iron, eating plenty of lentils (beans), spinach, raisins, thyme, tofu, mushrooms, quinoa, and other iron rich foods will keep you in check. You just have to be a bit more creative to get your nutrient needs. Good luck!
SUB FOR MEAT CHEESE PEANUT-BUTTER YES U CAN DO IT MY NI CECE DID IT AT 13 SHE EATS A LOT OF VEGETABLES....
YES.. i was a vegetarian for all of my teen years.. as long as you keep yourself healthy... and take supplements and eat enough to keep your energy up...... eat nuts to keep your protein levels up.....good luck!!!!
To be honest, if you're really interested in doing that, you should try to ask your parents to set up an appointment with a nutritionist. Because the problem is, especially at your age with school lunch foods and snacks surrounding you, it's going to be hard to be a vegetarian and not fall into the trap of having too many high carb foods while not getting enough protein, as well as basic vitamins and minerals.
Perhaps for some people, this isn't an issue, but in this case you're parents are right. Most of the time, it's not a good idea for someone your age to make a quick and complete jump into vegetarianism because what happens is that you end up eating a too much of foods that aren't that good for you and not enough of the foods you need.
However!
The main reason that it's usually not a good idea for people your age to become vegetarians is because it's not as simple as "I won't eat anything that moves!"
Vegetarianism is an admirable and important personal step for some people, but you can't just jump into it, especially when, like yourself, you're at the beginning of your growth.
If you really want to be a vegetarian then you should do so with the help nd support of your family, and the best way to do that is to show them that you're not just going to jump in without a plan, but that you're devoted to doing it right.
So, before you make any hasty moves, do some research. Ask your parents if you could set up a meeting with and go with them to a nutritionist so you can lay out a complete and healthy vegetarian diet, including lots of vegetables, nuts - as well as eggs and cheese if your not going vegan. You'd also want to take some kind of supplements, but only once you planned it out with your doctor.
I know it seems like a lot of work, and certainly not as easy as just not eating meat- but it's work that needs to be put in. You're a young, growing person and your body needs lots of things in order to grow. You CAN be a vegetarian safely and healthily, but it won't happen over night and it will take some serious planning. However, I'm sure you can do it if you feel strongly enough. Just remember to work with your family on this, not against them.
i think you'll be fine.anyway you have to eat many kinds of vegetables and fruits to answer your body needs specialy now that you're growing,and believe me meat is delicious but it's not good at all!you'll be fine but don't forget milk it's realy important to make you grow well.
I turned vegan at 26, and I am very proud of it. Recently I started eating fish and eggs though, But will never go and eath anything else, My 7 year old daughter has never tasted meat yet. She is very healthy and smart.
In some eastern country like India, people live their entire life with no kind of meat even fish or eggs, They are perfectly healthy.Point to note- by nature humans are herbivorous creatures, not carnivorous.Drink milk, eat soy foods and beans and you will be fine,You will appreciate the beauty of all creatures a lot more.
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Eat a balanced diet. Vegetarianism is not as healthy as some people will tell you. Consult with your family doctor.
i am 16 and a vegan.i am healthier than before i went veg and i feel great. if you eat a wide variety of foods than yes, this can be a very healthy and rewarding lifestyle change. you can get protein from beans, legumes, fruits, grains, rice (whole grain), veggies, nuts and seeds. soy products too but they have high amounts of estrogen which can cause breast cancer so i try to stay away from that. dark leafy vegetables also have calcium and a lot of vitamins. if you need any help you can messages me, i'd love to help you go veggie.
it is healthy to be vegetarian as long as you know where to get protein and certain other nutrients. good luck!
If you eat a well balanced diet, it is perfectly healthy to be vegetarian at any age. My children(6 and 9) have been veggie since birth and are growing just fine. The biggest recent breakthrough in vegetarian nutrition are green smoothies. Greens are high in complete protein, calcium, iron and other nutrients. As long as you get enough greens(1 whole bunch per day!) you'll be in excellent health. This may sound unreasonable but they are pretty good when blended with sweet fruits.
Basic green smoothie recipe:
1-2 bananas, mangos or other fruit
big handful of greens(lettuce, spinach, kale, etc)
1-2 cups water
fresh dates or honey to sweeten
blend well and drink your greens for vibrant healthy strong bones and muscles(you won't even have to hold your nose I promise)
There is tons of information on vegetarian nutrition. Try the following web sites for starters and arm your self with knowledge so that you can comfort your family since they aren't comfortable with your choice to stop eating meat.
Yes, it is perfectly fine if you are careful that you are still getting enough protein and other necessary nutrients. Perhaps research some alternative foods that provide the nutrients you get from meat and plan on eating those. I am a vegetarian (14 years old too) and I love it! I was very, very skinny before (i looked unhealthy sort of) but this past year of being a vegetarian, I have actually become more healthy. Have fun :)
Let me put it to you this way. It's like a cigarette smoker saying they are perfectly healthy with a 2 pack a day habit. Your body needs meat for nutrition. God put the animals here for us to use for our well being. Your mom and dad know whats best for you because the love you. Take their advice.
I'm 13 and veggie for 2 years.
as long as you are eating healthy there is no problem,being a vegan dosent mean you are unhealthy because you dont eat meat...if you truly feel you are done with eating animals then go for it,just be healthy and it hard amounts and you`ll be fine,there are lots of things you can eat and will fill you up,and help you to grow, like veggie burgers,veggie paddies and sausages...lots of things
Yes, it is very healthy. Even healthier for you than meat. My health teacher has been a vegan almost her whole life, and she is in excellent health. I have been a vegetarian since I was 11...three years now (about). When I ate meat, I got sick A LOT, and after I took the step towards vegetarianism, I was hardly ever sick, and pretty much only when I was playing outside in the freezing rain (I LOVE the rain!).the "meat'' food group is the least needed food group (after the fats and oils group, of course). Also, my health book even says it's healthier than eating meat. It says vegetarians are less likely to become obese or overweight, and have less of a chance to develop heart disease or other heart problems. Just be careful about protein, iron, and vitamin B12. goveg.com has tons of information about the environment and the animals, and you can even order a free vegetarian starter kit. Ignore all the people on here who say that vegetarians are stupid, animals were put on this earth to be killed, vegetarianism is unhealthy, blah blah blah. They have NO IDEA what they're talking about. Personally, I would suggest veganism, because the animals. (goveg.com shows what I mean on that). Debatedly one of the best pediatricians known even concludes that after the age of 2, dairy products are not necessary. Also, fatfree.com has a lot of recipes. Oh, and congratulations for being one of the few caring people in this cruel world. E-mail me if you have any questions. (if you don't know how, click on my avatar and select "e-mail treehugger". Good luck and thanks!
i dont know if you will be ok or not..i meen i have thought about it to cuz i love animals and im only 15 so i hope its ok cuz i havent eatin meat in 2 days and im proud of myself =]=]=]
You can absolutely do it healthily at your age, as long as you do research on making the switch and check out plenty of yummy cookbooks. Don't end up like another poster I saw who thought that eating a salad and some soy milk made for a good day's eating!
I've been vegetarian since I was born and I'm 5'10" so no, it doesn't interfere with your growth as long as you're getting proper nutrition (goes for omnivores, too). Good luck!
My sister was 15 when she became one. Take B12 pills and go for it.
it is absolutely healthy for a teen to go vegetarian. i have been a veggie for most of my life, my sister has decided to only eat chicken, and my friend has been a vegetarian for about a year or two. all of us are teenagers and in good health. the only way a vegetarian diet would be unhealthy is if you replaced all the meat with sweet/sugary foods. there are plenty of resources out there to help you out. i'm sure some bookstores have a section for vegetarian recipe books, or you can check at your local library. the internet is of course a good resource as well (try www.goveg.com, it will send you a free starter kit). if your parents have a problem with this, try going to your doctor and getting a blood test and/or a physical to make sure you're healthy and getting the nutrients you need. hopefully this will reassure your parents that being a vegetarian is a good idea. good luck!