I'm a vegetarian but...?!

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Take your concerns to your parents!

Vegetarians get plenty of protein, and red meat is not the best source or iron. Please don't let people scare you with myths.

People with eating disorders can fall short of certain nutrients. Some people who call themselves vegetarians are really anorexic. They use vegetarianism as an excuse to not eat anything. As long as you are maintaining a healthy bodyweight and eating enough food, this isn't a problem.

Anemia is very easy to test for, and is is very easy to tell from a CBC (a blood test) what kind of anemia you have and whether you need more iron or not (not all kinds of anemia are from lack of iron).

You can get plenty of protein from soy, tofu, tempeh, seitan, chickpeas, and quinoa. There are many faux meats as well :)

For Iron, green leafy vegetables (like spinach, or broccoli) or you could just take iron pills.

I get my b12 from breakfast cereal, because it's easiest.

Those are the main things, but it's more difficult than you think to get a protein deficiency when you're eating enough calories.

Vegan

If you were in India, nobody would be saying that.
It is only the typical mindset of a Northern American, who has been bombarded with meat all their life, TV adverts, meat in fast food, brainwashing of the USDA that would possible think like this:
OMG if I don't stuff half a dead pig into my mouth 3 times a day I will surely die.
Most of China is vegetarian, practically all of India.
Those guys in India have SO MUCH PROTEIN and IRON from beans, grains, legmues, spices, rice, vegetables, chickpeas, curd, peanuts, cashews, almonds etcetc.

Protein is this buzzword the last few years. There is protei in most foods anyway, and most Americans get too much protein. I don't understand why everyone's all "protein protein" but again, it's probably the brainwashing from news stations LIke Fox11 and NBC.

YOu'll be healthier, stronger and more nourished by eating a good colourful, fresh vegetarian diet.

The average north American who eats meat is VASTLY compromised in his vegetable knowledge and intake.
Most people don't know what a turnip is, let alone a mustard green, or a dried pea, or a bitter gourd.
These are commonplace daily foods in the rest of the world. Bingo.

First of all, you are too young to be using Yahoo! Answers. Your entire account could be deactivated permanently if they find out that you're not at least 13 years old.

And yes, there are many potential health risks that come about when you deprive your body of meat. Meat is very healthy, as it is rich in high-quality protein, iron, and vitamin B12.

Read about the health benefits of meat and the possible dangers of vegetarian and vegan diets:
http://chetday.com/vegandietdangers.htm
http://www.listen2yourgut.com/blog/dange…
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article…
http://naturalhygienesociety.org/diet-ve…

Oh don't listen to those people. lol.

Just educate yourself about nutrition and health, so that you're sure to make good choices about what you eat, and then you have nothing to worry about. Like for protein and iron you can eat beans or broccoli or hummus or nuts or spinach (or tons of other things) .

It's great that you are 11 and you are being health-conscious already.

Basically if you are able to have a good amount of calcium and protein, you'll be fine. I've been a vegetarian for almost 5 years and I haven't experienced any bone problems nor iron deficiency. Grains contain a substantial amount of nutrients. There are a ton of protein in tofu and other meat substitutes.

You just have to be more aware of what foods you are eating and making sure you are getting all of the food groups in and getting protein (tofu, nuts, beans, etc). Research it online. Go to a doctor that is familiar with the concept of a vegetarian diet and okay with it, and ask them for advice. You'll be fine.

Vegetarian for nearly a decade.

you do not need meat, dairy, or eggs in order to be healthy.
heres a list of vegan sources of calcium and protein.http://wayfaringvegans.weebly.com/consum…
heres are two good vitamins you can take if you want to be sure that youre getting all your nutrients, and there are links to websites where you can order them for really cheap
http://wayfaringvegans.weebly.com/recomm…

Don't listen to what people have said. My friend is 12 she's fine she's been a vegetarian for about all her life all the generations of her family were vegetarians and all of them died at like 98 onwards without any health problems. So being a vegetarian is fine.

google 'foods with iron' and look at the lists. Veges have iron, esp the green ones. Balance your diet and you will be okay. some vege people go more anorexic instead of trying new foods and get ill.