Can I contact a Nutritionalist?!

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Gather information and show them. Here are some sites by dotors with good information.

http://www.nutralegacy.com/blog/general-…

http://www.drmcdougall.com/

http://www.pcrm.org/

A lot of great info is also at;
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/
http://www.earthsave.org/

Yeah, I went through this over 30 years ago. They were worried about protein, calcium, iron and
B12 defienccies. None of their worries came true. Then my dad had heart problems and my mom had colon cancer and their doctors told them to give up animal products. They feel better now and realize they worried for nothing.

I just suggest gathering information and sharing it with them. They didn't think what you printed out was credible but if you find more and more things, inluding things from doctors, they will have to eventually admit that maybe you will be okay. You can also look for lists of vegan and vegetarian athletes who write about their better health and performane since changing their eating
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/09/08/…

They should know who Carl Lewis is. In his book, Very Vegetarian, Lewis discounts the theory that animal protein is the only fuel to a gold medal, and stresses the importance of a smart diet.

“Your body is your temple. If you nourish it properly, it will be good to you, and you will increase its longevity.”

This site has a lot of frequently asked questions:

http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/faq.htm

More great info:
http://www.vegetariannutrition.net/

http://www.vnccolorado.com/

And, written by a doctor, info about teens and vegetarianism.
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/teennutriti…

Stick to your convictions. Understand thier concerns are because they love you. Be respectful of their fears and concerns but tell them you've got a lot of info that should put their minds at ease.

Good luck! It may take time and patience but they will come around.

why you gotta prove anything? for a tv and phone? personally, if that were my dad and mom man... but they are not so i ain't gonna start. but seriously, tell your dad that he REALLY wants to take a strangers word instead of yours? that's not respectful.

There is no question that you can be vegetarian or vegan and still be healthy - any nutritionist will tell you that. And yes, you will of course need to pay them for their services - they are professionals, they don't make a living by giving out information for free.

However - you have forgotten something in the situation, that being YOU. Each person is different and some make better choices than others. Since your parents know you better than anyone - perhaps they think you will not make good choices at your age. Perhaps you've made some really bad choice in the past that have given them the proof that you won't handle this very well and you will get sick.

So you are going to have to prove to them not just that vegetarians can have a healthy diet BUT that YOU will make healthy food choices. And agreeably - at age 16, not many people your age will be able to make good food choices.

There are nutritionists who are vegetarians themselves. But nutritionists have different attitudes about a vegetarian diet. You could call some dietitians and ask them what their attitude is about vegetarian diets.

I have been a vegetarian since I was 16 years old. I am now 50 years old. It is wrong for your parents to punish you in order to try and get you to eat meat. You could buy a book about what to eat in order to have a nutritious vegetarian diet. (A book may also be available at your library.) Your parents may have to cook two different meals at dinner time. (My mother used to joke that she is going on strike since she has to cook two different meals.)

As Cissy M said, many nutritionists are vegetarians themselves, or, in my ideal circumstance, vegan.

Even a regular pediatrician can help you with something like this, but a nutritionist may be more credible. A call shouldn't cost money. You will typically only get billed for visits, but even still, they are usually billed to a health insurance plan. Let your parents know that dark green, leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, etc.), whole grains, beans (black beans are lowest in fat, from what I have found), and nuts (almonds are great, but try to lean towards raw, unsalted nuts. They are much better for you, and, in my opinion, taste much better).
Also suggest that, in order to be sure that you are not deficient, supplement iron, vitamin b12, calcium (if you go vegan!), and protein. Protein is, sadly, usually not available in supplementable pills (other than klamath, spirulina, and chlorella, which you will learn about with further reading), is easily available with protein shakes. Whey protein is common, but if you would like a vegan option, I am currently using True Vitality's chocolate shake, and there are also many other vegan protein shakes available at health food and vitamin stores.
I mentioned chlorella, spirulina, and klamath above, without an explanation. They are all supplement-able algaes. They are considered raw in most circumstances, and are some of the most nutrient rich foods ever. Further research can provide you with the exact nutrients available from these. I would suggest if you do take these, however, you consult a doctor first.

You may need to have your parents cook two meals, adjust their diets, or even cook for yourself. I am lucky enough to have a mom who cooks two meals on most occasions, as well as a family willing to vary their diets with more vegan options.

Good luck enlightening your parents to the many very easy possibility of a healthy vegetarian diet!