tips for a vegetarian......?!

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Hey! Congratulations on going vegetarian! It's definitely a smart choice.

Here are some healthy snacks and meals you can prepare quickly and find easily at any grocery store:

1. Granola mixed with vanilla or fruit-flavoured yogurt - this gives you protein and tastes amazing (trust me)

2. Crackers, pita or tortilla chips dipped in hummus- hummus also has lots of protein

3. Soy meat- every grocery store should have a variety of "fake" meats. Most of them are delicious and can be prepared easily in the microwave, toaster oven or stove.

Also, like someone mentioned there are great soy "cold cuts" out there that you can put in sandwiches or on crackers :)

4. Fruit and veggies- make sure you eat lots of these!!

If you don't like vegetables, try melting some cheese on top of them. My fave is cooked broccoli with melted cheese

5. Cream cheese sandwiches- soooo yummy! try to go for multi-grain bread instead of white. I work with elementary-school girls and they loooove sandwiches that have cream cheese with lettuce or tomatoes. Try putting some veggies you like to make it even healthier.

Also try rice cakes with cream cheese spread on them- one of my fave snacks.

6. PEANUT BUTTER!!! gives you lots of protein!

7. Almonds, any kind of nut

8. Chick pea salad- mix 1 cup chick peas with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers. Add a dressing that you enjoy.

9. Tofu pizza- spread some tomato sauce onto a pita. Sprinkle cheese, veggies and tofu on top. If you have never prepared tofu, all you have to do is cut it into small blocks. Make sure you buy tofu that says "extra firm" on it- that's the best kind. When you're done, just pop it in the oven on medium for around 10 minutes.

10. Toast with melted cheese. Again, try multi-grain bread (it's healthy and tastes better than whole wheat). Put some cheese on top and pop it in the oven until cheese is melted.

11. Vegetarian tacos- find some soy "ground beef", heat it up in the frying pan. You can also look for canned "refried beans" to fill the taco shell. Then add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese etc.

12. Chocolate soy milk- this is a great drink when you want something sweet

Hope this helps- I'm always so proud of anyone who decides to go vegetarian at such a young age- just remember to eat enough foods with protein and iron.

Good luck!! :)

Remember that while you are thirteen years old it is still up to your parents on whether or not to get you what you require for your special diet and so long as it is not medically necessary, then if they say "No, we can't buy this for you only." Then don't fight it and just eat whatever your parents put on the table. Lots of young people get all gung ho about such a change and make demands for specific things that many families cannot manage to do and don't seem to understand that sometimes its not that Mommy and Daddy don't approve. It's that when the time comes to pay for the groceries, premium vegetarian items can really hurt a family financially. Thus it is far better to make such a change when you are independent financially. Not to mention, if you are not aware of what foods contain the important nutrients then you are liable to cause yourself to a vitamin/nutrient defeciency.

I would like to be vegetarian, but I am allergic to Soy and Eggs so it's really hard for me to get whole proteins. It is very difficult to combine the proper foods to get whole proteins, and without them you can get REALLY sick and die. At the very least you'll start losing your hair. I would continue to consume things like cheese, eggs, and milk, just in case. Eat all the veggies, fruits, and WHOLE grains you want!

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im 13 too and a vegetarian. a great meal i love is white fried rice with scrambled eggs and cubes of tofu. i know it might sound disgusting but just try it....its really good. also try tofurky. its completely tofu so you get a a lot of protein, but it tastes like cold cuts! they are great for lunch sandwiches. you might also want to try tofu nuggets. they are tofu but taste and look like chicken nuggets. another is tofu crumbles. they taste and look like meat but are...you know it...TOFU! xD tofu is a great food for vegetarians. a lot of people say its disgusting but they probably have not even tried it. you will also want to eat a a lot of fruit and veggies :) hope it helps

vegetarian for 3 years now :))

eat no meat but healthy food
loads of water
dont skip breakfast
have meals on time
spread out you meal to 5-6 times rather than eating haily 3-4 times
have some fruits and vegetables
and fruit salad desserts perhaps...oh nd CHOCOLATES!!!
and finally try Google for more information

Hope it helps dear!