I want to become a vegetarian?!

Donn't Worry,Be Happy !
jaja =)

I started being vegetarian when i was 16, well i started off pescetarian at first(meaning that i ate fish). My family still eats meat. I guess the first thing I would like you to consider is not just becoming vegetarian for the animals, also for yourself as a preference and for health reasons. This is because alot of people bash a vegearian diet when its done "for the animals"; and its much harder to become vegetarian when you constantly have to defend yourself from attacks on your diet.Usually when you say "for the animals" people get defensive", jaja but if you say for health its easier to get support =)

Secondly, I want you to understand that no matter what you think it's really not as hard as it seems. After a while you get so used to it, that not only do you not crave meat. You just stop liking it. Go into it with a positive attitude, you dont have to be perfect at being vegetarian. It's not a competitio, and it's normal to fail once in a while as long as you pick yourself right up the next day and dont make a habit of it. =)

Lastly, if becoming a full fledge vegetarian seems difficult to you, you should start getting used to it by becoming a pescetarian first and allowing yourself to eat fish once in a while. Vegetarian meals are much easier than you can imagine. Basically eat ANYTHING minus the meat, jaja. To me the best and simplest veg-meals are Veggie burritos- heated tortilla with chopped lettuce, tomato, cucumber, ranch, beans,jaja basically with or without any veggies you like, just use the veggies at hand! :) you can do the same thing for sandwiches, and make rice once in a while, always try to have beans cause its like a miracle food jaja it goes good with anything.. jaja have bean burritos! experiment with the veggies! it's the fun of being vegetarian anything eithout meat goes! jaja :)

i think you can read more books and you must believe science
we all know that our body need different element,and we can get them from different food but at the same times our body can product different things,so it is need not to become a vegetarian .
everything has two sides we should keep a suitable state and attitude
so you need not to seperate with your family members
you just be yourself and eat suitable food but not much nor not little
just believe yourself and science

I went vegetarian at 16 I altered the meals my family was already making most of the time, included an extra vegetable, or sometimes made my own thing. It wasnt a big deal. As far as stunting growth, ludicrous. My son is 14 and is 6ft tall and is a lifelong vegetarian.

Yeah do NOT believe that rumor about a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle stunting your growth. Its not true!

here some good recipes site, vegweb.com and

no it doesn't stunt your growth at all

Only 17? That's kind of old enough to do most things in life, unless your family is holding you hostage, you are free to do what you want.
Just eat normal food-
lentil an walnut pie with cheesy mash potato crust
baked pumpkin styffed with wirld rice and pine nuts
zucchin lasagna
vegetable curry with garlic naan
stir fried tofu and peanuts with sesame noodles
stuffed portobello mushrooms with goat cheese, walnuts and tomatilloes.
SPaghetti alfredo with asaparagus
Cheese, black bean and corn enchiladas with sour cream

etc
so many things to eat. You obviously can't eat meat, so if they either don't want
to eat normal food ( like anything above) or HAVE to eat their animals, then make your own food
, and cook enough for them if they want it.

Vegetarian diets do not stunt your growing.

Unless you have a terrible diet, like white bread and chips the whole time.

Im only fifteen, I became a vegetarian when I was 14.
Some people younger (The actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas became one at the age of 4!)
I used to think it was a big deal, But I got over it, I used to think you HAD to have meat.
Im the only vegetarian in my family.
What we do is My mom cooks a normal dinner, Like meat and potatoes and veggies, I eat everything cept the meat.
I have my mom buy me lots of fresh veggies like celery And I munch on that.
And I eat lots of fruit.
I dont eat fish or eggs.
(Im actually debating being a vegan.)
You didnt mention your gender, but either way you need lots of iron and protein, try eating veggies like spinach or eating nuts, and tofu has lots of protein, its made from soy beans, and usually takes on the taste of what ever you make it with, and theres veggie burges that taste sorta like meat, example, soy patties. I eat eat normal things like hash browns mash potatoes french fries, veggie tacos, perrogies, soup, Normal things that usually go with out meat.
And Im not short im about 5'7 and 15, Ill probably grow a little more...
Its actually not such a big deal, later you'll look back and say why in the hell didnt i become one sooner?!
Good luck, and Thankyou for making this choice, welcome to vegetarianism!
ps. if your one for a long time and try to eat meat after a few years, youll get sick.... (Stomach aches and vomiting.)

Me. :)

Sure it's a way to start, just don't eat the meat... but then since when do cows eat meat?

well only joking... it's sure good for you, no need to consume dead animals meat - especially they are more or less tortured to become food.

besides to grow all this meat, poultry, cattle, pigs a huge amount of ENERGY, water and nutrients are consumed in the process - had once some figures about it - stunning!

And then I feel that my stomach isn't an animal cemetery, I feel they are my brothers and sisters only in a different shape.

If vegetatrian just make sure to eat nuts, seeds and legumes (peas, lentils, beans) and whole grain and soybean products to get enough protein.

Being a vegetarian is an extremely healthy lifestyle. If you eat a variety of vegetables and get all your necessary nutrients, it certainly won't stunt your growth.
When I first became a vegetarian I was worried about being in a house with meat eaters, but my family has been very accomodating. Usually I have the vegetarian version of whatever they have. Sometimes when my mom makes a bigger dinner with a few sides, I'll just fill up on the side veggies. Since I became a vegetarian, my family has cut out a lot of meat, so usually they don't even really have to accomodate me at all. I had a very easy transition into being a vegetarian!
One site with a large amount of recipes that I enjoy is:
http://randomgirl.com/recipes.html
I recommend the Shepherd's Pie :)
Good luck!

I became a vegetarian when I was 14 (3 years ago), and my whole family ate meat and still does. What I've learned is that the meals we eat should always have carbohydrates, veggies, and protein. For me, usually tempeh, beans, tofu, quinoa, greek yogurt, nuts, etc. For the rest of my family, meat.
I think becoming a vegetarian has made me more conscious of what I eat and some of my good habits have rubbed off on my family :)!
Just make sure you look into it, because when I first started I though macaroni and tiramisu were fine.
You absolutely must make sure you are getting enough protein and vitamins, and you'll be all set.
It's really great that you actually care about animals, and the sources of food, my uncles mock me for being a vegetarian.
As far as stunting your growth, I'm only 5'2, but I think that's genetics. Plus I'm just 17 so maaayybe I'll grow 2 more inches!?