My daughter recently decided to become a vegetarian. She's almost 14. Are there any vegetarians out there who can give me some advice? I have already bought her some protein bars/shakes. What vitamins should she take? Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Jodie,
Once you get used to it you will find it really easy to cater for her. Perhaps get her to help a bit seeing as though you are being very supportive she should return something by way of help.
There are no nutrients, vitamins, minerals, protiens etc that are missng from a decent veggie diet. I too went veggie at 14 years old, 28 years ago, and have never had any health problems. I don't take vitamin pills or any supplements.
Perhaps look at the vegetarian society website ?
They have great information packs for new veggies, teen veggies and parents of such so there is bound to be somerhing there for you.
Try the "lifestyle" menu near the right
Perhaps also try the pages. They contain details on protien, iron etc and show why we need them, how much we need and where a veggie gets them from in thier diet.
Specifically you mentinoed protien. The average meat diet has way too much protein and it should never be an issue on a balanced veggie diet.
Its a very clear site, not preachy and with no horror tactics that you get from some "animal rights veggie" sites.
I'm 14 and i've been a vegetarian for almost 9 years! I get regular check ups to make sure I have the right nutrition in my diet. I don't do much to stay healthy, but I am very healthy. Make sure she eats plenty of beans and vegetables. She may need to take Iron pills, since she will be lacking that in her diet.
She can see a nutritionist to help her plan her diet. Like I said, its really not hard for me to stay healthy, and I've been a vegetarian almost all my life.
For someone who said to refuse her, why? I'm average height, about 5'3 and i'm growing fine. Theres ways to stay healthy without eating meat.
Good luck!
I think that it is great that you are supporting your daughter's choice to become a vegetarian. Make sure she eats plenty of nuts, beans, eggs, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Dark leafy greens are also a great source of iron. You can also take her to a nutrionist if you want.
B vitamins help but are not necessary if she's eating a balanced diet.
No vitamin pills are necessary if you serve a well rounded diet of beans, nuts, and whole grains, along with a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. I would also add tofu and soymilk as they have B12 and Vitamin D added to them. Iron is found in a lot ofwhat can vegetarians not eat foods (spinich, kidney beans, raisins and other dried fruit, etc).
I agree with the person who stated that you might have her become involved in the cooking. Have her help research what she needs in her veggie diet to stay healthy. I did a google search for vegetarian diet and came up with a ton of great resources when I started a year ago.
Hi, I am also a young vegetarian. There's much more to vegetarianism than protein bars and artificial supplements. Don't forget to give her natural sources of protein, like soy products, beans, mushrooms etc. As for calcium, she can still consume dairy if she wishes, but if she doesn't want that, there's always a rice or nut or soy alternative.
Some good advice would be to read the labels of food packaging. Check if it is suitable for vegetarians, there's usually a banner stating if it is.
For other vital nutritional sources, iron can be found in kidney beans, various seeds and spinach, and omega-3s are available from flax seeds.
Thank you for supporting your daughter's decision. The American Dietetic Association, the nation's foremost authority on nutrition, writes: "Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence."
As long as your daughter eats a variety of foods (not junk food and tons of carbs) she will get the nutrients she needs. I take a daily multi-vitamin just to be on the safe side. Whole Foods and even mainstream grocery stores carry various brands of faux meats, which make the transition to vegetarianism easier and have a lot of protein/nutrients.
Here are some sites that you might find helpful:
General:
Health:
"Help! My Child Stopped Eating Meat!" book
Cooking:
Faux meats:
Good luck!
I am a vegetarian and I am young. I take mulit-viatimins daily. ake sure she gets her protein. Good Luck
make sure she gets enough protein, not just shakes and bars. actual food, like beans, dark green veggies, tofu
I would avoid the store bough protein bars and shakes, because of the sugar levels and processing. Vegetarians tend to need the B vitamins because they are not eating meat. For snacking you might give your daughter soy nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds ( not dry-roasted). There are also other plant based products such as tempeh & tofu from soy and seitan from wheat gluten.
Check out these web-sites:
www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/
nutrition/vegetarianism.html
www.nlm.nih.gov/mwhat can vegetarians not eatedlineplus/vegetariandi…
www.vrg.org
www.vegetariantimes.com
Good Luck! It's great to see a parent to help a loved one with making this choice!
She doesn't necessarily have to take vitamins or protein bars/shakes, they have too many calories, fat, sugar, etc. Just make sure she's eating properly. And don't listen to Calvin K, he obviously doesn't know what he's talking about. Vegetarians DO get enough protein as long as they eat properly. Buy her thing like tofu, nuts, eggs, beans, etc. so she gets enough protein, just look up how much she should eat. I myself am a vegetarian, I'm fourteen and I've been a vegetarian since I was thirteen. Try to go for the organic stuff too. People seem to think that burgers, fries, etc. is real food when it's not, at least I don't consider it to be.
You seem like a great mom for caring so much and letting her become a vegetarian.
The best advice is to be "MOM" and carry on what you've learned in your lifetime about nutrition.
Tell your daughter she can eat whatever she wants when she leaves your house, but for now YOU are in control of her diet. Kids are "fadists" and don't realize that during their growing years a well-balanced foundational diet is necessary to avoid long range physical problems down the road.
Body chemistry is nothing to tinker with, and the fact that you are not knowledgeable in this area make it even more of a problem. Even most of the fanatics on this forum know next to nothing and can only refer you to a bunch of veggie biased websites.
Do what is nutritionally best for your daughter ... do what worked for you and your mom.
beans nuts (protein replacement for meat) and lentils etc lots of dairy and fruit and veges or u can just tell her to get a life and stop getting attention.. unless she hates the taste of it
there is important proteins in meat it's better to be normal eater
As a parent, you should refused her!
It's not healthy.
Kids need to grow up.
Meats, eggs contain proteins, fibre and others.
Vegetables are also healthy for kids.
If you love your daughter, let her eat meats and vegetables.
Buy some vitamins.
Deep Sea
and
Vitamin A and C.
Good Luck
and bless you.
Explain to her that eating meat makes you smart. The proteins in flesh are what allowed our ancestors to grow larger brains. If she wants to be a vegetarian she risks stupidity!
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