going vegitarian?

Question

I really want to become vegitarian but I'm in H.School, and I obviosly dont buy my own groceries. I cook my own dinners and meals but I really do not have that much control over what the family buys. Plus, I'm a dancer and a runner so I'm burning alot everyday. Im naturaly a skinny person, light eater, and drink tonsss of water. I tried no meat, nuts etc. for like a week and i felt NO engergy and was pissed off all the time. Sounds funny but true. Is there any options any vegitarians (as far as the hole deal w. my family and protein sources) have any advice? Thanxx.

Answer 1

In case you are worried about being a vegetarian athlete Edwin Moses and many other top athletes are/were vegetarian.

Answer 2

It's great that you want to be vegetarian. It is a very healthy lifestyle, if well planned. Find out as much information as you can. Protein is easy to get even on a vegetarian diet. You have to be willing to try new foods though, like tofu, soy milk, nuts, and beans. Nuts are a good source of protein and are not forbidden on a vegetarian diet, so I am curious about why you chose to eliminate them. Even a strict vegan (no animal products whatsoever) includes pasta, bread, rice (all with trace amounts of protein), fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, lentils, and soy products.

Vegan meals can also be very low in fat, but we do need fat, so it is best to eat nuts and cook with healthy oils, like canola and olive oil. Fat should make up about 30% of total calories. Protein only has to make up 10-15% of total calories, a lot less than most people think, especially with crazy fad diets like Atkins being so popular. Carbohydrates should be 50-55%, so eat lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grain pasta/breads.

Would your parent(s) be willing to buy some of these products? Maybe they could come up with some new recipes the whole family can try. While they may not want to become vegetarian themselves, maybe you could suggest one vegetarian family dinner a week.

Give them some reading material on the health benefits and environmental impact of going vegetarian. If they know the facts, hopefully they will be more supportive of your choice and may be willing to buy and/or make vegetarian products more often. If not, just be patient and do the best you can with what you have. Your health is most important, so if you can't go veg all the way right now, you can still take small steps to getting there, and when you get older and support yourself, you can go veg all the way.

Good luck!

Answer 3

You still need protein, especially if you're exercising alot.

Some good sources : rice, beans, lentils, and soy. Soy can be in many forms including tofu, boca-burger, TVP (textured protein which is like hamburger in texture), tempeh, etc.

Be sure you're eating a balanced diet. Being vegetarian is more than ordering no Big Mac and getting double the french fries at a fast food place. Be sure you're getting at least some vegetables... your mood problems were probably due to vitamin B deficiency.

Until you learn more about balancing out your new diet, I'd recommend you take a good multi vitamin. I also take Flax Seed Oil in pill form for a boost of Omega 3s.

If your family isn't supportive of it, it might be hard to get them to buy you the bocaburgers and meatless chicken. You can get by via dairy/eggs. Both are full of protein. Fat is not evil, and it's IMHO better for a person to eat than calories from simple sugars.

There are LOTS of great books for people new to vegetarianism. One thing about vegs is they have to learn about nutrition, so we're usually more educated about it than the average person. It's not that hard to learn and the stuff you learn about food will also help you keep a balanced diet, not gain extra weight, and help build muscle.

Answer 4

when you do not eat meat you need to get protein other ways. Some people i have met do not eat any form of animal but will eat nuts. There are lots of differnt forms vegitarian from mild to strict. Try to go buy vegitarian cook books or rent them at the library. If you work or babysit around school ty\ry to buy enough food for 2 meals and make 2 meals for your family and see how all of you like it

Answer 5

Ok.. You have to give it time go to veg.com and take a peek. Vegitarian is a way of life and you have to do this for yourself. I had a few problems with my parents but, after they seen the positive side they are more understanding and I am sure not everything in your house is meat. My husband eats meat and it makes me sick but, that is his choice..ha ha it's kind of like dharma and greg. well, give things a while and try fruits and you need your breads to keep you going and eggs are a good source of protein you need that regaurdless as far as feeling crappy stick with it and try to open up a little more things will get better trust me and good luck!

Answer 6

Protein & carbs are Important. Try Pasta, egg noodles, Mac& cheese, french toast, Scrambled Eggs, and Oatmeal.
FYI, Meats have alot of IRON (carrys Oxygen in blood, aka, hemoglobin), and Protien, and those protiens help build and tone muslce. If you cut out anything, don't eat the Little Debbie Snacks and Twinkies.

if you don't like the thought of slaughtered meat/animals, well, what about the thought of slaughtered vegatables bleeding out all that chlorophyl? I have to say, being a vegatatian at your age is a bit of overkill, but it is your choice, but your missing out on a lot of essential protiens and Iron and other minerals that meats provide that vegetables do not have that are essential to brain function including mood and temperment.

Answer 7

Its great that you want to become vegetarian, I'm in high school too and i'm a vegetarian. When i started to become vegetarian my family had a hard time adjusting to my diet. My family eats meat but i always find other stuff that is non meat. My family is chinese so we buy tofu and soy milk. My sister and mom found some vegetarian food in the market we always shop in so they always grab me veggie stuff. The veggie stuff is also very cheap and easy to make.If you do become vegetarian eat food that are high in protein like nut and beans. There are many food that gives you alot of energy. I don't run or dance but i skateboard and tend to burn alot of energy. I drink water and tea and eat fruit after each meal and that gives me engery. Veggie meat are just like meat high in protein and not as fat is meat. After like two weeks of becoming vegetarian i felt like i had alot more energy. I also take vitamin pills to fill in my missing vitamins, like vitamin b12.

Answer 8

id say eat nuts and a small bowl of salad at least once a day, have 2 fruits, drink a lot of water, eat 5 walnuts a day (it contains a type of high protein only found in meat), and try some indian recipies...they will def fill you up...
also, yu can eat burritos, rice, tacos, ect even if yur veg.
if yu need anything else...u can always email me...im veg and have been for life so yeap =]
good luck with ur goal!

Answer 9

Mabe you went vegan to fast! Perhaps a B12 deficiency made you crabby. Our bodies does'nt produce B 12, and its only source is animal...Sad but true. Vegans that take kelp probably dont know the micro organism in kelp is animal...

Why dont you try lacto vegetarianism(wich includes milkproducts) or even ovo-lacto (eggs and milk products). You can try to convince your folks to buy veggie-burgurs,veggi-ground etc.
If you must be a vegan, try B 12 supplements.

Answer 10

Maybe you were angry and had no energy because you tried to be veg during PMS week? No, seriously, you might not have been getting enough calories, esp fat. You need fat/protein as a veg. Eat the nuts/seeds/whole grains/beans if you are veg. Carbs won't sustain you in the right way.

Answer 11

If you are going to go vegetarian make sure you do you research... your body needs certain nutrients that are not found in vegetables alone. If you are making that switch you have to make sure that body is still getting what it was getting before. If you just stop eating meat and go to veggies you could be damaging your body. You have to learn to supplement.
make sure your body is getting the protein that it needs, I am curious why you stopped eating nuts?