My 11 year old wants to be a vegetarian?

Question

She has a cousin who is 18 and is a vegetarian and every time we see her (which is around the holidays) my daughter wants to follow the same eating habits. It has always been a phase but this time she seems more serious. I'm worried about a couple of things ~ her health is the main thing and no one else in our house eats this way.

Answer 1

I became a vegan at a very early age. I went into it not knowing exactly what my body needed as I was growing. To this date I got so sick that my doctor said if I didn't revert to an omnivorous diet, he would seriously consider admitting me to hospital.

There are plenty of well-written vegetarian cookery books out there that let you know exactly what is in food and what you need to remain healthy. I would suggest buying her one of these and letting her read it, to better prepare herself for the work required.

While I believe that one can stay healthy on a vegetarian diet, she needs to know that it needs a lot of work. I would also suggest telling her that she can prepare her own meals (most kids can't be bothered and would revert to what ever is being cooked for the rest of the family).

I would keep an open mind though. If, this time, she is more serious about it, perhaps she is willing to put in the work.

One last thought, please let her know that stopping eating meat straight away is a very dangerous thing to do. When starting on a diet like this, you must slowly decrease the amount of meat or animal by-products you are consuming over a few weeks.

Hope that helps. :)

Answer 2

being a veggi is not unhealthy, i have been 1 since i was 10, and i am heathier than ever.but my only warning is u will get stomachaches 4 about 1 week while ur body is adjusting to the change. it is also flushing out all the meat toxins. i am glad to go veggie and would never change back.sum suggestions r try the only meat u eat is poltry or fis or ham. thats wat i do. i still eat fish(the truth is i couldent give it up). if she doesnt like beans or nuts eatin 1 meat is a good idea.try getting her a good veggie cook book like: the essential vegetarian cookbook by diana shaw.book like this will give yummy ways to get all the nutrients.or 4 christmas wrap up a book and anownce u will let her go veggi.if no 1 in the HISTORY of our family(yes i checked) has gone veggi until i came around. GO VEGGI IT IS GOOD. but i'm not 1 of those 'every 1 in the world should be veggis' person- i belive there should be a healthy balence between the 2

Answer 3

You don't have to worry.I'm a vegetarian and started at 12.I'll be 13 next week.Being a vegetarian is healthier than being a meat eater because heart disease starts as a child and a vegetarian diet reduces the risks.Also the child will need alot of special foods like Tofu and protein since she won't eat meat.There is also a difference between being a Vegan and vegetarian.Vegan like myself don't drink milk or eat fish.Vegetarian's eat fish and drink milk/dairy.Soy milk is not regular milk.My parents and friends worry about me but they shouldn't because I do my research.If you go to Pet2.com then you can find out some facts.If you need more e-mail me at [e-mail].

Answer 4

Let her become a vegetarian, people who don't eat meat have fewer health problems and it also lowers your risk of certain cancers. Just make sure that she eats other proteins and irons in other foods that she may be lacking in a vegetarian diet. And make sure she takes a multi-vitamin everyday and she will be healthy. I have been a vegetarian for 9 years now, and I feel better than I ever have. I am also the only vegetarian in my family so far, it is pretty easy to adjust to.

Answer 5

Your daughter is lucky to have such an open-minded mom. Don't listen to anyone who tries to tell you, or her, that kids "need" meat to grow or to be healthy. As several ppl here have noted, it's not difficult to get enough protein as long as she's eating enough in general. Even fruits & vegetables have *some* protein. If she is vegan, or just doesn't eat much dairy, give her a vegan B12 supplement a couple times a week. Ground flaxseed is a good source of the omega-3 fats that ppl eat fish for (walnuts & some other nuts have this too) & it has a nice slightly nutty taste. I add some to baked goods & smoothies, or just sprinkle some onto fruit & yogurt or other food. I know some vegetarian kids & they're all healthy, happy, smart & popular. The youngest is a 6-year-old vegan who has never tasted meat & doesn't want to. I would have loved to be veg as a child but was told I'd "get sick & die" without meat. I was too young to do my own research so didn't know the truth for *years*. Good luck to you & your daughter.

Answer 6

If she wants to be a vegetarian she needs to eat properly. Have her read books on healthy eating, and ask her how she is going to eat a balanced diet. She will have to eat more than just the vegitables from the dinner that you cook. She can learn to cook vegetarian dishes for herself. It's a much healthier way to eat, but she has to do it right. Also, make an appointment with her doctor so she can discuss any health concern you or her doctor may have with her new diet.

Answer 7

That's the same age I was when I stopped eating meat. Just make sure she still eats all of the daily recommendations on the food pyramid, instead of meat, she can have beans, nuts, or tofu. Make sure she doesn't go on the become a junk food vegetarian. If this is what she really wants, help her make the right decisions and be supportive, there is nothing wrong with becoming a vegetarian, its a very healthy lifestyle. I haven't eaten meat for over half of my life now.

Answer 8

I am 11 and I am a very healthy vegetarian! I say let her try it! It is very healthy to be a vegetarian and it isn't as hard as people make it sound. But you, as her parent, need to make sure that you buy her foods that give her the nutrients she needs. I would reccomrnd buying a good vegetarian cook book with recipes that are appealing to the entire family. And there are plenty of resources online that give all the information and stuff that you need.
http://www.petakids.com/
http://www.bryannaclarkgrogan.com/page/page/657466.htm
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/goingveg.html
http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/articles/vegetarianism.htm
http://www.vegetarian-diet.info/vegetarian.htm
http://www.britishmeat.com/49.htm

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 9

If your child wants to be a vegetarian let her you should support her on anything she wants to do.Actually being a vegetarian is a lot healthier then you think that means she will get to eat more vegetables and fruits then she thinks.There are many recipes you and your whole family can enjoy without meat,poultry,and milk.Soy milk is recommended for a vegan.

Answer 10

I don't know if it's a good idea for a growing, developing person to eliminate heme protein (the complete protein found only in meat products) from her diet altogether. I know vegetarians believe that eating two incomplete proteins together makes a complete protein like that found in meat products, but these are not used as efficiently by the body as heme protein. If I were you, I would do a lot of research on vegetarianism--not just from the point of view that supports vegetarianism, but also discussions of what is missing from the body that has no meat in its diet. And talk to her pediatrician about whether this is a good idea.
Maybe you can reach a compromise with her whereby she cuts out certain less healthy pork and beef products, but continues to eat chicken and fish. After all, people are omnivores for a reason. Good luck!