Vegetarian food?

Question

I`m only 10 years old.But I hate the meat and I want to eat just vegetables.But mom say me I can`t because I need Iron and Vitamines.She says I need meat and its not enough to eat just vegetables.So....Do you know Vegetable Food which have iron and vitamines?

Answer 1

Honey, your mom is just concerned for you. She wants the best for you. It is up to you now to present her with materials so that she can see you are not approaching this irresponsibly.

A great number of people become vegetarians because they lose all interest in meat or find the idea of it nauseating. Your mother is saying the same things most people say about something they don’t understand fully, or vegetarianism in particular. I bet once she is educated more about the benefits she will be a bit more receptive to your decision. Whatever you do, avoid confrontation with your Mom. Anger never works!

I stopped eating meat a long time ago because in 1972 I heard David Suzuki, a very famous scientist, discussing the accumulated chemicals meat. Dr. Suzuki said we fed our food animals so many antibiotics that we were creating super germs resistant to treatment. The hormones given animals to make more milk or more meat is also were responsible for many changes in the human body Dairy milk, for example, is responsible for so many American men to develop bosoms.

As a Muslim I cannot eat any pork products. As a person conscious of my own health, I avoid beef and lamb. Chicken I admit to enjoying maybe once a year. For the rest, I eat fresh foods and grains and do quite well. The very idea of meat, slabs of dead animal muscles having to rot in my body before it can be absorbed into my system is one that keeps me on the veggie path! GROSS! That cannot be healthy. There must be a reason why those with colon cancers are urged to give up red meats.

Obviously, sweetie, your mother has not been to India where millions of people have been vegetarian for centuries. There are more vegetarian restaurants in Southern India than you can possibly imagine and the foods are wonderful. The people are very very healthy. They are slim but healthy and the variety of foods is amazing. The American diet is based on meats with veggies as a side dish. As a result, many like your mother think a meatless diet is incomplete nutritionally.

Just for fun, here are some famous people who were vegetarian. Your mom will probably recognize more names than you. This would be a good thing to mention to her some time. There are great scientists and famous athletes and actors in this list. A meatless diet did not keep them from reaching their full potential.

A few famous veggies are: Albert Einstein, Alex Baldwin, Alice Walker, Alicia Silverstone, Alyssa Milano, Billy Idol, Annie Lennox, Benjamin Spock, Bob Dylan, Bob Barker, Coretta Scott King, Dustin Hoffman, David Caradine, Forest Whitaker, Mr. Rogers, Thoreau, Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfeld, Joe Namath, Martina Navratilova, Shania Twain, Isaac Newton.

Tell your Mom that the family grocery bills will drop if you are not eating meats! Tofu is a complete protein and it can be found in burger patties, and many other ways to be eaten. It is sold sometimes as “meatless chicken” or “meatless sausages” etc. When I eat with my family, they always emphasize some big ole slab of meat. All I do is up my intake of veggies and have a few slices of cheese with my meal. That is all you need to do. Eat as your family does but replace the meat with an alternative protein.

When a person stops eating meat they find new flavor in vegetables, fruit and grains. Once you move to healthy whole grain bread, white bread is usually out the window for flavor and goodness. You are already thinking that way about dark leafy greens! Good girl.

There are many good ordinary meals we all eat that are meatless. Macaroni and cheese. All egg dishes. A healthy soup with toast and milk with a side of salad is a perfect meal for anyone! A peanut butter and jam on whole wheat with a glass of milk is a perfect meal, especially when accompanied by fruit. Although soy milk is excellent and comes in lots of flavours, to make a meal complete nutrition, you must stick with regular dairy. Just don’t forget your daily vitamin!

The hardest thing to deal with was the attitudes of those around me. I appreciated that their concern was for my health. I am not anti meat and still love the smell of a roast in the oven; I just don't eat it! People would argue, "Man was meant to eat flesh". Such a statement means they do not want to discuss, they want to argue or convert you back. I never bothered to engage in arguing over such a personal decision. Fortunately for you, vegetarianism is much more acceptable today and there is much more information available.

I am including a few good sites on vegetarian foods and ideas. I hope that I have helped you. As a Mom normally I would say, “you live in her house so obey the rules”, but this is a good choice you are making. It is a moral decision.

I chose links for you that have lots of pictures. This way you can show your mom how delicious vegetarian food can look. Maybe she might end up trying some for herself!

Good luck honey. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

You will need to do some reading on the proper foods to eat as a vegetarian. Certain combinations give you the proteins and vitamins you need. You need to eat, beans, lentils, flax seed, hemp seeds or oil, green leafy vegetables, fresh fruit, soya products, and whole grain cereals and breads. Some vegetarians eat fish, chicken, eggs and dairy products and some do not. I would probably go with a diet that includes the dairy products, eggs, and fish. They will give you protein, calcium (very important for strong bones) and omega vitamins. Since you are young and still developing I would suggest that you ask your mother if you could speak to a dietitian or your doctor about becoming a vegetarian. The more you learn about the different foods and how to combine them the better. Your mother does have the final word as to what you will be eating. Perhaps after consulting the doctor or dietitian she may change her mind. It would mean more work for her in preparing the meals so maybe you could offer to help. Learning a new way of cooking and eating can be fun and certainly an eyeopener. Lots of good vegetarian cook books out there, perhaps you could save your allowance and buy one for your mom. Please do not argue with your mom, meat is a good source of iron and a good way to get your protein. So in the mean time learn what you can about proper nutrition and being a vegetarian so when you are old enough to make these decisions for yourself you will be ready!

Answer 3

You can get iron from enriched grains and cereals, egg yolks and dark leafy green vegetables. Your mom is right about eating "just vegetables" as this is not an nutritionally adequate diet. Vegans who only eat non-animal sourced foods have to take supplements.

Instead of just fighting your mother, do some good research on a healthy vegetarian diet that includes dairy and eggs and try to compromise and not just make demands. Offering to cook veggie meals for the whole family for example would be a plus.

Try a good magazine like Vegetarian Times and avoid extremist and obnoxious sources like PETA, which is full of hysteria and even lies. The government's USDA website has suggestions for a healthy vegetarian diet and it's free. At your age, calcium and iron are critical to your health not just now but in the future and getting enough takes extra care as a vegetarian.

If you can clearly state reasonable reasons to reduce or eliminate meats without preaching at your mother and can show you understand how to build a healthy diet as well, she's more likely to cooperate. Work hard to work with your mother and find ways that won't overburden her or disrupt the family. Until you know what foods you must eat to be healthy,. it's a bit bratty to demand your mother to just let you eat whatever you want. Be patient and listen as much or more than you talk.

Answer 4

Relax, you'll be fine as a vegetarian. I've been a vegan since I was 14 and I'm perfectly fine.

Now, if your mom's so concerned about iron and vitamins, ask her if you can take vitamin pills. You won't actually need them, but if it helps to convince your mom to let you be a vegetarian...

And if all else fails, just stop eating meat. No matter what your parents tell you. Sooner or later they'll have to give in. They can't force-feed you meat.

Oh, and your mom understands being a vegetarian doesn't mean only vegetables, right? Vegetarians can eat not only vegetables, but fruits, grains, eggs, milk and milk products... ANYTHING except meat!

Answer 5

Here is a collection of some of my writings on topics to help people into vegetarianism. You will see a link to facts on Iron that should help you. It will also help your mom to see that there is no more iron in meat than in veggies. Tofu has way more iron than beef.

Soon I will be adding a protein page.
So yeah, just click on the blue words
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-GXLd3H0hc6klMFe3HeGqSDn7SVlgijZ53gHnrrlGNoFgNut5?list=1

On that page you will also see a link to help new vegetarians. I have links to books, awesome websites and tips.

Finally there is a link about why vegetarians do not eat fish.
Have fun. I hope this helps. Slowly take yourself off of meat and your mom will slowly become more accepting. She is doing what she thinks is best. When she was in school (heck, when I was in school) a meat-filled diet was how we were taught to eat.

Now we know how wrong that information is wrong... but many people don't know it yet. Don't worry. She will come around, so stick to your guns.

Answer 6

beans and eggs or good for protein. Milk, cheese for calcium and vitamin d. If you want items high in minerals try an array of veggies. The dark leafy kind, like spinach, are very high in iron. And of course fruit is a great source of vitamins. If your mom is worried about not getting enough vitamins and minerals, ask her to buy you some vitamin pills, like Flintstones or other vitamin pills especially designed for kids. I'm trying to just switch over to just fish and chicken right now and eating more veggies myself. I could never be a full vegetratian, though.

Answer 7

There is more iron in cereal. You don't need to eat meat to get vitamins. You could take a supplement called CLA or a just a multivitamin with meals.

You should be more concerned about protein. You could get that from beans. Soy is a great option. You might like soy milk.

Your Mom is uninformed if she thinks you must eat meat. There are people who are complete vegans that don't eat eggs or even any dairy, like cheese or milk.

You could get all the meat vitamins just from drinking milk and iron from cereal.

Answer 8

You don't need meat. Did you know that the average American eats 2 - 5 times the amount of protein they need? And all the animal products we eat lead to acids in our system which cause diseases like osteoporosis.

Fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, are all very rich sources of vitamins, minerals, and some of them also iron, like the leafy green vegetables. If you don't like meat and can do without it, it's great! You can eat very healthily if you eat a vegetarian diet.

Read this, and let your mom read this: http://www.vnv.org.au/WhyBeVeggo.htm
You'll see that being vegetarian is actually good for your health, not according to me, but according to dietitians!

And here's a page for young vegetarians:

http://www.vegsource.com/talk/teen/index.html

Answer 9

Eat lots of protein, like beans (peas, lentils, kidney beans, black beans, red beans, lentils, garbanzo) nuts (including peanut butter) and soy products, tofu can be good if you try it fried or cooked with soy sauce and stuff, edamame (which is soybeans) and fake meat (yes there's fake meat, to replace everything like burgers, hotdogs everything. I know you dont like meat but the fake meat doesnt taste as greasy. It doesnt sound like your vegan so I would drink lots of milk, or if you are vegan (vegan means to not eat any animal products, no milk, eggs honey etc) then lots of soymilk for the calcium. Eat lots of fruit and veggies, too! You can easily get iron from spinach (Its not bad try it raw with a little salad dressing, tastes like lettuce) or kale and other leafy veggies. Good luck
You mom is incorrect, its very easy to get plenty of nutrients without meat. Tell you mama you can get all the nutrients you need without meat, if she doesn't believe you ask your doctor.
also if your mama worries too much promise her that you will take a veg multivitamin supplement (some vitamins contain gelatin, or other animal derived products) to fill the gaps.

Answer 10

It is very easy to be healthy on a vegetarian diet, just eat a well-balanced diet (veggies, fruits, beans, nut, & grains) and not too much junk food. You can show your mom this page about the advantages of vegetarian diets for kids: http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vegetarian_kids.html

The American Dietetic Association says that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are appropriate for people of all ages, including kids and teens:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12826028&dopt=Citation

About iron:
"Diets consisting of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, and nuts provide adequate iron. Consuming foods rich in vitamin C, such as orange juice, with iron-rich foods enhances the absorption of iron. Some foods are naturally rich in both iron and vitamin C, such as broccoli, Swiss chard, and other dark green leafy vegetables. Other good iron sources include iron-fortified cereals, enriched bread, pasta, rice, soybeans, chickpeas, and blackstrap molasses..."

Good luck!