Should i become a vegitarian if i am 13?

Answer 1

I don't think its a good idea. (especially if your parents are not because it will be very difficult to get an adequate amount of protein in your diet)

If you really would like to I would speak to your doctor first to see if they think it is suitable for a 13 year old, at such an important age as far as growing.

Answer 2

As long as you have your parent or guardians' support, you check with your doctor, and understand the importance of a nutrient-filled diet (making sure you consume a sufficient amount of protein) you're okay. But, only become one if you are motivated and have self-control. It might be hard at first, but you will get the hang of it. I became a vegetarian at the age of 10, and I think I broke it the first week and and maybe a month after that- but ever since then, I have not broken it - EVER. I personally feel I will never eat meat again. So, if you are willing to, go for it! :)

Answer 3

Don't let people feed you wrong information about being vegetarian. There are many misinformed omnivouores out there. Some of the things you may hear are... you won't get enough protien, you were meant to eat meat, and my personal favorite... vegetarian diet lacks essential nutrients.

The truth is you WILL get enough protien. The recommended diet (at least in America) generally consists of about 700% of your daily protein requirement. The rest of that is usually just passed through your system. A small bowl of spinach provides you with 100% of your daily needs. Too much protien results in osteoporosis, kidney disease, calcium stones in the urinary tract, and some cancers(according to the American Heart Association).

There are many sources of protien. Beans, tofu, temph, soy, nuts, oatmeal, whole grains and vegetables are just a few. Some foods contain more protien than others. You will also be getting the protien with out the added saturated fat that comes from eating meat.
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/protein.html

I myself choose to believe, based on the evidence that human being were not meant to eat meat, and this is why so many people suffer from heart disease. The only evidence omni's seem to have is our teeth a pointy(which doesn't mean anything). There are several things that suggest are bodies were not meant ot consume meat.
http://www.celestialhealing.net/physicalveg3.htm

By switching over to a vegetarian diet you are lessening your risk of certain cancers, and reducing the risk of heart diease by 57%.

If you follow a balanced and healthy vegetarian diet you should be fine. I still suggest talking with a dietician as he/she can guide you on what is a "healthy" and "well rounded" diet.

Check out resources on the web for furthur info and help
http://www.vegsource.com/lyman/beginner.htm
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/
http://www.goveg.com/
http://www.vrg.org/index.htm
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/vegetarianism.html

Answer 4

you can become a vegetarian at any age, despite what most of these ignorant answers tell you. im a vegan and i am 16, i have been a vegan for six months and i feel better than i ever have before. the only thing is you need to eat a range of different foods. you need veggies ( dark green leafy veggies have calcium! cool huh?), fruit, beans(kidney beans have b12, a vitamin that many omnis think we lack because we dont eat meat), whole grain rice, whole grains in general, legumes, nuts, seeds. i guess you can have dairy and egg products also, since your thinking of being a vegetarian. if you have any questions or are stuck on what you can eat you can message me! i'm always willing to help.

Answer 5

I went vegetarian when I was 12. I am now a healthy 22 year old female. I'm only 5'2" but both of my parents are short, so my diet's not to blame. I'm not a waif, I'm 128 lbs., so I'm actually about 10 lbs. or so overweight, but healthy nonetheless.
I say, if you don't like the thought of living creatures being slaughtered for your food---then go vegetarian. But, you still need to make sure you balance your diet. You have to eat more than just fries and macaroni. Eat lots of "colorful" foods: veggies, herbs, beans, greens, grains, fruits, nuts, etc. Learn to cook. Read lots of books. You do not have to eat animals to be healthy!

Answer 6

Done correctly, a vegan or vegetarian diet is appropriate for any diet, including pregnant women.

There is also this stigma about missing nutrients, and vegan and vegetarian nutrition is important, but vegetarians tend to be healthier becuase they are more conscious about what they eat. Certainly healthier than the omnivores who eat tv dinners and McDonald's and the like.

Grab some literature and some cookbooks. You will be absolutely fine, if not a lot healthier.

Answer 7

if you are detrmined and motivated i think you should although it would be hard if your family are meat-eaters.

but if you are serious about it the earlier you decide to become a vegetarian the better. Because when you get older its a lot more difficult to change your eating habits.

and as for the people who have been saying that 'you need protein you need this that'....whatever i know people who have been vegetarian all their life and have been just as equal as meat eaters or possibly even healthier than them!

its up to you!

Answer 8

Sure, why not? My 12 year old daughter has been a veggie for years. She is fit, healthy, and in better shape than her omnivore friends. She is the only one in her school not having issues with acne. Make sure your diet is well balanced and consume protein from sources such as beans, legumes, pulses, lentils, leafy greens, whole grains such as quinoa, rice, millet, and nuts and seeds. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Dont just quit eating meat and start eating junk food. Do it right, and you will thrive! Good luck!

Answer 9

Generally it's your parents and the doctor who'll decide whether you can be a vegetarian or not but if you really hate meat very much or you like animals very much, then you should consult them to choose the best diet for you. If you cannot be a vegetarian for health reasons, then you shall wait for a few years to be one.

Answer 10

If you want to and your parents are okay with it. You should read up on it first. Hundreds of millions of people (mostly Hindus in India) have been vegetarian their whole lives. Even singer Joss Stone has always been vegetarian.

Answer 11

You should really talk with your doctor first about making such a change as this one. Let him/her know why you're wanting to change what you eat and become a vegetarian...Your doctor will let you know if it's ok or not for you. Everyone is different., body shapes, weight, health problems....you will also learn what you have to eat in order for you to obtain all the right nutriants in the day and your body isn't lacking for something*~ Goodluck to you*:) and make sure you're doing this for the right reasons.