Am I too young to be a vegetarian?

Question

I'm 16 years old and I don't like to eat meat or any other food that has come from an animal. When I look at it on the plate or in the box it looks gross to me and I always imagine that it used to be part of a moving, living animal, and that just creeps me out. I talked to my mom about being a vegetarian but she is against it. She told me that I need meat, chicken, beef, etc to grow and maintain a healthy body.

So, is that true? Am I too young to be a vegetarian?

Answer 1

A vegetarian or even VEGAN diet, done PROPERLY, is appropriate for any phase of life including: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, even pregnancy and lactation (a woman breastfeeding her baby can safely be vegan)

As a growing adolescent, you DO have certain nutritional needs, and you need to do a bit of research and find out what those needs are. Then when you understand how much protien you need, then you can find out the best plant sources to get that protien. Soybeans, bTW.. have just as good of protien as meat. Beans and Rice, eaten together, make a complete protien equal or even superior to that found in meat.

To convince mom, just do the research, show her that, while you would like to give up meat, you know how get the proper nutrition from plant sources. Show her a bit of research into how meat animals are raised and treated, emphasizing that you share these things not to condem or convert her, but to explain to her why you really want to go vegetarian.

Your mom is fallen victim to what she was taught when she went to school, which is very outdated nutritional information. Most respected Dietitans now encourage eating LESS meat, and agree that a vegetarian diet is not only acceptable nutritionally, but has many benefits.

BTW.. I am 27 and very healthy, and haven't eaten a scrap of meat since I was TEN years old. The only thing different about me is that people constantly accuse me of looking like a teenager, and rarely believe me when I tell them how old I am. They usually guess 15-19, at this point.

But if you want to go vegetarian, keep in mind that you DO need to eat a balanced diet. Focus on a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, and nuts. Eat moderate amounts of vegetarian meat replacements, cheese, milk, eggs, if you want., but go easy on them to maximize the health benefits of a vegtarian diet. You won't do your health much of a favor by switching from a canivorous diet to a diet of white bread, deserts, pizza, and junk food. Not that you can't ever have those goodies, but like I said, the focus of your diet should be variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Hi! I'm 15, and I've been vegetarian since birth, as my mom was vegetarian. As I grew up, I totally agree with this perspective and even though, many times, I've been given the option to eat meat, I feel the same way you do.
You're definitely not too young, and if you eat properly, like, you'd have to get your protein from other sources, you'll do just fine - even heathier.

Give your mom a couple of things to read and educate herself more on the matter, and maybe she'll think it over and even help you out.
I've got very good blood test results (modest eh? ;p) - but I'm just saying to reassure you that you can grow and maintain a healthy body without any meat. Don't be brainwashed by people who don't really know what they are saying - no offence. Vegetarianism most often leads to a healthier lifestyle if thought out well (aka you don't live off fries).
Hope it all goes well and good luck with everything! xx

Answer 3

Here are a couple quotes from the article that I would like to try to explain to you: "Some researchers have found that adolescents with eating disorders may adopt a vegetarian diet as a weight-loss tool that is considered socially acceptable." This means that people have eating disorders BEFORE they become vegetarian, and they decide to become vegetarian to cover up their disorder. People like me who are vegetarian (vegan in my case) for ethical reasons are not at any greater risk for eating disorders. If you think otherwise, then you have the cause and effect mixed up. "A vegetarian diet can mean eating only plant sources or consuming some dairy and eggs or even some chicken and fish." So the study of "vegetarians" didn't even use the proper definition of "vegetarian". People who become vegetarian (but not really vegetarian) to cover up a disorder would be much more likely to eat fish/chicken than people who are vegetarian for ethical reasons. This shows not only that the results of the study are skewed, but also that the author of the article really doesn't know what s/he is talking about. If you're going to write an article about vegetarianism, you should at least know what a vegetarian is. I would write more, but I suspect that you'll either delete this question because you're trolling, or this "question" will be reported and deleted since it is basically just a rant.

Answer 4

I know it may be hard for some of you to understand this, but veganism is best way to achieve peak health. There is not a single beneficial nutrient from meat that cannot be found in plants. Meat protein and fat are bad for your health, and promote disease. I think its dangerous to eat meat as a child. You don't want artificial hormones, and antibiotics especially while your growing. Vegetarians have a less risk of heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and other common diseases.

If you need help with your diet, then email me. I know more about health than any other subject.

I became a vegan at 15. I did it because I think eating animals is wrong, especially farmed animals. I don't eat milk or eggs because the animals used are tortured, and slaughter too. I didn't realize how much my health would improve as a result.

Your making a smart choice, and some people are going to criticize you for being compassionate, and innovative. But trust me, it will be worth it.

Answer 5

There is no such thing as to young to be a vegetarian. I've been a vegetarian since I was 5 years of age! You do not need meat to be healthy. It has been proven that vegetarians tend to be healthier because there isn't all that fat that you get from animals. You still get plenty of protein in a vegetarian diet. You can get it from fake burgers, fake chicken nuggets, beans, nuts, sunflower seeds, etc. I have been much healthier ever since eating vegetarian and in many cases it has been proven to lower risks of heart attack and stroke. You're sixteen and totally old enough to make your own decisions when it comes to your diet. Maybe you should state some of these facts to your mom.

~ Emma

Answer 6

Ive been a vego' since aged five and have no ill effects, now 32 with two kids, just make sure eat lot greens and beans (baked beans are great for iron) and have enough calcium, milk, yoghart, cheese as it can be a lot easier for vegetarians to have defficianty(?) in iron and calcium but on the whole l think it could be a healthy lifestyle decision, look up the net for recipes and you and your parents will be suprised at the range of meals available to you, by the way my family are all big meat eaters as well as my children and husband, l think its a personal decision and as long as you are sensible with your diet you should be fine, e.g. not eating hot chips at every meal..

Answer 7

Hi Robert, i'm 23 and a vegetarian, but for different reasons.

I am glad you are chosing one of the healthiest possible lifestyles.

It seems to me, it would help you to study biology and physics.

Meat and food, are just displacement vectors of mass and energy. There is nothing "special" or "magical" about any form of life, even humans.

When someone eats meat, it is the same as a could spewing a raindrop.

It seems like you have a mind which is inquisitive toward philosophy and understanding.

Read Steven Hawking's "a brief history of time" i was 17 when i read it, and now i'm in medschool.

Answer 8

Actually Vegitarians are generally MORE healthy than meat eaters! They can get whatever meat gives them MUCH healtier ways! Like friuts Veggies, wheat grains, nuts ect. My ssiter has been a vegitarain since she was 13! And it has been 2 years now she eats soy, tofo, ect. i tried that stuff its good, and i decided to be one cuz i did research i would be hwelping ppl and animals and myself! Ur NOT too young or to old! And it is VERY healthy if u eat right...dont substitute meat with junk and u be healthy!

Answer 9

NNNNNNNOOOOOOO.My Daughter Friend Is Only 9 Yrs Old And She Is A Vegetarian.

Answer 10

No, you are not too young-there is no set age, other than when you decide it's the right time.

I think your mom is trying to tell you that there are certain things your body needs to grow and develop.
For both of you, why don't you see if she'll make an appointment with a nutritionist. That way you'll both understand what you can and cannot do to be healthy and eat the way you feel you'd like to.