I am 13 and I am a vegetarian, is it ok?

Question

I am vegetarian for 8 weeks and my parents allowed me that, but yesterday my dad said me that my bones will not be stong, because I am growing up and that I should eat meat. I feel better when I dont eat meat. What do you think? By the way, I am 166 cm tall and i have 54 kg. Am I fat?

Answer 1

I find it really funny that everyone who says that reliable research neglects to link to any of it.

Tell your dad that the largest study ever done on nutrition was conducted by Cornell and Oxford Universities along with China and the results are that a diet that contains animal products is NOT good for you.
http://www.nutrition.cornell.edu/ChinaProject/
http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/01/6.28.01/China_Study_II.html
Numerous other studies PROVE that animal products are not healthy. They is a nice assortment of overviews of these studies in the book, The China Study. http://thechinastudy.com

The American Dietetic Association says that a vegetarian diet can be healthy.
I'd print out this information provided by the U.S. governement who is VERY pro meat and dairy. If THEY agree that a vegetarian diet is fine, then come on: http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/895_vegdiet.html

More important than worrying about protein, you need to worry more about getting enough calorie and fat. If you are still eating dairy products then you are going to get plenty of those (those foods are as bad for you as meat, BTW, and maybe worse). You really owe it to yourself to get a book on nutrition. It is THE most important thing for your health to get proper nutrition. Check out a book called BECOMING VEGETARIAN and read it with your parents.
Good luck!

Answer 2

Both the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada have come out in support of a properly planned vegetarian diet, and say it's appropriate for all ages. As a growing teen, you do need to make sure your nutritional requirements are met, including calcium for strong bones. If you're just cutting out meat and not eggs or dairy, your dad really doesn't have anything to worry about, but even a vegan diet can cover all your bases. Pick up a good book on vegetarian nutrition to guide you through adolescence and calm your parents' concerns. "Becoming Vegetarian" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina (both nutritionists) is a really good one.

Answer 3

No youre not fat.

And there's nothing wrong with being vegetarian at your age. I've been a vegetarian since I was 9 years old and it's been 13 years.

Bones get strong with Vitamin D and Calcium. Drink milk or get supplements (or soy....there are various sources of these minerals and vitamins). Go get some sunshine for about 15 minutes everyday to get a natural source of Vit D (although many milks are fortified with it). You get proteins from beans, nuts, various vegetables, wheat, milk, and eggs (although I don't eat eggs). Strong bones come from some exercise too, so don't forget to get some of that.

There is nothing unhealthy about being a vegetarian. And don't believe the myth that vegetarians don't grow. I've always been one of the tallest girls in my class all through high school and college and my younger sister is taller than me (she's been a vegetarian since she was 7)!

Just watch your diet, you'll be more than fine! Good luck and congrats on the change :)

Answer 4

Isn't it funny how it's usually the dads who have a problem with vegetarianism? In our culture it seems that men are more strongly brainwashed to be meat eaters than women are. What your growing body needs is protein, calcium, iron, and B vitamins, all of which are readily available from plant sources and supplements. Doctors are not really very well trained in nutrition, but the advantage of getting an official diet from a doctor is that dads tend to believe them when they say it is okay. The truth is that a vegetarian diet is much better for your overall health and will help you avoid the epidemics of obesity and heart disease that plague our society. Become a great vegetarian cook and you may even end up making your dad healthier.

Answer 5

Hey!

Personally I think its great that you've decided to act upon your own beliefs, congratulations!
I myself have been vegetarian for 3 months now and I'm 17, but I still had the whole, 'bones wont be strong etc' conversation. So what I've done is booked an appointment with my doctor, and they'll tell me what vitamins and supplements I can take so that I am as healthy, if not healthier than a meat eater!

I totally agree with you, I feel better and more guilt free know that I am vegetarian!
By the way, I dont think your fat! Your weight is in proportion to your height!!
Good Luck!!

Answer 6

It is completely safe for anyone to be a vegetarian. After all, our bodies were not meant to digest meat. If your dad is concerned about you not getting enough essential vitamins here is some information that will help.

The protein scare is the biggest misconception about vegetarian diets. There are quite a bit of misconceptions so here are some web sites I think will help. The first is a list of vegetables with protein and how much the second are calcium sources in raw veggies. The third is an article about B12. It is actually a microbe found in soil and is abundant in seaweed, tempeh, miso, and root veggies. The last one is a list of foods with iron and how much.

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm

http://health.rutgers.edu/factsheets/iron.htm

http://www.carrotcafe.com/f/calevel.html

http://www.pamrotella.com/health/b12.html

Answer 7

Hey i'm also a 13 year old vegetarian (been a vegetarian since Nov. 4th of last year) and i'm fine. You just need to make sure you get your protein. And i had the "you won't be big and strong" talk from my dad (probably worse because hes big macho man and wants his son to be just like him). If your parents still won't agree talk to a doctor and have them tell your parents that it is alright. Also as a starting out vegetarian here are a few heads ups. Stay away from jello and candy like skittles and starburst (they contain gelatin which is made of ground up animal bones). Also be weary of pudding and yogurt (it is sometimes made of gelatain and somtimes made of pectin which is like gelatin but made with fruit) oh also any gummy candy or food tends to have gelatin in it (except gum, odd). As long as you get your protein you should be fine. I am a great swimmer, biker, and rock climber. I do a lot of physical activities and havn't really had any change since my vegatarianism because i keep up with protein and other minerals. GL with the vegetarianism.

Answer 8

Your dad is mistaken when he suggests that your bones won't be strong if you don't eat meat. Eating excess protein--especially animal protein--actually weakens your bones by stripping the calcium from them. It's why cows' milk is NOT a good source of calcium, despite what the marketing campaign says.

Check out www.vrg.org for vegetable-based sources of calcium, and make sure you get plenty of vitamin D to help you absorb it. You can get ample vitamin D with a few minutes of sunlight a day (more if you're dark-skinned or live in higher latitudes), not so easy during the winter, I know.

I can tell you right now that tofu and fortified soymilks are good sources of calcium, as are chickpeas and other beans. They're also good sources of protein.

Answer 9

You should talk with a dietician or your doctor. If you make sure you are eating balanced meals and getting enough of all the food groups, you will be okay. A lot of people forget about iron. It is in pasta, cereal and other whole wheat products.
BTW, your bones get strong from calcium, which is in milk, almonds, broccoli and other vegetables.
I don't think your fat. If your weight (the number) is more than your friends numbers or whatever, it is probably becuase you are taller than them.

Answer 10

Actually, you need to let your dad known that meat DEPLETES the calcium in your body. If you are a vegetarian, you actually need LESS calcium because you aren't consuming the meat that takes calcium out of your body. Besides, as a vegetarian you can still drink milk and eat cheese, which have calcium for strong bones.