Hi,
my name is jordan and i have a sister who is tweleve, she hasnt ever really been a good eater but she is hardly eating anything and my parents are really worried too! The weight is just falling off her and she is a "vegetarian" and doesnt eat anything to do with animals anyway so she is hardly eating anything and we are worried and just don't know what to do, WHAT SHOULD WE DO !!!!?????????????
thx
Jordan.
2007-12-22 07:29:59 · 42 answers · asked by jords-will-solve-it 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
Being vegetarian has nothing to do with her weight loss, it has to do with improper diet. I suggest your parents do their research on vegetarian diets and find foods that are nutritionally sound for your sister. Leaving a 12 year old to figure out their own meals is poor parenting. If she ate meat your parents wouldn't expect her to know how to prepare meals that are nutritionally sound. At 12 your sister is not mature enough to know how to create meals that meet her dietary needs. Even reading books, etc will not give her a complete understanding of what she needs, it is up to parents(who are cognitively capable of comprehending the gravity of proper nutrition) to learn just and make sure that she is eating right.
Your sister really needs to see a doctor. Her weight loss could be from a medical problem, or some type of eating disorder.
2007-12-22 12:30:36 · answer #1 · answered by Prodigy556 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why is everyone saying take her to a doctor? Very weird. What do doctor's know about anything other than giving out pills? They do no training in diet and nutrition at all... anyway.
School councillors -- all the ones I ever talked to were a bunch of morons and some were complete a-holes, but there must be some that are great.
Psychologists (shrinks)... they are a bunch of pill dealers too.
Maybe she's depressed. Why not ask her? "Hey, why won't you eat anything... doesn't it taste good? Does our cooking really that bad?" Maybe the food sucks. Maybe the food your parents make has animal products in it. Maybe she thinks she's FAT. Seems to be the answer to most girls and losing weight. They are very weird creatures and no matter how thin they are, they still think they are fat. Maybe she wants to be vegan but doesn't want to say anything because of the bad reaction she got when becoming vegetarian. Just take her aside, away from the parents, and have a one-on-one with her... or you could try take one of her best friends aside and have a one-on-one with her friend. Her friend will likely know. Being vegetarian really has nothing to do with this since all the vegetarians I know have no problems at all, young or old.
2007-12-22 13:21:36 · answer #2 · answered by Scocasso ! 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the best thing to do, is for your mom to consult with a doctor on what the best diet for your sister would be, and you should also do some research on a healthy vegetarian diet.
Vegetarians have to be careful to include the following key nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet:
iron
calcium
protein
vitamin D
vitamin B12
zinc
These are a good websites that lets you know what is essential as a vegetarian.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vegetarian-diet/HQ01596
www.goveg.com
2007-12-22 09:39:12 · answer #3 · answered by Steph W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like she may have an eating disorder. This is not a vegetarian problem it is a illness. Fighting her on the vegetarian choices will just take the focus off the true issue. You need to get her help asap before she does any permanent damage to her organs.
I wish you the best.
2007-12-22 12:57:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She definitely needs to eat more. And this is a problem your parents need to handle. You can order a vegetarian starting guide at www.cok.net. Your parents need to ensure they're offering your sister plenty of healthy vegetarian food. If she refuses to eat when she's got a plate of vegetarian food, THEN your parents will need to take her to a doctor to have her evaluated for an eating disorder.
Please share your concern with your parents and let them know you want to help your sister.
2007-12-22 13:18:40 · answer #5 · answered by VeggieTart -- Let's Go Caps! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She s twelve, and is your parents' responsibility. If you and your parents are really concerned about a possible medical issue, then take her to the doctor instead of wasting time on a question and answer forum.
This child may be suffering from a serious medical condition (not necessarily diet related) and the best advice somebody can give her is to go online about "proper" vegetarianism?
FYI - If you give advice on the basis of being medical professional and implying medical expertise , you can and should be held legally liable if something adverse happens.
2007-12-22 07:48:10 · answer #6 · answered by exsft 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Is she trying to lose weight? I think she needs to talk to someone or someone should talk to her. She may have body issue concerns. If she just wants to be a vegetarian, that is fine providing she eats healthy and balanced meals. Would you and your family be open to seeing a good holistic naturapath or dietitian that supports vegetarianism? They can recommend a good diet plan. I am vegetarian/vegan myself and I support the lifestyle, but I do know that you still need to eat right to make it work. Good luck to you and your family. I hope it all works out.
2007-12-22 14:38:01 · answer #7 · answered by Apple Tart 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her to a doctor. If she is really vegetarian then encourage her into a healthy veggie diet. Also remind her that no guys like skinny girls. Unfortunately from what you've told me it sounds more like she is anorexic. If this is so then she can't get better alone so get her some serious help.
Plz act fast, I'm really concerned.
2007-12-22 12:10:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are such a sweet brother! My daughter went through the "vegetarian" phase, too...at least it was a phase for her! She was 13 at the time and it was "in and cool"....NOT if you're not eating anything. Suggest this to your Mom; it's what worked with my daughter. I told her that picking a eating lifestyle was "very mature" decision for a 12 yr. old. I gave her a vegetarian magazine (you could borrow a library cookbook) I had bought and said I "whole-heartedly approve" AND I'm hoping she enjoys cooking HER OWN meals which is ALSO quite mature of her, so she could EAT, I said EAT with the rest of the family. It worked for me and my daughter; after about a week of "maturely" cooking her own meals, suddenly being a vegetarian didn't seem so "in and cool". I can't imagine your 12 yr old sister holding out for too much longer If she continues, I'm sure your Mom will take her to the doctors.
2007-12-22 07:55:31 · answer #9 · answered by Pam H 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Obviously, she might have an eating disorder and is hiding it behind the guise of being "vegetarian". Many young women that are anorexic and want to get out of eating meals with their families say they are simply "vegetarian". Especially since the family is so concerned - clearly your parents would have bought her tofu, beans, dairy products, eggs and other vegetarian-friendly food, AND she would have eaten, and everything would have been fine - IF!!! it was just a "vegetarian" thing.
I think that they should take her to her pediatrician, and her pediatrician can reccommend a good treatment program from there - maybe a good local therapist, or if it's serious enough she might need to go in-patient to the hospital.
Good luck, and next time this should be in "Mental Health" section. Please encourage your parents to pursue treatment.
2007-12-22 07:48:24 · answer #10 · answered by Maggie 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋