Help a 12year old vegetarian?

Question

My friend Justin has become a vegetarian and he is only 12. He is losing a lot of weight and he refuses to eat meat again. Its my fault he is because I kinda told him what happens. He is a soccer player and his twin brother who is 3inchs shorter then him weights more then him. I'm worried, what should I do to help him.

Answer 1

The best thing that you can do for your friend is to be supportive,as it is his personal choice.However,i can understand your concerns but as long as he's eating enough there is no need for concern.Check out 'The Vegetarian Society' website.It will tell you all the info you need.You can also suggest a book about vegetarian nutrition in children.Also,don't worry yourself to much mate,Joaquin Phoenix has been a lifelong vegan and he's grown well.

Answer 2

I was 12 when I became vegetarian and I did lose lot of weight at first but when your body gets used to it he will put a little back on and don't tell him to eat meat he is making the right choice are you? tell him good luck and to never eat meat it's bad for you I don't care what other people say and they can give me as manny thumbs down as they want because they just don't want to say there wrong and you are wrong for trying to make him eat meat GO JUSTIN ! sorry if I came off rude or mean but I can't help but express what I really think and how frustrated I really am with people trying to make me and others like me eat meat =^..^=    

Answer 3

He isn't losing weight because he is vegetarian.

He is probably losing weight because he is not eating enough or he is surrounded by people that criticize him but make no effort to guide him in the right direction.

If no one is willing to read what is behind the following links, I'd recommend that he try vegetarianism later in life when he is more mature and able to manage his own diet. If he has made this choice, I doubt that he needs support to stay firm in that decision. I hope that you can get this information to him and help him incorporate it into his daily life so that he stays healthy and gains weight.

Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentil, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies can easily offer everything that you need except B12.

http://www.veganhealth.org/sh

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo

All vegetarians should take a B12 supplement regularly since most people eat meat, dairy AND fortified cereals yet still have a B12 status that is lower than recommended.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/b12

It may help you if you see proof that vegan people have the same potential as anyone else.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sto...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.macdanzig.net/bio.php

http://www.scottjurek.com/career.php

If you need meat or dairy during any stage of your life or to live any certain lifestyle, why does the American Dietetic Association say otherwise?

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

Answer 4

Make sure he knows his nutrition facts. He need protein in his diet to stay healthy. He cant just avoid meat and say its all good. He needs to know what his body needs. He could find some good substitutions.  If he doesn't eat properly, he wont do so hott on the soccer feild.  

Answer 5

All you can do is help him become educateed about healthy vegetarian eating and be his friend. If your kind and calm with him he is more likely to listen to what you have to say.

Google "vegetarian recipes" and print them off for him and maybe he can have his mother cook or help him cook them.

Support him on his choices because if you were the one in his position you'd want a good friend to understand.

Good luck and health to you,

annabell

Answer 6

Just get him to eat food that is not meat, sounds logical enough....