I'm thinking of going vegetarian.... where to start ?!?

Question

Okay so i was raised eating meat my whole life. And i never really thought of the idea of going veg. But lately i really hate how factories treat animals and when i eat meat it makes me feel bad. && i read up and people who dont eat meat are more healthy than those who do. So i want to go vegetarian. I'm only 13 and i dont know how to tell my parents because they love steak & meat. sooo, can you help me there???

also, what exactly cant i eat??

is it JUST meat???

any websites also would be good!

thanks!

Answer 1

i know thats its really hard to talk to parents, my parens (only in eighth grade) either ignore me or tell me i'm being rude and than threaten...

i think you should slowly slip into veganism...

try cutting out some of the obvious things...

like a big old steak or fried chicken...

assuming your parents aren't like mine, they'll understand

than you could stop eating things like fish or eggs...

(from my pt. view, eggs are meat cuz thats waht people are saying when the don't want abortion!)

eventually curve in on it and than stop

there are things that maybe you don't want to leave... like dairy. the cow isn't killed so yah

about the gelatin stuff... idk...

its true that vegetarian lifestyles are usually much healthier than the average americans' cholesteral guzzling diets. you just have to make sure you get all your vitamins

i hope you parents support you cuz i do! =D

Answer 2

Do some research on it first before you start. If you cut meat out of your diet, you need to find an alternative source of protein, such as peanut butter. Make sure to do some research on what nutrients you would be missing out on, and what kinds of foods have those nutrients. Also, determine what extent that you are vegetarian. You could consume dairy products if you were to a certain extent because it is just the MILK of the cow, and not actually killing and eating parts of the cow. If you took it further, you might say that you wouldn't eat ANY products from animals. If you do decide to become vegetarian, cut meat out of your diet gradually so you have time to get used to it.

Answer 3

That's great you're interested in going veg! Good for you!

I would really do your research before you talk to your parents, so that you'll be prepared to address the concerns they might have. Here are good sites to print out:

Vegetarian sources of protein, iron, and calcium:

http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...

The American Dietetic Association is one of the nation's leading nutrition experts. It says: "Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence." http://eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs....

Vegetarian Diet May be Healthy For Teens

http://preventdisease.com/news/articles/...

You could just say "I've done some research about vegetarianism and found out that it has a lot of health benefits. I've decided I want to give it a try. What do you think?" And then have a conversation about it.

Vegetarians don't eat any type of animal flesh... no fish, chickens, turkeys, etc. For instance, you wouldn't eat soup that had chicken broth. Here are some good websites:

http://www.tryveg.com

http://vegetarianteen.com/

http://www.vegcooking.com/makingthetrans...

Good luck!

Answer 4

Cutting meat out of your diest is a good way to start becoming vegetarian.

Answer 5

Start with that delicious food known as onion

Answer 6

Start by visiting a Hare Krishna feast.  This is where I started and have been a vegetarian for over 12 years.  They sell the best cookbooks too.

Answer 7

Okay, there are three different types of vegetarians:

1. Lacto-ovo-vegetarian - eats both dairy products and eggs but no other animal products including meat and fish. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet.

2. Lacto-vegetarian - Eats dairy products but not eggs and no other animal products including meat and fish.

3. Vegan. Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product.

Also, if you're serious you should check the packets of foods to see if they're vegetarian, quite a lot of things like sweets/candy aren't suitable.

You're right, vegetarians can quite often be healthier than meat-eaters, such as reduced risk of heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and certain cancers occur less often in people who are vegetarian. Also, eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds provides the body with the ammunition needed to fight disease and illness and a diet high in meat, saturated fat, milk, cheese, and butter does not provide the same health benefits.

However, you need to get all the right requirements. For example, there's a lot of iron in meat, so vegetarians need to eat other foods which contain lots of iron to compensate. Here's a page about vegetarian nutrition and which vegetarian foods contain which nutrients: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/basic-nutriti...

Also, here are some great vegetarian recipes to get you started. Some these are so delicious, and I'm your parents would enjoy them too, so its something you could probably all eat:

http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes...

My parents love meat as well, but I had no problem telling them, it's your choice, they can't force you to eat something you don't want to. Just tell them. If you also show them the research you've done and some of the recipes, they might be a bit more accepting.

Hope I helped and enjoy your vegetarianism!

Answer 8

Vegetarian - don't eat anything with eyes or Gelatin (made from boiled animals)  Vegetable or Kosher Gelatin is acceptable.

That person earlier was wrong, you can eat eggs because they are unfertilized and would rot and be abandoned by the chicken if not eaten, so it is a by-product and not taking a life because there wasn't one in the egg first place.

"Vegan" isn't just meat it's all.. I mean ALL animal products and by-products. No leather, milk, honey, eggs, (non-veggie and non-Kosher) Gelatin or anything that had to do with an animal giving up something of theirs to feed or serve you. Things other than food are considered vegan when they contain no animal products and aren't tested on animals.

For every meat you eat there is a Vegetarian or Vegan alternative, that actually has less fat, more protein and vitamins. Try Morning Star Farms vegetarian meat alternatives, they are the best.

I cannot stress this enough! Take a multivitamin EVERY DAY.

Some have gelatin in them, but most vegetarians consider this a necessary evil.

As far as your parents, tell them exactly how you feel about eating meat and the endless health benefits, help them  understand that this is something very important to you.

And if you'd like, you could even offer to buy the food yourself with your allowance, babysitting, or chore money.

I recommend:

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/

Answer 9

I don't have too much to add, but I wanted to make a correction to what someone else said.  Kosher gelatin is NOT acceptable and there is no such thing as vegetable gelatin.  (There are plant-derived gelatin alternatives such as agar agar and carageenan)

While you are living with your parents, it won't always be easy to eat right.  If you do your research and know your facts before you talk to your parents, hopefully they will be supportive and make sure to buy nutritious vegetarian foods for you.  Help them out, do your research and give them a list of a lot of foods that you already know you like, such as peanut butter or beans, and a few you might want to try such as Boca burgers.  Go to the grocery store with your parents so you can check ingredients on things like yogurt, which might contain gelatin.

Answer 10

wait.... so your not going vegan, vegetarian is the first step really okay here we go NO steak, pork, veal, chicken, fish, or anything mmkay good? now after you stop eating any sort of meat you might go to a stricter vegetarian maybe into a loose vegan meaning no honey, eggs, milk, leather, ANYTHING that has come from an animal what I just explained is the vegan lifestyle, okay now you HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO EAT PROPERLY!!!!! to stay a healthy vegetarian mmkay this includes the main staple RICE AND BEANS make sure the means are not cooked in pig oil yuck! which most beans now a days are vegan including taco bell, many foods now are vegan/vegetarian friendly

Breakfast (Dry)

All-Bran

Alpha Bits

Apple Cinnamon Cheerios

Apple Jacks

Berry Burst Cheerios

Bran Flakes

Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch

Cheerios

Cinnamon Crunch Crispix

Cinnamon Krunchers

Cinnamon Life

Cocoa Pebbles

Cocoa Puffs

Cocoa Rice Krispies

Complete Oat Bran

Complete Wheat Bran

Corn Chex

Corn Flakes

Corn Pops

Cracklin' Oat Bran

Crispix

Frosted Cheerios

Frosted Flakes

Fruit By the Foot

Fruit Harvest

Fruit Loops

Fruity Pebbles

Grape Nuts

Just Right

Kix

Life Cereal

Mueslix

Multi-Bran Chex

Multigrain Cheerios

Nature's Valley Granola Bars (Brown Sugar)

Pop Tarts (Unfrosted Apple Cinnamon)

Pop Tarts (Unfrosted Blueberry)

Pop Tarts (Unfrosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon)

Pop Tarts (Unfrosted Strawberry)

Quaker Apples and Cinnamon

Quaker Cinnamon and Spice

Quaker Date and Walnut

Quaker Oatmeal (Raisin)

Quaker Raisins and Spice

Raisin Bran

Reese's Puffs

Rice Chex

Rice Krispies

Trix

Wheat Chex

Beverages

Alpine Spiced Cider

Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Hazelnut)

Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Mocha)

Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (Double Chocolate)

Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (White Mocha)

Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate (Baking Cocoa)

Hershey Syrup (Chocolate)

Hershey Syrup (Strawberry)

Kool-Aid Drink Mix

Nescafe Ice Java Iced Coffee Syrup

Nestlé Nesquick Syrup (Chocolate)

Nestlé Nesquik Syrup (Strawberry)

Nestlé Nesquik Syrup (Very Vanilla)

Snacks

Airheads Taffy

Anna's Almond Cinnamon Thins

Anna's Ginger Thins

Archway Ginger Snaps

Blow Pops

Brach's Cinnamon Hard Candy

Brach's Orange Slices

Brach's Root Beer Barrels

Brach's Star Brites

Bremner Wafers

Brownstone Baking Co. Mini Bagel Crisps (Garlic)

Carr's Table Wafer

Carr's Tea Biscuits

Charms lollipops

Chocolove Dark Chocolate bar

Chocolove Orange Peel (Dark Chocolate Bar)

Cracker Jacks

Cry Babies

Dem Bones

Dots

Dum Dums

Entenmann's Fudge Delights Fudge & Mint Cookies

Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate)

Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Oatmeal Macaroon)

Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Peanut Butter)

Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Vanilla)

Ferrara Wafer Swirls With Chocolate

Fireballs

Food Lion Animal Cookies

Food Lion Ginger Snaps

Food Lion Oatmeal Cookies

Food Lion Saltines

Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Assorted)

Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate Creme)

Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate Fudge)

Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Double Creme-O's)

Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Duplex)

Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Mini Chocolate & Vanilla Cremes)

Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Peanut Butter)

Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Vanilla)

Food Lion Snack Crackers

Food Lion Sugar Cookies

Fritos (Barbecue)

Fritos (Original)

Goldenberg's Peanut Chews

Grandma's Peanut Butter Sandwich Cremes

Hain Apple Cinnamon Rice Cakes

Herr's Salsa and Lime Tortilla Chips

Hot Tamales

Hubba Bubba Bubblegum

Jolly Ranchers (lollipops and hard candy)

Jujubees

Jujyfruits

Keebler Animal Crackers

Keebler Club Crackers

Keebler Vienna Fingers

Kettle White Popcorn

Kool-Aid Gels

Krispy Kreme Fruit Pies

Laffy Taffy

Lance Capitain's Wafers

Lance Choc-O Cookies

Lance Malt Crackers With Peanut Butter

Lance Nekot Cookies With Peanut Butter

Lance Nut-O Lunch Cookies (Peanut Butter)

Lance Nut-O Lunch Cookies (Strawberry Creme)

Lance Peanut Bar

Lance Sugar Wafers (Strawberry Creme)

Lance Sugar Wafers (Vanilla Creme)

Lance Toasty Crackers With Peanut Butter

Lance Van-O Lunch Cookies

Lay's Blue Corn Chips

Lay's Potato Chips (Natural Country Barbecue)

Lay's Potato Chips (Thick Cut Sea Salt)

Lay's Stax

Lay's WOW! Potato Chips

Lay's Yellow Corn Chips

Lemonheads

Lundberg Brown Rice Cakes

Mambas

Manischewitz Whole Wheat Matzo, Unsalted Matzo, and Savory Garlic Matzo

Mary Janes (regular and peanut butter kisses)

Melba Toast (Rye)

Melba Toast (Sesame)

Melba Toast (Wheat)

Mike and Ike

Munchos

Murray Butter Cookies

Murray Cinnamon Grahams

Murray Coconut Bars

Murray Southern Kitchen Iced Oatmeal Cookies

Murray Sugar-Free Vanilla Wafers

Nabisco Ginger Snaps

Nabisco Iced Oatmeal Cookies

Nabisco Oatmeal Cookies

Nabisco Original Graham Crackers

Nabisco Teddy Grahams (Chocolate and Cinnamon)

Nabisco Uh-oh Oreos, Spring Oreos, and Chocolate Creme Oreos

Nestle Double Chocolate Thin Mints

New York Flatbreads (Everything, Garlic, and Fat-Free)

Newman O's

Now and Later

Nutter Butter Bites

Panda Licorice

PezRing pop lollipops

Pure De-Lite Coconut Bars

Quaker Apple Cinnamon Rice Cakes

Ritz Regular Crackers

Ritz Whole Wheat Crackers

Sesame Royale Breadsticks

Smarties (U.S. version only)

Snackwells Cracked Pepper Crackers

Snyder's Jalapeno Pretzel Bites

Snyder's Pretzel Sticks (Pumpernickel/Onion and Oat Bran)

Sour Patch Kids

Soy Crisps (Barbecue, Deep Sea Salt, and Garlic Onion)

Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos

Stacey's Pita Chips (Baked and Taxarkana Hot)

Sun Chips Original flavor

Super Bubble

Swedish Fish

Sweet Tarts

Toasteds Crackers (Sesame and Wheat)

Town House Original Crackers

Triscuit Crackers (Original, Reduced Fat, Garlic Herb, and Roasted Garlic)

Triscuits

Tropical Source mini chocolate bags

Twizzlers

Utz Puffed Caramel Corn

Wasa Crispbread (Light Rye and Multi-Grain)

Wheat Thins (Original, Multi-Grain, and Reduced Fat)

Zesta Original Crackers

Zotz

Condiments

Arnold Premium Seasoned Stuffing

Betty Crocker Bac-o's Bacon Flavor Bits

Brianna's French Dressing

Brianna's Poppy Seed Dressing

Brianna's Santa Fe Blend Dressing

Campbell's Franco-American Mushroom Gravy

Classico Pasta Sauces (Roasted Garlic and Spicy Red Pepper)

Dona Maria Mole

El Paso Enchilada Sauce

Girard's Champagne Dressing

Girard's Italian Dressing

Girard's Original French Dressing

Girard's Raspberry Dressing

Hunt's Manwich Sauce

Kame Marinades (Red Chili)

Kame Marinades (Sweet Teriyaki)

Kame Marinades (Thai Coconut)

Kame Marinades (Wasabi with Ginger)

Kellogg's Corn Flakes Crumbs

Knorr Red Bell Pepper Pesto Sauce Mix

Kraft Balsamic Dressing

Kraft Catalina Dressing

Kraft Classic Italian Vinaigrette Dressing

Kraft Creamy Italian Dressing

Kraft Fat Free Italian Dressing

Kraft French Dressing

Kraft French Fries Seasoning

Lipton Recipe Soup and Dip Mix (Onion Mushroom)

Lipton Recipe Soup and Dip Mix (Onion)

Lipton Recipe Soup and Dip Mix (Vegetable)

McCormick Bac'n Pieces

McCormick Spaghetti Sauce Mix

Newman's Light Balsamic Dressing

Newman's Light Italian Dressing

Newman's Light Raspberry and Walnut Dressing

Newman's Olive Oil and Vinegar Dressing

Newman's Red Wine Vinaigrette and Olive Oil Dressing

Newman's Regular Balsamic Dressing

Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix

Pepperidge Farms Cubed Herb Seasoned Stuffing

Prego Mushroom Pasta Sauce

Ragu Pizza Sauce

Smucker's Goober Grape Peanut Butter

Baked Goods

Arnold's Carb-Counting Multi-Grain Bread

Arnold's Jewish Rye Bread

Arnold's Potato Sandwich Rolls

Arnold's Sesame Sandwich Rolls

Arnold's Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread

Arnold's Wheat Sandwich Rolls

Cobblestone Mill Hoagie Rolls

Cobblestone Mill Jewish Rye Bread

Cobblestone Mill Kaiser Rolls

Cobblestone Mill Onion Rolls

Cobblestone Mill Party Rolls

Cobblestone Mill Pumpernickel Bread

Cobblestone Mill White Sub Rolls

Cobblestone Mill Whole Wheat Bread

Dutch Country Soft Potato

Dutch Country Whole Wheat

Krispy Kreme Fruit Pies (Apple)

Krispy Kreme Fruit Pies (Cherry)

Krispy Kreme Fruit Pies (Peach)

Little Debbie Cake Donuts

Pepperidge Farm Dark Pumpernickel Bread

Pepperidge Farm Rye and Pumpernickel Swirl Bread

Thomas New York Style Bagels (Blueberry)

Thomas New York Style Bagels (Cinnamon Swirl)

Thomas New York Style Bagels (Everything)

Thomas New York Style Bagels (Plain)

Thomas Toaster Bagels (Cinnamon Raisin)

Thomas Toaster Bagels (Plain)

Refrigerated and Frozen Foods

Anne's Flat Dumplings

Athens Phyllo Dough

Athens Phyllo Mini Shells

Calaro Guacamole

Edy's No-Sugar Bars

Edy's Whole Fruit Bars

Fleischmann's Light Margarine

Food Lion French Fries

Food Lion Hash Browns

Food Lion Restaurant Fries

Food Lion Seasoned Curly Fries

Food Lion Shoe String Fries

Food Lion Steak Fries

General Mills Italian-Style Vegetables

General Mills Roasted Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs

Lender's Bagels (Cinnamon Raisin)

Lender's Bagels (Onion)

Lender's Bagels (Plain)

Luigi's Italian Ice

Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade Bars

Mrs. Smith's Deep Dish Pie Crust

Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets

Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Shells

Pillsbury Cornbread Twists

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

Pillsbury Turnover (Apple)

Pillsbury Turnover (Cherry)

Pinata Flour Tortillas

Safeway Whipped Cream (canned)

Simply Potatoes Diced Potato with Onion

Simply Potatoes New Potato Wedges

Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns

Smart Balance Light Buttery Spread

Smart Beat Super Light Margarine

Smart Squeeze Fat-Free Margarine

Smuckers Uncrustables Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly

Smuckers Uncrustables Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam

SuperPretzel Baked Soft Pretzels

Baking

Aunt Jemima Coffee Cak

Answer 11

The first thing you need to do is decide how strict you are going to be. A vegetarian by definition eats NO meat--this includes EGGS. Considering that most baked goods contain eggs, you really need evaluate if you can give up eggs or not.

That being said, most vegetarian's I know have a policy where if the egg cannot be seen (i.e. eggs in cakes, cookies and brownies) then they'll eat it, but they won't eat omlettes.

I think you should not worry about telling your parents. They should understand and respect your wishes. You're not forcing THEM to change their eating habits, you're just altering your own. Tell them you won't be picky and would just like your mom to include a bit more vegetables in your meals.

You should also read about proper nutrition and foods/supplements you may have to take to replace the nutrients you're missing from meats. A lot of people become anemic after becoming vegetarian, so you'd have to alter your diet accordingly.

Your doctor should be able to give you great resources and insight to becoming a vegetarian.

Good Luck! :)