My daughter turned vegetarian and I don't know what to do. Advice please?

Question

My daughter said she was going vegetarian about 3 months ago. At first I didn't believe her but then I saw she was serious. Now she won't eat any meat or things that have meat flavoring in it. She's not really eating any dairy products and I'm afraid this might affect her health. What should I do about this?

Answer 1

Mom, a vegetarian diet is a healthy diet if done correctly. The many essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients that your daughter needs can be found in a purely vegetarian diet. You don't need to eat meat or drink dairy to be healthy. But don't take my word for it. You can use the Internet to search for opinions, studies and guides that will show you what I mean.

If you are really that concerned, you might want to visit a nutritionist and inquire about a vegetarian diet. This professional can help guide you how to do it properly and safely. Armed with this knowledge, you can better help your daugher achieve peak health. Who knows, you may end up wanting to try it yourself!! ;D

good luck

Answer 2

she will be ok. just make sure she gets some protein from things like beans, mock meats, broccoli, colliflower, wheat bread, and anything else she likes that has a good source of protien. if she is not drinking milk, then you could buy her some soy milk. she will be all right. she is not the only vegetarian out there.

Answer 3

first i know your concerns. but living a vegetarian/vegan diet can be extremlly healthy and satisfying, she has made this life choice because she loves and cares about animals..and you shouldnt get worried about it. my younger sister went vegertarian when she was 9 years old after she saw my mom making the turkey for thanksgiving dinner, and she is know vegan she is completly healthy. if the protein loss and calcium loss scares you... you can get all the essential nutrients from fruits and vegatables. meats and dairy products and horrible for your health. i am now just starting the vegetarian process... read this book called(SKINNY B*TCH) i know horrible name..it does have a couple of curse words in the book. just warning you...but one of my friends recomended it to me..and i aplaud it completly it not only taught me details on the meat and dairy industry and how horrible it is and how horrible it for us...it taught me so many important nutrion facts that my body needs..and how to be healthy and get the proper vitamins and nutrition..but im not saying that you should read it to get skinny but to read it to get valuble information for your daughter and to help her stay healthy.

did you know the pig is just as intelligent as a 3 year old child...its like eating my three year old niece....and that at meat farms it is illegal to feed cows , cow meat..but farmers now feed cows and there young with other cows blood...how disgusting is that...and that in are dairy products there are antibiotics in it...thats bad because its causes are body to become imune to antibiotics causing us to become more sick...because there inject..chicken,pigs,cows with steriods,antibiotics(to keep them alive because they live in such horrible conditions)...i could go on so much longer...but i dont want to make this to long..but i recomend you to read that book..it will change your viewpoint on a lot of things and help you how to give your daughter the best nutrition she can get from a vegetarian/vegan diet...if you need more help feel free to emial me:-)

-Tracy

Answer 4

I'm not sure how old she is, but if she's about 13 or older, I'd let her do her thing.

Since she's proven to you that she's serious, the best thing you could do is support her. Don't try to force her to eat meat, don't poke fun at her (or allow other family members to poke fun), and in general, don't tell her that she's going through a phase.

If she doesn't really cook her own foods, I would invest in veggie cookbook for some recipe ideas. A lot of them have sections in the front that address the nutrition issue. They also let you know of some staples to have on hand - "how to stock the vegetarian pantry". Some even have a vegetarian food pyramid. And of course, the best benefit are the recipes. I'm confident there are a lot of ideas that the whole family can enjoy. That way, you don't have to make two meals all the time.

If done properly, your daughter should not have any problems consuming the right amounts of nutrients and vitamins/minerals. As long as she's not strictly eating junk food (chips, cookies, candy, etc.) she should be okay. Just make sure that she's eating a good combo of fresh fruit, fresh veggies, whole grains, beans and legumes.

Meat and dairy are really not necessary for growth and development. With the present rate of childhood obesity and childhood diabetes, this could possibly prevent her from a lifetime of health issues.

I hope that helps a bit. Here are some sites with recipes that I swear by:

www.vegcooking.com (this site has a list of everyday, well-known national brands that are veg friendly)

www.veganpeace.com (a lot of vegan recipes since she's not eating a lot of dairy)

www.savvyvegetarian.com (this site actually gives definitions of uncommon - but delicious and healthy! - foods like quinoa)

Good luck!

Answer 5

Encourage her, she's doing a something truly noble. Help her get a balanced diet.

Answer 6

well first - congrats Mom on supporting her, my Mom supported me when i chose not to eat flesh.  now education is the key here, as most of the responders have said.    i now have been a Mom and raised an entire family 4 boys over 6' tall 3 were lettermen in multiple sports (whew- that's alot of work for Mom too.) and you know what that means - they had to keep up the grades - so no slackers there & the girls one was a cheer leader the other on track team - All veggies now grown the oldest 32 - all still veggies - the esaiest thing go ahead and check out "WholeFoods" site online lots of veggie info there, recipes - info on food combining - very important as a veggie - beans & grain =complete protien building block,a fresh squeezed glass of carrot juice has more clacium than you would imagine, seaweeds readiliy available & most supermarkets & health food stores has tons of vits. & minerials.  i myself have been a veggie for over 30 yrs - i started the change in  my eating habits in 7th grade after a field trip to a meat packing plant.  My Mom understood & we worked together.  no worries  Mom you can do this :)

Answer 7

actually is good news...!

There is many vegetarian products to assure she have a daily healthy diet.....switching from dairy milk to soy milk is the best choice....

Answer 8

Both of my daughters are vegan and doing very well.  If you really know nothing about it... um... start with the books:  Becoming Vegetarian or Becoming Vegan.  Those two are pretty good.  For recipes etc., I really like The American Vegetarian Cookbook From the Fit For Life Kitchen (long title).  I use it so often I've indexed the chapters with tabs.

And don't worry too much, there are millions of people around the world who are either vegetarian or vegan from birth to old age death.  It's an ancient practise.  And remember, most people just stick whatever in their mouths and never think any further than that -- meat and dairy are not magical foods that give you all you need.

Answer 9

You should read up on the vegetarian diet so you can make sure she is getting adequate nutrition.  Cook a few vegetarian dinners with her - there really are some good vegetarian foods.  And if you read about vegetarian diets she will know you care about her interests and you two can discuss the diet like you know what you are talking about.

Answer 10

Depends.  

If she is old enough and financially capable and willing to cook for herself then support her and offer advice.  .

If she expects you to buy foods that you don't cook for the rest of the family and also expects you to do the special cooking for her then she is not ready for this diet.

Answer 11

My best friend was a vegetarian for 3 years and she developed anemia, she was in the hospital for a couple weeks getting tested and now she's taking iron pills every day... which aren't very good, considering she can barely walk and passes out a lot.

but respect your daughter, make sure she has a balanced diet. read up on being a vegetarian, the most you can do is support her and inform yourself as much as possible.

Answer 12

good for her!! as long as she's still eating a well rounded diet it won't make a bit of difference for her to ditch the meat.  in fact, you may see her become even healthier!  

protein is easy to substitute-  it can be derived from whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, some vegetables, and various other sources.  

a variety of dark green veggies will keep her iron levels up.

if you're worried about her still having "holes" in her diet, ask her to start taking a vegetarian multi-vitamin.  that will help while she tries to balance her diet.

here are a couple of websites that might be a good help to you and your daughter:

www.goveg.org

www.vegsoc.org

www.theveggietable.com

don't forget to encourage her....she's doing a wonderful thing =)

Answer 13

I did the exact same thing to my mother that your daughter did to you. A vegetarian diet can be really healthy if it is done correctly.  She can get calcium from leafy greens or soy milk such as Silk.  Protein can come from vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts, and grains.  A vitamin supplement will also provide her with the nutrients she needs.  There are also some great vegetarian recipes on the food network website and there are also some really good cookbooks out there, good luck!!!!!!! :)

Answer 14

there is always vitamin supplements w/calcium

Answer 15

There are tons of people who are on a strict vegan/vegetarian diet that are prefectly healthy. She's made the choice to live like this so you should support her like a good mama... ;)   At least she isnt doing drugs or getting pregnant like some teens do (assuming she is a teen).

Answer 16

my parents didn't believe me at first either. but then i showed them how serious i was and when they asked me questions about where i would get certain vitamins i would try to find an answer.

i take a multi-vitamin everday and make sure that i get protein at every meal. i am a highly active individual so health is important to me.

also... have her see a nutritionist. make sure that the nutritionist understands her lifestyle and hopefully they will help her decide what foods she may need more of or what she can do to get the nutrition she may be lacking due to her new diet. that is what i did and it really helped me.

Answer 17

What is it in meat and dairy that is so healthful?  She can get everything she needs from a balanced vegetarian diet.

Answer 18

Relax. Then calmly talk to your daughter about the choice she made and why she made it- maybe she's noticed that she feels sick after eating milk or she may have learned how animals are treated prior to being slaughtered. Maybe she is trying to keep herself healthy by eating a lower fat, high protein diet rich in fresh fruit and veggies.

Listen to her- don't just assume she has an eating disorder or is trying to "rebel" against you.

Both vegan and vegetarian diets are at least as healthy and (when eaten properly) even healthier then diets containing meat and dairy.

Vitamin B-12 is hard for vegans to get- buy soy or rice milk fortified with it.

Nutritional yeast (Red Star brand) also contains B-12- you can make vegan macaroni and cheese, vegan grilled cheese and even put it on top of popcorn.

Make sure she knows which vitamins and minerals she may not be getting enough of and that she knows how to get them- offer to help her plan meals until she gets the hang of it.

Answer 19

I have to echo many of the other sentiments here. The first thing you have to do is to put this in perspective. She's shunning meat, not eloping with the 80-year-old next door...

The next thing you should do is find out more about vegetarian diets. The easiest place to start is with this article: http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/teennutriti...

Then, you can move onto some books, like "Being Vegetarian for Dummies" by Suzanne Havala Hobbs. She's a great dietitian out of UNC-Chapel Hill who deals with vegetarianism and public health. You can probably get that from your local library or at least peruse it at your favorite book store. There's also "Raising Vegetarian Children: A Guide to Good Health and Family Harmony" by Joanne Stepaniak and Vesanto Melina. These are also good authors with extensive backgrounds in this area.

Plus, there are many good books about being a teen vegetarian that she should look into. Here are just a few:

- A Teen's Guide to Going Vegetarian by Judy Krizmanic

- Vegetables Rock!: A Complete Guide for Teenage Vegetarians by Stephanie Pierson

- Student's Vegetarian Cookbook, Revised: Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Tasty Vegetarian Recipes by Carole Raymond (This one is great for college students!)

- The Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook by Judy Krizmanic and Matthew Wawiorka

Three more things that you two can do:

1) Visit a natural foods store or a grocery with a large natural foods section. Once you two see all of the meatless options that are widely available, you'll feel better about her choice.

2) Go to a vegetarian restaurant in your area, if there are any. You'll see the great options that some of them offer and hopefully experience some tasty dishes. You may even want to incorporate some ideas into your family's regular meal rotation. Try www.happycow.net for some good suggestions.

3) See if there's a vegetarian organization in your area. Most big cities and some college towns have at least one, but some less populated areas have them, too. They often have events like dinners and potlucks, and you may meet other parents who have/had the same concerns.

And, remember, if the most rebellious thing your teenage daughter does is try to make better decisions about her health, then you're a really fortunate parent! Good luck!

Answer 20

make sure she takes a multi vitamin first off to make sure she's getting iron.  What does she eat?  Soy is an excellent source of protein, and wheat products and leafy green vegetables are good sources of iron too.  Vegetarian diet is very good for you health wise, but it is important that she gets her proteins from another source, if she doesn't eat the meatless foods that still taste like meat then she needs to try tofu, beans, nuts, etc.

Answer 21

Though I'm not a vegetarian myself, I've known many in my life.  Your daughter can have excellent health.  You'll probably have to figure out some new dishes.  Tofu might be a thing to look into.  Beans, Rice, and Grains can be really important in a vegetarian lifestyle because they can substitute for meat in alot of dishes.  Also I would suggest looking into vitamins.  The best is to speak to a Nutritionist if you want to figure out what you might need to modify for your daughter's diet.

But whatever you chose to do, try to respect you daughter's wishes.  In some cases I've seen kids revert back to meat eating because they miss meat or don't like all the limitations, but in most cases it truly becomes a way of life.  And you might think about encouraging your daughter to take an active role in her diet and get her cooking or preparing her vegetarian meals.

Answer 22

Maybe you could read up on vegetarian nutrition and help your daughter plan healthy meals that include a variety of fruits, veggies, beans, nuts, and grains. It can also be helpful to meet with a nutritionist who is knowledgeable about vegetarian nutrition.

Good vegetarian, non-dairy sources of protein, iron, and calcium: http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...

The American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. 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."

Your daughter will be fine, provided that she's not living off of junk food or starving herself on low-calorie foods like salads.

Also, you may want to check out this book:

"Help! My Child Stopped Eating Meat!: An A-Z Guide to Surviving a Conflict in Diets"

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602...

Good luck!

Answer 23

It won't affect her health.  Maybe she should take a multivitamin (I do daily).  I have been vegetarian for 2 years and I am pretty much healthy (aside from my lupus).  It should actually improve her health.  SHe should eat lots of beans and things like that.  She needs protein.

Answer 24

as a mother, you can start by supporting your child's decision.

You can learn about her diet and support her decision if you do your research. Since you are concerned for her health, look online to see how vegetarians stay healthy. Find out what it is that they eat to stay on top of there protein and vitamins. Make sure that she knows exactly what she is doing and that she is doing it right.

Many vegetarians are healthier then the average person because they don't have a high fat diet.



here are some helpful links (see below) to start off your research. Learn about why your daughter is doing this, you can even start to find some recipes to cook together. Learn how she can do it in a healthy way (but also make sure she knows too) and make sure she takes her vitamins. An awesome vitamin company that is actually Vegan is called "veglife" (you can google the name to order them)