My eleven year old niece has decided to become a vegetarian. Should i be worried? Is this a health issue?

Question

My eleven year old niece has decided to become a vegetarian. Should i be worried? Is this a health issue?

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry about it, just make sure she gets the right nutrition. Most likely she will grow out of it and if she doesn't it's not a big deal either.. i've heard that cutting out meat is actually a good idea in some ways as long as you keep you body nourished.

Answer 2

Okay im a vegg head dont be worried, its okay but make sure she gets proper nuitrition. There are many substitutes. Only one thing it hurts alot. I got the in my lower stomach. I get sick when i smell meat but besides that you and her should be okay.

Answer 3

She will grow out of it or maybe she is just tring to save the animals!

Answer 4

I wouldn't worry at all.  When I was about 13 I decided I would become a vegetarian.  It lasted about 6 months then one night at dinner I decided I wanted some chicken.  It's likely a phase that this 11 year old will pass through.

If it does stick, there's nothing wrong with being a vegetarian.

Answer 5

no, her mother just has to make sure she it eating properly and getting the proper nutrients. You can still get every thing you need nutritionally out of a vegetarian diet.

Answer 6

She'll be fine.  If she can pass up pepperoni pizza, you'll know it's for the long haul.

Answer 7

No its a great thing and you should support her and just find other brands like Morningstar and Boca when she comes over (check them out in the frozen food section) and tofu it is actually better for you I find myself eating morningstar corn dogs than reg corn dogs

Answer 8

nope. its ok. just make sure she gets protein from tofu, beans, and peanut butter.

Answer 9

this is a good thing, it means she cares about animals. there's nothing to be worried about. the only reason parents talk about it is because they want to make sure their kids get enough protein and iron. eggs and nuts have protein, look up vegetarian meals, there are lots of them.

Answer 10

It is not a health issue. (look at all the vegetarians on the planet. They are fine.) Just make sure that she gets her proper fats (you do need them) Proteins, Nutrients, etc. That she isn't getting from meat anymore. Suggest that she doesn't stop eating meat all at once - it may shock her body. Try taking away certain meats at a time. Like first chicken, then pork, then beef, and other red meats. Some vegetarians experience deprivation of nutrients, so just make sure she is getting them. Some 11 year olds will stick to it, some won't. Do some research on it, and find healthy substitutes for meat to add to her diet.

Answer 11

There are millions of vegetarians in the world.  Vegetarianism can be healthy if healthy food is eaten.  People do not need meat to be healthy at all.  

I suggest getting a book called Vegetables Rock! and googling Vegetarian nutrition.  If done right, vegetarianism is much healthier then eating meat.

Answer 12

Did the meat in your sandwich once have eyes and cry for its young?  That's good reason to be a vegetarian.

She will be fine, and the new resolution to be a veg' will probably last a week maximum.

Answer 13

Well yea for your Niece!! 11 is young and I am surprised that she can make that decision at her age!!

I say for you to learn more on Vegetarian,

Here is a great link to help:

http://www.vrg.org/family/kidsindex.htm

Information:

This site has tons of information, on teens and vegetarinan in kids, I was raised a Vegetarian, I am a healthy happy person!! Good LUCK!!

Answer 14

probably a phase...she will miss all the good stuff to quick to stick

Answer 15

It won't hurt her. Just make sure she gets enough protein. Beans, nuts, peanut butter are all good sources of protein. Lots of kids go through explorations, and this one may or may not be long term.

Answer 16

I have a daughter who is a vegetarian.  She is now 38 and has been a vegetarian since she was 5.  She decided when she was 5 that she didn't like meat.  She has not suffered anything.  We just made sure she ate everything she needed.  The only time she was really off the vegetarian diet was when she was pregnant.  The meat didn't bother her then. I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as you guys examine her diet and understand what she needs.  Make a game of it by seeing who can get the best and most dietary goodness out of this.

Answer 17

My daughter made that same decision when she was 12 and we backed her up. Made her read a book on being a vegetarian so she could manage her diet. It may be a phase. My daughter stuck to it for 11 months. It will not hurt her and can even help show her you care and are willing to support her decisions.

Answer 18

no just dont give her meat. its reasonable.

Answer 19

My 14 year old started this about four months ago. It's a pain in the rear, but even if you shop at wal-mart, you can find vegetarian meat substitutes in the frozen section of the store. It is really a pain, and does add a little to the final cost of the grocery bill, but if you read the daily allowance section on the box, you will discover that the substitutes have just as much, if not more, protein than the meat they are intended to replace.

One thing I do want to point out about this is the fact that I have started adding some sort of beans to every dinner just to make sure she is getting the protein that she needs.

It takes a little effort, but if it helps the child learn from experience or even mature a little, I try to support them. Even if it means a little more money at the checkout stand.

Answer 20

Make sure she gets vitamans.

It's probably just a phase, by the way.

She'll grow out of it.

Answer 21

My daughter became vegetarian at about 11 yrs. when we were eating chicken and she discovered it was a real chicken.  She was horrified and stayed a vegetarian until she was about 23 and her circumstances changed (lived with a meat eater).  She and I still eat very little meat.  During her vegetarian days, she was quite healthy.  She used to eat a lot of legumes (dahl) and loves baked beans and nuts.  She drinks soy milk and lots of yoghurt and takes some supplements.