My mum doesn't like the idea of me going vegetarian cause it'll be unhealthy.?

Question

So... Yeah. I confronted my mum about it and she thinks it's a very bad idea. Apparently i need my iron and protein and what-not from the meats that i obviously won't be eating.

My mum said she won't let me do this, I pointed out i could take iron supplements and all that but she says it's not the same and not as affective.

She said she'd let me if i come to with some info on some foods or whatever that i could eat as a vegetarian that would be the equivalent to the meat and non-veg stuff that i won't be having.

What are some good foods that a vegetarian could eat that would have the same ''goodness'' that meats do?

Answer 1

I don't see the need to be a vegitarian, the animal is already dead and NOT eating it won't bring it back ._. Just my opinion

Answer 2

While I agree that humans are omnivores, I don't agree that a veggie diet is unhealthy.  Yes, if you go veggie and don't replace the meat with something that has those needed vitamins and protein and whatnot, you will be unhealthy.  But there are veggie foods out there that are just a good for you with all if not more of the nutrients you need from meat sources.  Try doing some research to present to your mom to show her you won't be unhealthy.  Maybe that will help her understand.

And Jon, I do know a very large cop who is a veggie.  

Answer 3

A vegetarian diet can be just as healthy, if not more healthy, than the diet of a person who eats meat products.

WHICH FOODS CONTAIN PROTEIN?

These foods are all good sources of protein, so try to include a mixture of these in your diet each day, and vary the types you choose:

-- pulses (such as lentils and beans)

-- nuts and seeds

-- eggs

-- soya

-- mycoprotein, sold as Quorn�

-- wheat proteins, such as cereals, bread, rice and maize

-- milk and dairy products

Milk and dairy products are also good sources of calcium. If you don't eat these foods, choose soya, rice or oat drinks fortified with calcium instead.

WHICH FOODS CONTAIN IRON?

Although meat is the best source of iron, it can also be found in:

-- pulses

-- green vegetables such as watercress, broccoli, spring greens and okra

-- bread

-- fortified breakfast cereals

Remember that it's easier to absorb iron from food if we eat it with foods that contain vitamin C, so have some fruit or veg, or a glass of fruit juice with your meal.

WHAT CAN A VEGETARIAN EAT?

Vegetarians don't eat any meat or fish, but the majority do eat some animal products, mainly milk, cheese and eggs. Some people eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but also eat fish.

WHAT DO VEGANS EAT?

Vegans can eat all sorts of foods, but they don't eat any foods of animal origin. This includes meat, fish and dairy foods, and also honey.

If you are a vegan, you need to make sure you're getting enough protein and iron (see above), but it can also be difficult to get enough vitamin B12.

These are good vegan sources of vitamin B12:

-- yeast extract

-- fortified bread

-- fortified breakfast cereals

Answer 4

You need to do your research to show your mum that her concerns are unfounded.  You don't need supplements, either.  All the nutrients you need are found in vegetarian food.

If you google the vegetarian food pyramid, you'll find out how many servings of each of the vegetarian food groups you need in order to meet your daily requirements.  Protein is plentiful on a vegetarian diet and is found in soy foods, beans and other legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, dairy products and eggs (though even vegans easily get plenty without the dairy and eggs.)  Iron is found in dark green veggies, dried fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes; if you pair iron sources with vitamin C sources, there is virtually no difference in the absorbability of non-heme iron (versus the heme iron found in beef.)

I highly recommend picking up a copy of "The New Becoming Vegetarian" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina.  Both are registered dietitians and the book is very thorough coverage of vegetarian nutrition.  It should put your mum's mind at ease.  She should know that a balanced vegetarian diet is not only healthy, it can be a whole lot healthier than the standard meat-eating diet.  Vegetarians have lower instances of heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney disease, type II diabetes, obesity, prostate cancer, colon cancer and gout.

Answer 5

Protein is not a problem. Iron is not a problem.

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

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

Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentils, 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 6

It is a very unhealthy choice, and supplements leave out the much needed nutrition that real meat actually has. Humans are omnivores, and have thrived on a diet consisting of both meats and vegetables... Why go against nature? It will only  hurt you in the long run

Answer 7

There is no nutrient found in meat that isn't easily obtained in a vegetarian diet.

Anemia (low iron) is more common among omnivores than in vegetarians.

Show your mother this list:

Foods and Iron Content

• tofu, 1/2 cup firm (13.2 mg)

• raisin bran, ready-to-eat, 3/4 cup (4.5 mg)

• sirloin steak, cooked, 3 oz (2.9 mg)

• shrimp, cooked, 3 oz (2.6 mg)

• black beans, boiled, 1/2 cup (1.8 mg)

• chickpeas, canned, 1/2 cup (1.6 mg)

• turkey breast, 3 oz (0.9 mg)

• bread, whole wheat, 1 slice (0.9 mg)

• chicken breast, skinless, 1/2 breast (0.9 mg)

• pinto beans, boiled 1/2 cup (2.2 mg)

Point out that per serving, tofu has more iron than steak, and that beans have more iron than poultry.

With regards to protein, protein is found in beans, nuts, seeds, lentils, meat substitutes, potatoes, etc.

However, it isn’t necessary to EAT protein, which then has to be broken down before it can be assimilated.  What the body needs is amino acids- the building blocks of protein.  Most amino acids are made by the recycling of old tissues, without any effort on your part whatsoever.  Of the ones which must be obtained through diet, ALL are present in plant foods.

Outside of famine conditions, protein deficiency is all but unheard of.  Generally speaking, if you consume enough calories, you’re getting enough “protein.”

Do some research before confronting your mother again.  Some excellent resources are:

The (online) Vegetarian Starter Kit from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine will answer most questions:

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

Veg Source has excellent articles, expert advice and a very involved online community:

http://www.vegsource.com/

The Vegetarian Resource Group's website is full of information related to a vegetarian diet and lifestyle:

http://www.vrg.org/

Vegetarian Teen has articles just for parents, recipes, message boards etc.:

http://www.vegetarianteen.com/

Best of luck!

Answer 8

Hello there, sorry to hear you're having problems and thank you for thinking about the animals. It sounds like your mum has some prejudices about vegetarianism. You don't have to get iron and protein from meat, they can be found in perfectly adaquate amounts in a vegetarian or vegan diet. In fact, a lot of meat-eaters consume too much protein, which can lead to all sorts of problems. You certainly don't need supplements as long as you eat a variety of foods. There's nothing with vegetarianism or veganism in itself, it's how people don't pay any attention to what their change of diet entails that is the problem, i.e. they think they can just cut out the meat and animal products.

I answered a very similar question to this recently, so if you don't mind terribly, I'll copy and paste it to save me from typing it all again but in different words:

Protein repairs and replaces cells in your body, so it's important to have a good variety of protein rich plant foods, such as the following:

Type of food Quantity providing 10g protein (g)

Soya flour 24

Peanuts 39

Pumpkin seeds 41

Almonds 47

Brazil Nuts 50

Sunflower seeds 51

Sesame seeds 55

Hazel Nuts 71

Wholemeal bread 95

Whole lentils dried & boiled 114

Chickpeas dried & boiled 119

Kidney beans dried & boiled 119

Wholemeal spaghetti boiled 213

Brown rice boiled 385

Iron is another thing that some new vegetarians and vegans neglect, even though it's pretty easy to get if you just take a little bit of notice of the variety of foods that will keep you healthy. Both me and my girlfriend have really healthy iron levels because we eat a good variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, nuts etc. Here's some info on plant sources of iron:

Type of food Quantity providing 2mg iron (g)

Pistachios 14

Cashews (roasted) 32

Whole lentils 57

Chick peas (boiled) 95

Wholemeal bread 74

Sesame seeds or tahini 19

Black molasses 22

Apricots (dried) 59

Spinach (boiled) 125

Another thing you may be worried about is calcium. The ironic thing is that eating meat can actually reduce your body's ability to use calcium; a vegan diet is statistically no more likely to lead to calcium deficiency than a meat-eating one. You'll definitely be fine as long as you just take a little notice of what you eat. There are some plant sources of calcium that are actually richer than cow's milk, and don't contain all the nasty cancer causing substances and traces of blood or pus like 'the white stuff' does:

Examples of amounts of foods providing 100mg calcium   Type of Food

Black molasses 20g

Dried figs 40g

Almonds 42g

Soya flour 44g

Parsley 50g

Kale 67g

Brazils Nuts 59g

Wholemeal bread 185g

Vitamin B12 is something just to bear in mind as well. Your body stores enough B12 for several decades, and some people are starting to think that a long-term vegan learns to make B12 in his own body - eating too much of it in your diet can actually rob your body of the ability to make it. However, not having enough B12 can lead to you feeling lacking in energy or woozy, in which case, just look for some B12 fortified products such as yeast extracts and cereals.

I can certainly say that you don't need soya milk etc. to have enough calcium and protein, and that you certianly won't die from not having either that or cow's milk, on the contrary, cow's milk protein is thought to be the most potent carcinogen (something that can cause cancer) exposed to man on a day to day basis!

There are other alternatives to cow’s milk apart from soy, too. There are milks made from rice, various nuts, oats and hemp. Some are fortified with things such as calcium, as well. There are things like ice cream made from these other alternatives as well, although they may be harder to find in the shops. However, I’d certainly recommend eating a lot of fresh vegetables (especially greens), beans nuts and legumes for protein and calcium.

There is a lot of contradictory evidence out there, as there is in most science. It's hard to figure out what's right, but it's important to remember that the meat, dairy and egg industry are very powerful and have a lot of influence over the research out there. It's also pretty well known that a vegan diet can significantly reduce the chance of many cancers, heart and circulatory problems (including high blood pressure), respiratory complaints, osteoporosis and other diseases. On a personal note, both me and my girlfriend have never been healthier since we turned vegan (around a year ago). I feel full of energy and stamina, have healthy levels of everything, low blood pressure and a resting heart rate of 59. I have done quite a bit of research, watch what I eat and exercise regularly, but it shows you just how healthy a vegetarian or vegan diet really can be. Millions of vegetarians and vegans alive today are living testament that you don't have to hurt animals to be healthy.

Hope that all helps!

Tim

Answer 9

Vegetarians are actually more healthy...

Foods:

beans

nuts

legumes

veggie burgers

pasta

mushrooms

vegetables

corn

onions

carrots

cheese(no rennet)

rice

orzo

salad

peanut butter

pb and j

banana

fruits

sorbet

wrap

hummus

burritto

grilled cheese

pizza

calzone

buns

tea

toast

bread

salsa

chips

avacado

Answer 10

For protein (which is basically what meat has), you could eat pulses, beans (e.g. baked beans, runner beans), seeds, soya things (you could drink soya milk, eat soya beens, etc).

Answer 11

Any diet has to be balanced to be healthy. A vegetarian diet can be tricky to balance because you have to really look for protein and iron sources, unless you still accept eggs, which do not involve killing animals.

Also, any artificial supplement is not as healthy and there are certain things that are only present in animal products. If you really want to become a vegetarian, check with one of the larger vegetarian organization for diet plans.

Answer 12

It's too bad your mom isn't being more supportive. Here is a good list of vegetarian foods that are high in protein, iron and calcium: http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...

I hope this helps!

Answer 13

Firstly, try finding some vegan/ vegetarian cook books to aid your meal planning. I personally suggest "Vegan with a vengeance" (its an awesome book with delicious food written by a vegan chef who hosts a public access show called "The Post Punk Kitchen") and "The candle cafe cookbook" (from New York's "renowned vegan restaurant"). This will make being a vegan more fun for you (no one would like to only eat salad and scrambled eggs, you've got to admit) and so much easier on your parents (my parents for two years had no clue what to feed me and I lost so much weight and got ill all the time. Now that I had my handy dandy cook books I'm happy, healthy, and meat free!)!

Protein is your main thing you'll be missing. Make sure you take vitamins and supplements always, but, yes, it is not enough (still, though, take 'em). I personally enjoy eggs and have them at least six times a week. I suggest making eggs a big part of your diet. Also, there is a product that is a absolute vegetarian life saver; 100% Whey. Its a protein drink that comes in many flavors (my favorite being "Double, rich chocolate"! Mmmm, just like chocolate milk!)

Here is a small list of protein rich foods:

*Milk

*Soy Milk

*Eggs

*Cheese

*Yogurt

*Peanut Butter

*Beans, Tofu, Lentils, and other Legumes

*Grains, including bread and pasta

*Nuts and Seeds

You'll also me missing calcium. But, not to fear! Here is a list of calcuim rich foods:

*Yogurt

*Milk

*Cheese, including American, ricotta, cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese

*Milk shakes (Yum! For your fast food outings)

*Tofu

*Rhubarb (this makes the best pie and jam EVER!)

*Spinach (great steamed on toasted french bread with butter, topped with eggs)

*Turnip greens

*White beans

*Baked beans

*Broccoli, peas, brussel sprouts

*Sesame seeds

*Bok choy

*Almonds

Iron also, will be missing. I was anemic even before becoming a vegetarian, so, this is something that I have to take special care with. Though, its surprisingly easy to do! Here a list of iron rich foods:

*Beans, including kidney, lima, navy, black, pinto, soy beans, and lentils

*Iron fortified whole grains, including cereals, breads, rice, and pasta

greens, including collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, and turnip greens

*Tofu

*Vegetables, including broccoli, swiss chard, asparagus, parsley, watercress, brussel sprouts

*nuts

*egg yolks

*dried fruits, such as raisins, prunes, dates and apricots

*Instant Oatmeal

*Ready-to-eat Cereals, such as Total, Product 19, Raisin Bran

*Carnation Instant Breakfast Mix

*Pasta

Remind your mother that being a vegetarian is more than just a moral act, it prevents many diseases, helps combat global warning, and, if done right, can be way healthier than being a meat eater.

If you need any advice, help, recipes or general support, feel free to e-mail me anytime! I may be starting an online vegan cooking show, so, if you decide to contact me, I'll contact you with the link if I do. [e-mail]

Answer 14

I have the same prop. I say no one can force you to eat meat. Eat peanut butter and drink lots of milk. If you mum still doesn't agree then hide the meat in your napkin when they arn't looking. Check out the website below for some other protain sources.

Answer 15

Why don't you offer to do some of the cooking and the shopping. It may be your mum hasn't the time to look. If you offer it may go a long way to you eating what you want.

Most mums I know can't get their kids to eat their greens which is the opposite to you possibly. From a very young age I loved every vegetable and still do, though I'm not vegetarian.

Answer 16

well i m a staunch vegetarian and there is absolutely not a lack in my diet...actually it is great to go veg...u could reduce the risk of some cancers caused by red meat...u can always replace iron from meat with plenty of milk...milk is full of it ...u could also replace ur iron with plenty of tofu...potato, baked beans, rice.....

for protein u could drink milk, eat cheese, yougurt and other dairy products! no reason y u should not go vegetarian!