I’m concerned about not getting all I need by cutting meat out of my diet. I know that there are substitutes, but are they any help?
I’m concerned about not getting all I need by cutting meat out of my diet. I know that there are substitutes, but are they any help?
Yes, that’s why they’re called “sustitutes”.
its safe. just take a multivitamin with all the b vitamins and iron. you will be fine. i have been veggie for over 15 years (im 28). eat lots of beans and cheese and if you like it tofu for protien
you need meat cuz it has alot of protein i tried to do that my hair started to fall alot because i didnt have protien in me and always eating salad and stuff is not really good because it doesnt have enuf calories and you need alot of calories everyday
Yes. Vegetarian diets can be very healthy. Eat a wide variety of foods, including pulses and don’t cut out dairy.
no
As long as you really make sure you’re getting all your vitamins and protein, you should be ok.
Depending on your reasoning for vegetarianism, you may want to still include eggs, dairy products, or seafood in your diet. They are good sources of protein. There are people who consider themselves vegetarians who still eat animal products, just not the flesh.
Yes, it’s completely safe. In fact given that less the 25% of teens eat enough fruits and veggies it’s probably better to be vegetarian (as long as you don’t rely on pastas and junk food.) Most Americans get too much protein (because we as a country eat a ridiculous amount of meat and dairy) and not enough vitamins and minerals like magnesium, vitamin C and folic acid (because we don’t eat enough fruits and veggies.)
Eat lots of fruits and veggies (at least one dark green a day.) Eat whole grains, beans, nuts, seed. Avoid the color white as much as possible (white rice, bread pasta and sugar have all the good stuff taken out) You can eat dairy and eggs, but not too much (dairy is not the best source of calcuim, green veggies are) I’d recommend getting a cook book or two.
Everything you get in meat is in other foods, and as a benefit the other foods don’t include hormones, antibiotics, arsenic, or cholesterol. Everything you eat has protein, and in a better proportion then meat. Beans, nuts, seeds and green veggies have iron. The fats in olive oil, nuts and avocados are better for you then meat fat. you can eat the ‘substitute’ meats but I would limit them to days you’re in a hurry or special occasions like BBQs – the natural foods I’ve listed above are better for you then processed foods.
Yes, it is.
I suggest you do some research on nutrition prior to making a dietary choice.Do not worry about protein, you only need about 50 grams daily, if you are eating plenty of grains, nuts, beans, fruits and vegetables you should be fine.Furthermore, if you continue the consumption of eggs and dairy products, you should be fine.
oh my god, how much longer is this going to be asked?
BEING VEGETARIAN IS NOT UNHEALTHY.
you’re most likely getting all the nutrients without meat without even having to try.
I’ve been vegetarian since I was 14 (15 now) and I haven’t been any healthier in my life.
Yep yep! I am a teen pesco-vegetarian, and have been one for 2+ years. Asides from the seafood that I do intake from my diet, there are many foods out there that you can gain your necessary protien and fats from. I find Boca and Yve’s some of the best meatless brands, and I currently eat the Boca sausages & burgers (try the all-american one, it’s the best in my opinion =} ), and the Yve’s hot dogs & bologna (I plan on trying the turkey next time). Check out Boca.com, and it will show you and tell you how healthy and good these products are. I’ve enjoyed them eversince, though some people refuse to like them either because they’re reluctant to try something made with all-natural soybeans (like my parents, haha), or they are just too used to real meats that when they try veggie meats, they don’t care for them or they don’t like the smell. I’ve been around the products, though, and I really don’t smell anything bad, but then again, I’m weird, lol. I hope this helps, though =]
My family went vegetarian for many years and the kids did great, it was my husband and me that started having problems, we found out he has a problem getting enough protein in his diet as vegetarians and I couldn’t get enough iron, even with taking supliments. We are definately in the minority, so I’d go for it.
No, it’s very dangerous.
Yes!
I’ve been a vegetarian most of my life (only had meat on and off from ages 9 to 11 and 13 to 16) and I’ve only ever fractured a bone. And that was when I tripped and fell, with my fat friend landing on top of my arm in a concrete playground. So we don’t lack anything needed to grow properly.
& I’ve had the flu once and I have no other health problems that could in any way relate to my diet.
You don’t need substitutes to be healthy. Just eat lots of different things and avoid anything heavily processed.
its VERY safe, i used 2 eat meat but stopped in the 3rd grade, now im the 9th grade & im very heaLTHY.
Yep, I’ve been one since I was 12. Get the Vegetarian Starter Kit from –
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/
Vegetarian Nutrition for Teenagers
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/teennutrition.htm
Get yourself a vegetarian cookbook. There are a few written just for teens like:
The Teen’s Vegetarian Cookbook – Judy Krizmanic
A Teen’s Guide to Going Vegetarian – Judy Krizmanic
Student’s Vegetarian Cookbook – Carole Raymond
Vegetables Rock!: A Complete Guide for Teenage Vegetarians – Stephanie Pierson
The Starving Students’ Vegetarian Cookbook – Dede Hall
The Vegetarian Kids’ Cookbook – Roz Denny
Better Than Peanut Butter & Jelly – Marty Mattare & Wendy Muldawer