Will becoming a teen vegetarian affect
your young one's health? Yes, and no. Clear cut answer
huh? Yes, if you teen vegetarian follows a healthy
diet filled with varieties of foods such as grains,
vegetables, fruits, soy products etc. See our healthy
diet food guide here. No, if your teen choose
to eat a lot of junk food and fast food as his/her
main diet, and none of the 'good stuff'.
More and more teenagers are becoming
vegetarians, and that creates a dilemma for many parents
who do not fully understand a vegetarian diet. The
biggest worry: will my teen get enough nutrition during
his/her growing years? Yes, they can.
You will see in the diet guide that
recommended meats or alternatives comprise a very
small portion of a balanced daily diet - only 2 to
3 servings per day. While grains and veggies each
recommend 5 to 12 servings per day. On top of that,
meat alternatives such as beans and soy products provide
just as good a source of protein and other essential
nutrients.
Humans are meant to be vegetarian. :)
So how can you ensure your vegan teens
get the proper nutrition? First, follow some good
ol'common sense. Serve a lot of vegetables, gains
(ie. pastas, rice, breads), fruits, and work in some
delicious soy products. Out of recipe ideas or not
sure how to cook delicious vegetarian dishes? Here's
an excellent source.
And if you're really stressed out about
your teen vegetarians health and diet, visit a dietitian,
and get some meal planning advice that will satisfy
a growing teenagers nutritional needs.
Another challenge you will face is cooking
something that will satisfy everyone at the dinner
table. This requires some work and creativity. Serve
foods that's appealing to everyone and will be enjoyed
by your vegetarian teen. Here's
a great place to start. You don't have to completely
makeover your regular diet to accommodate your vegetarian
teenager - just make some small changes to the foods
you serve. Serve a mixture of vegetarian and non-vegetarian
dishes. The link above provides an excellent source
for healthy, delicious vegetarian cooking in under
30 minutes. Back
to Healthy Recipes home page |
