Is it ok for me to become a vegetarian at this age?!


Question:

Is it ok for me to become a vegetarian at this age?

I am 12.I thought of becoming a vegetarian for a good resason.In order to make myself get used to healthy food.Could anyone help please.Thank you!


Answers:
im 12 too and a vegetarain. it is actually very easy. at first i thought my mom was going to be mad cause she is a meat-loving greek, but she is a semi-vegetarain now. she will eat no meat at home, but if we go anywhere she might at a restraunt. and being a vegetarain is healthy, and meat stays in ur stomach longer than carbs, so u may notice ur stomach flatter. and the benefits are great. i feel better, lighter and healthier. and boca meat is great! tastes just like the real thing, minus the greasyness. just make sure u take vitamins to be healthy. good luck with whatever u choose!

-hetty?

i became a vegetarian at 12 and im fine. make sure to get gelatin free vitamins.

becoming a vegetarian has nothing to do with eating healthy. There are many good web sites that can help you get on the right track without becoming a vegetarian.

talk to your doctor with your parents, remember certain nutrients are need to help you build strong bones and muscles they can recomend a supplement to you to make sure you get those nutrients as well in your diet

Consult with your parents and your doctor because sometimes you have to wing yourself off meat and not just go cold turkey it may sound funny but doctors actually think some people shouldn't be a vegetarian another way to make yourself eat more vegetables is to try them cooked in other ways than just one. Good Luck!

well keep im mind im not a vegetarian but i would think it should be fine as long as you take care of yourself. the only thing i could think of is you may need a vitimanof some sort to keep your body balanced correctly because your still growing.

Not until you are older. Your body is still growing and there are certain things you will need to mature.....and frankly....you are too young to understand the proper things for you to eat.

I suggest you revisit this later in life ....about 25

YES IT OK FOR YOU IS NON VEGETARIAN ALSO SLIM AND DUM EAT DOES EFFECT OWER HEALTH BUT OWER BODY SYSTEM TONE IS IS IMPOTANT WHICH HELP USE TO GROW FASTER AD HELTHY MINTLY ALSO


Vegetarianism is the practice of not consuming meat, with or without the use of other animal derivatives, such as dairy products or eggs. Some vegetarians choose to also refrain from wearing clothing involving the death of animals, such as leather, silk and fur. Veganism, sometimes called "strict vegetarianism", excludes all animal products from diet and attire, whether or not this involves the actual death of an animal (dairy, eggs, honey, wool and down feathers). Vegetarians are found in countries across the world with varied motivations including religious, financial, ethical, environmental, and health concerns.

AND VEGETARIAN ARE ALSO OF MANY KIND WHAT TYPE YOU WANT TO BECOME PLEASE SAY ME BY EMAIL I WILLL ANSWER IT

My fiance became vegitarian around that age, and she is much older now...
For my own health, I stopped eating beef, chicken and pork. I still eat occasional seafood, but with all those wonderful substitute meat products out there, there isn't any reason to worry about not getting enough protein in your diet.
If you are worried, then speak to your doctor about the change of your diet.
Good luck

I have been a veg my whole life. As long as you maintain a healthy diet that includes the necessary vitamins and nutrients, many of which are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, you won't have to take so many vitamin supplements. Do some research about it so you know what to expect, expecially if you grew up in a heavy meat eating family.

yes, it's ok!! i would suggest starting with your family doc. be certain to get protein (eggs, peanut butter, etc) and B-12. you may need a supplement. please try not to fall into the trap that a lot of young veg-heads do, which is to eat nothing but sugar and junk because, after all, it isn't meat. try to avoid processed foods and sugar. of course you will eat some, but try to keep it to a minimum. happy vegging!

ya its totally fine im 13 and i became a veegatrian when i was 12 the only thing i have to multi vitamins and iron supplements and i wat lots of meat supplements

ya it is a good age put make sure to get vitamins for protiens beacuse u need protiens and meat mas lots of protiens
so get protins shkes or something ok if u dont want to eat meat

Yes, there's no problem being vegetarian at your age. Millions of kids are born and raised as vegetarians and remain so their whole lives (take vegetarian Hindus, for example).

of course! im 16 and vegan. just make sure to take your vitamins :). and eat good things like brown rice, beans, legumes, veggies, fruits,eggs, nuts, ect. also, remember that gelitin is not veggie and neither is cheese that uses rennet. good luck

First of all, I commend you on considering your health at your age. Most of the vegetarians I know (including my boyfriend and my brother) made the decision to stop eating meat at age 12. I guess it's a good age for making decisions on your diet. I don't believe that it is unhealthy to avoid meat at your age. All of the nutrients, vitamins and proteins necessary to support a growing body can be found in vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk and grains. One thing that you should consider, especially at your age and being a female, is getting enough iron. Studies have shown that vegetarians do not have lower iron levels than their omnivore peers, but I think that all young women should talk to their doctor or a nutritionist about iron in their diet.

But remember, whether you're a vegetarian or not, healthy eating comes from eating balanced meals and avoiding super-processed foods. And healthy food is definitely not something you would have to train yourself to enjoy. Pick up a good vegetarian cookbook and check out all the delicious meet-free meal options out there!

Sure it's ok at your age

you can become a vegetarian at any age. i became one at 10..

Yes, being a vegetarian at 12 can be totally healthy. The one thing you absolutely have to do is talk to your doctor. Make an appointment right away--or have your mom make one. Before you go, be sure to do a little research, you want to sound informed when you talk to the doctor. Ask questions about protein, vitamins and minerals, and weight gain. Don't be afraid to write down what he or she is saying either--you don't want to forget anything!

Try to decrease the amount of meat you eat first. Add fruits and vegetables. But there is no need to become a 100% vegetarian.

It might be hard to get your parents off your back- but I was younger than 12 when I went veggie- and at 24 I'm A-OK. It shouldn't be a problem; just make sure you don't substitute junk food for meat.

"It is well established that eating meat improves the quality of nutrition, strengthens the immune system, promotes normal growth and development, is beneficial for day-to-day health, energy and well-being, and helps ensure optimal learning and academic performance. Yet eating disorder specialists and pediatricians are seeing alarming numbers of young children today with stunted growth, fragile bones and stress fractures who have stopped eating meat and other animal-source foods.
The long-term Bogalusa Heart Study finds that children who eat more meat are less likely to have deficiencies than those who eat little or no meat. Kids who don’t eat meat ― and especially if they restrict other foods, as many girls are doing ― are more likely to feel tired, apathetic, unable to concentrate, are sick more often, more frequently depressed, and are the most likely to be malnourished and have stunted growth. Meat and other animal-source foods are the building blocks of healthy growth that have made America’s youngsters among the tallest, strongest and healthiest in the world.
Meat is an important source of quality nutrients, heme iron, protein, zinc and B-complex vitamins. It provides high-quality protein important for kids’ healthy growth and development.
Iron. The iron in meat (heme iron) is of high quality and well absorbed by the body, unlike nonheme iron from plants which is not well absorbed. More than 90 percent of iron consumed may be wasted when taken without some heme iron from animal sources. Substances found to inhibit nonheme iron absorption include phytates in cereals, nuts and legumes, and polyphenolics in vegetables. Symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, headache, irritability and decreased work performance. For young children, it can lead to impairment in general intelligence, language, motor performance and school readiness. Girls especially need iron after puberty due to blood losses, or if pregnant. Yet studies show 75 percent of teenage girls get less iron than recommended.
Zinc. Meat, poultry and eggs are also good sources of absorbable zinc, a trace mineral vital for strengthening the immune system and normal growth. Deficiencies link to decreased attention, poorer problem solving and short-term memory, weakened immune system, and the inability to fight infection. While nuts and legumes contain zinc, plant fiber contains phytates that bind it into a nonabsorbable compound.
Vitamin B12. Found almost exclusively in animal products, Vitamin B12 is necessary for forming new cells. A deficiency can cause anemia and permanent nerve damage and paralysis.
Why not buy food supplements to replace missing vitamins and minerals? Some people believe they can fill those gaps with pills, but they may be fooling themselves. Research consistently shows that real foods in a balanced diet are far superior to trying to make up deficiencies with supplements. We don’t yet know all the functions of foods. For example, phytochemicals are known to be protective against cancer, but many are unidentified; there may be over 100 different phytochemicals in one serving of vegetables. Another recent discovery is the cancer protective effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from animal fats, found almost exclusively in animal foods, and one of the most potent natural anticarcinogens ever identified. Missing out on the vegetables they need and animal-source foods can deprive young people of these and other protective foods, some as yet unknown.
When youngsters choose to give up meat, there is concern about how they are doing it, and to what extremes they might go.
Vegetarians frequently express concern about their anemia, lack of energy, stomach pain, digestive problems, flatulence, and the stunting of children’s growth. The pleasures of eating may also be reduced: Paul Obis, founder of Vegetarian Times and a longtime advocate of vegetarianism, recently began eating meat again, explaining, “Twenty-two years of tofu is a lot of time.”
Even a small amount of meat can dramatically improve a poor diet. The nutrients in meat are highly concentrated, yet lean meat is relatively low in calories. And studies show that meals with meat satisfy longer. Eating meat along with a variety of foods from the other four food groups ensures a high-quality, healthy diet of real food, the best source of nutrients for growing, developing young people."

http://www.healthyweightnetwork.com/zart...

I dont see why not, just take it easy at first like start out with maybe a veggie burger but also have meat then get fully into being a veggie. I'm warning ya though it's not easy belive me, but it does get easier after not eating any meat for a month. Although my reasons for becoming a veggie is diff then yours.
heres a good website and if you live in the US then you can buy these products.
www.morningstarfarms.com
I love there products except for the veggie dogs they just taste to plain lol. Good luck!

I've been a vegetarian since I was 13 (I'm 17 now) and to me it's a personal choice! As long as you eat the right things and get enough protein (which is what you're really taking out of your diet when you become a vegetarian) you should be fine. Some people suggested going to the doctors. Doctors don't know that much about neutrition. Why not go to a neutritionist?

it's fine to become a vegetarian at 12 im twelve and my moms friends daughter is a vegetarian and she ur age and she has been a vegetarian her whole life well since she was born

I became a vegetarian when I was 13, and I am fine. You should be okay, as long as you don't pig-out on junk food. I was healthy even before I started taking daily vitamins; my mom made me get my blood checked. Just be careful :)

you are fine, i became a vegetarian when i was 5! just make sure to talk to your parents and tell your doctor so that they can help you replace the meat with the right food. good luck! =)




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