I lose confidence...?!
I lose confidence...?
I am 14 years old, 94 lbs, 5'2. I became a vegetarian earlier this year. I started off pretty well for a couple months. Slowly i start craving something like a chicken sandwich,etc. Also at my house, dishs are based off meat and my mom doesnt want to being making like two dinners. And my parents are worried about me getting enough protein and stuff.
Answers:
Hey! I'm 15 and I'm also a vegetarian since a couple months! That's great, just don't give in and eat meat. There are lots of alternatives, and if you feel like a chicken sandwich just think about the way chickens are kept and what a bad life they have, and hopefully you won't want that chicken sandwich anymore!
As far as protein goes... there are lots of alternitives to meat, infact, lots of people eat too much meat and protein every day. Look around at the grocery store or a health food store for meat alternitives. They taste a lot like chicken, but they are totally meat-free. You can also eat nuts, lentils, ckick peas or tofu with a lot of protein. If your mom doen't want to cook extra meals for you just eat everything but the meat, or just have a salad with lentils (you can make up a bunch of lentils and then you'll have them for the whole week). Why don't you cook dinner once a week and make a vegetarian meal. I bet your mom would be glad if she didn't have to cook!
Good luck and remember being a vegetarian is healthier!
Just eat whatever else is cooked potatoes, veggies etc...As far as you protein intake goes. Eat peanuts, and things of that nature. Anf if you have never tried portabello mushrooms try them. Many people who are vegetarians eat them as a meat substitute. Also you can go to Border's, Barnes & Nobles, or the library, and find magazine's, and cookbooks that provide a lot of info for vegetarians.
There are plenty of good meat alternatives,at health food stores... Keep up the good work!Much luck to you!I've been vegatarian for a long time and love it!It takes some time to get used to.
Keep your chin up. It can be hard at first, but it's easier than people make it out to be.
You're old enough to cook for yourself. Vegan meals are much quicker & simpler to prepare than meat-based foods, in fact it doesn't require much cooking at all. Search the 'net, there are tons of sites with recipes. e.g., http://theppk.com/recipes/
If you still crave meat, try the fake meats or make it yourself with seitan. Often the flavor of meats come from the herbs & spices & oils used in prep, so try those on meat alternatives.
For family dinners, eat the non-meat dishes and replace your meat portion with the fake meat / tofu / canned beans (these all provide more than enough protein and none of these require cooking)
As with any diet, educate yourself & your parents about proper nutrition:
http://www.veganhealth.org/
I'm 12, 5'5(1/2)", 110 lbs. & they won't make like two meals either! except 4 casserole....yeah they think i need protein but i kinda dont care that much but you are supposed to eat more stuff like nuts & beans, well im turning 13 soon
Learn to cook yourself then you can do whatever you want. It is also a good idea anyway because you will have to cook later in life if you want to eat healthy.
dont lose dont lose!
i know it may be hard it some situations but think about the other side.
ok, so proteins, you can read up online ways to get all your proteins and you can show your mom the site.
you can ask her to buy prepared meals or just eat the sides o whats she makes, snacks arnt alll that bad if you get the right kinds.
the cravings, well, they stopped for me, i got them recently after a couple years but there not major because im faithful to being vegetarian.
goodluck! <33
Have you tried making your own meals? I have a lot of food allergies, and I use to do that for my mother so she didn't have to make two meals.
Also, if you're omitting the meat parts of the meal, and things which came in contact with it, I'd wonder about nutritional value of your meals as well. Gotta make sure your diet is balanced so you don't get sick!
But that depends on how your mother cooks. If she say does a steak with onions, peppers and mushrooms in the pan, and has potatoes and corn as a side dish, if all you eat is the potatoes and corn, you've missed out on a lot in that meal.