Photo by Ryan McBride
Roughly 5 million American adults eat a vegetarian diet, according to a poll from the Vegetarian Resource Group. But have you noticed lately that many teenagers have "gone veg?" A recent study from the Journal of American Dietetic Association says adolescent vegetarians are at increased risk of disordered eating behaviors.
Although most of us think "healthy" when we hear the word vegetarian, the study indicates that many teens choose to eliminate meat from their diet for weight-loss reasons. Research has shown that vegetarians are less likely to be overweight than meat eaters, but this study reports more binge eating and extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviors among adolescent and young adult "former vegetarians" than "never vegetarians." If your teen chooses vegetarianism, talk about the reasons. Some teens profess it's to save and protect animals but may be saying that to cover up unhealthy eating behaviors.
When my daughter was nine, she wanted to be a veterinarian and went vegetarian for the love of animals. While wanting to fully support her choice, I was nervous about getting enough nutrients into her. And, the rest of us were carnivores so the age-old dilemma of "What's for dinner?" became even more complicated. We took a trip to the pediatrician, who gave us helpful information on vitamins and adequate food intake for young athletes. I also bought The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas, which has become my go-to cookbook for vegetarian facts and fare. My little vegetarian is now a healthy, strong 14-year-old and has stuck to her animal rights platform.
The following information may be helpful if you're a bewildered parent of a teen vegetarian. True vegetarians exclude all meat, including chicken and fish. Forms of vegetarianism are:
- Lacto-ovo - Eats dairy products and eggs but not read meat, poultry or fish
- Ovo - Eats eggs but not dairy products
- Vegan - Excludes all animal products including meat, eggs, dairy products, honey, gelatin
- Macrobiotic - Like vegans, excludes all animal products but also excludes refined processed foods, foods with preservatives, caffeine and other stimulants
Key nutrients that a vegetarian diet may lack:
- Iron
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B12
- Protein
For ideas on feeding your teen these nutrients, you may want to make an appointment with a registered dietitian who can provide a customized diet based on your teen's lifestyle. This step is especially important for young vegans. Also, check out any of Nava Atlas' books and visit her website, In a Vegetarian Kitchen. The TeensHealth website offers an informative starting point with their "Becoming a Vegetarian" article. If your family wants to be part of a local vegetarian community, give the Vegetarian Society of Colorado a try. The Denver-based group, founded in 1975, offers an informational website, newsletters and a list of upcoming events including the Denver Vegfest.
Comments
Excellent article and resource!
Great to hear you fully support your child's decision to be animal free.
My mom would've laughed at me if I would have made the choice to go veg at an early age.
I have now lived a vegan lifestyle for over two years, participate in ultra endurance competitions and love the way I feel.
Once my mom saw my progression, she decided to live a vegan lifestyle and has for over a year!
Most people fear the unknown, glad to hear you encourage healthy eating habits!!
Actually, you are NOT carnivores; you're omnivores. Unless your diet seriously consists of mainly meat. Thank you for writing about vegetarianism, though; I wish I could have gone vegetarian earlier in life, and would have if not for the total lack of support from my family.
Eli: Thanks for that clarification! Although you haven't seen my son eat :)
Eli & IRUNMAN: I can relate. I dabbled in vegetarianism in the 1980s and remember my parents saying, "Is that all you're eating?" and "You can't be getting enough protein!" It just seemed too foreign to them, I guess. Americans seem much more accepting of different ways of eating these days. Good for you both!
If you want more info about veg and how it relates to health, the environment, and much else, please visit Eco-Eating at www.brook.com/veg
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