My 15 year old daughter wants to be a vegan, any suggestions?

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   renegadetoryposted 11 years ago

   My 15 year old daughter wants to be a vegan, any suggestions?
   
   I have no problem with her wanting to be a vegan, I'm just not sure how to do it since my husband and I are not.  I'd appreciate any suggestions, thanks.

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   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   While I am not vegan I do a vegan diet 4 weeks out of the year to clear toxics from my body. There are a few good websites that will point her and you in the right direction. A few even give out free start kits with recipes and info on how to become vegan.
   This link will take you to one of my favorite sites that sort of directs you in the learning process to where to go and how to start. Just go to the resources section to get the starter kit. http://www.exploreveg.org
   Also vegan.org and vegan.com might be other places to start.

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      renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for the suggestions, I will certainly check them out!  There is a lot of good resources of info out there on the web.

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   MickSposted 11 years ago

   Let her get on with her own life, what you or your husband like to eat is irrelevant, just make sure she doesn't get faddy and threaten her health. The main problem is vitamin B12 which is generally only available from meat, likewise iron, there are lots of vegetables that supply iron, but it is often locked and needs to be released by eating foods rich in, I believe, vitamin C.

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      Mercia Collinsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      all the B vitamins are very important especially B6 for females.

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      renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We take B complex supplements, and I agree that it's important to get enough iron and other vitamins and minerals.  Thank you for your comment.

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      MickSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yep, I know Mercia; however, I singled out B12 cos it is difficult, if my memory serves me well, to get from vegetable sources, the other B vitamins are fairly easy.

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   backporchstoriesposted 11 years ago

   Vegan lifestyle can be very healthy and beneficial!  I suggest she read a few books and check online the basic information.  She will need to be sure she is getting protein and other important minerals that generally we get from meat.  If you prepare her meals, then you need to study up on what makes a balance diet as well!  Good luck!

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      renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I agree!  I will definitely do my homework, thanks!

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   shivanchirakkal10posted 11 years ago

   There is nothing harm to let her to become a vegan. To become a vegetarian is good for health.
   Irrespective of nation, now a days people start to prefer to be vegetarian. It helps you to avoid obesity to an extend, helps clean your inner organs in the body.
   Vitamins, minerals and carbohydrate are rich in vegetable, and these are very fresh and friendly to body. The fish and meat have some poison, which are produced by them when they fear about their death.
   My family and myself is a vegetarian family. We feel it is good to lead such a food habit.
   Let your child to be a vegan and if possible you and ur hus also change to vegan.

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      renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      "Vitamins, minerals and carbohydrate are rich in vegetable" - Yes, I completely agree!  I think it is a very healthy lifestyle.

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   Peanutritiousposted 11 years ago

   Good for her for making a mature choice and not following the crowd. You should be proud of her. I became a vegetarian at 10 despite my family eating meat and teasing me relentlessly. They still do at times but i've never regretted it for a moment and i'm 40 now! I've never missed meat or fish and i'm very healthy. You can get B12 supplements from your doctor. People say you need protein from meat which is nonsense. Tofu is extrememly high in protein and low in fat. Vegans and vegetarians are renown for being far healthier and longer living than meat eaters. I wish her well and you too for supporting her choice. Happy new year! Tara

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      renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The more I do research and watch documentaries, the more I think it's the right way to go.

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   Billie Kelpinposted 11 years ago

   It's easy to adjust, and it can be fun and a health-ful awareness time for the whole family. I do agree with Peanutrious! However, I would add, be sure that you still have family meals together - don't let this slip - at ALL. Be certain that something didn't change in your daughter's life or that something emotional isn't going on.  Every once and a while, a teenage girl will use this as a code for trying to get thinner.  Do NOT draw attention to this fact, however.  Of course, as you know, with a teenage daughter, you have to be very subtle about finding out.  Whether or not there is something emotional  behind your daughter's intention or just the concern about eating meat, etc., there is nothing wrong, as I can see as a lay person, for embracing your daughter's life style and adapting yours a bit to accomodate.  Be sure you start making great bean dishes for the protein. The whole family can enjoy that. Continue to do things together - especially cook together - get a vegan recipe book.  Don't make this an issue, go with it casually.  It's a healthy life style that many follow, but just as you slept with your ears open when your daughter was an infant, keep alert to any other factors that might be going on. Give lots of hugs and spend warm family time together - everything else can wait.  My daughter is a vegan and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner together.  I made her dressing without the pork sausage (which, let's face it, doesn't benefit any of us).  She ate yams and squash.  At Christmas she had all the dishes except the ham.  Again, none of us needed the ham

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      Peanutritiousposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I totally agree Billie. That's very true. It really made me think. I was emotionally unhappy at the time but knew I could never kill an animal so it was a mixed statement. I never looked at it this way before, food for thought indeed (Veggie!)

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      renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We eat a lot of beans already, just because they are so cheap AND nutritious!  We always have dinner together every night, and both my husband and I are very supportive of my daughter.  She's never been one to follow the crowd.

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   TMilem924posted 11 years ago

   She can do as she wishes, at her own pace.  I only eat dairy and poultry, and have tried the vegan ways (and will get back to it after the New Year).  Almond milk, for example, has twice as much protein as regular milk.  She would get all her vitamins and other nutrients with fruits and vegetables.  If you feel like she is missing out on some nutrients, have her take a multivitamin to supplement her diet.  You don't have to change your ways to complement hers.  My husband and children love meat, so I just make my meals separate from theirs.  There are also plenty of vegan recipes online that she can check out as well without breaking your grocery budget.

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      renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Almond milk is low in protein, hemp or soy milk are the only non-dairy milk that can compete for the protein that milk offers, just to let you know (I wrote a hub on milk alternatives).  I will definitely have to look up recipes online!

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   camillewagnerposted 11 years ago

   I would encourage your daughter to carefully select her food choices. Some foods that vegans eat instead of meat are no more or less healthy and can cause quite a few problems. I am chiefly referring to most soy products, which have been genetically modified. Another suggestion for your daughter is to carefully track how she feels by slowly taking non-vegan foods out of her diet. She might be allergic to some vegan foods and could end up causing her body a lot of damage. I have been on vegan diets for health reasons at certain times and I ate a ton of almonds and recently found out I was allergic to them. Food allergy testing might be something you want to look into.
   
   As far as you and your husband and how to do that with different foods, meal options, etc. - just be sensitive. She is 15, and chances are she won't have time to prepare meals for herself. I eat very differently than my family, but I do have time to make my own meals since I am out of school. You could help her by having vegan snacks on hand (I believe Larabars are vegan - great energy bars made from natural ingredients), as well as partially prepared meals such as soups, lots of vegetables, etc.
   
   I would encourage you to be exploratory. There are lots of substitutions you can make using vegetables instead of other products. Spaghetti squash or cauliflower can be used instead of pasta. You can use cooked and pureed vegetables in soups instead of milk to make a soup creamier. Rice, flax, almond, and soy have been used to make new milks. Be creative, be generous, and be adventurous!

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      renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you regarding the soy, but sadly most of our foods are genetically modified, but not labelled so we know.  She's slowly transitioning to vegetarian, and I will check for any allergies with her doctor for sure!

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    YouCanLeanOnMeposted 11 years ago

    Maybe you will have a hard time . But its very proud for her to have a mature decision for herself.

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, she has always been independent and not bothered by what other people think.

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    Mommymayposted 11 years ago

    I am a vegetarian and have been for 5 years. My vitamins and nutrients are all in check and I have delivered 2 babies since becoming a vegetarian (both healthy) I KNOW that there is a difference between what I am and Vegan BUT My BIGGEST SUGGESTION is that she gets very adventurous is her eating. She needs to try different veggies,grains, and fruits other than the standards. I saw that someone posted the spaghetti squash instead of noodles and I HIGHLY recommend it also Find ways to add nuts and spinach to everything for extra boosts!  Also, if you suggest that she take one night a week and cook a vegan meal for the family, It will force her to try new foods, get her excited about cooking (you will cook a lot being a vegan), and will give her some family support.

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       2 babies being a vegetarian! That's awesome!  Thank you for some great advice!  I think she will like cooking new foods!  She is always on youtube looking at videos on  green smoothies and other foods to make.  Thank you for the great suggestions!

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    sarahshuihanposted 11 years ago

    I'm not a vegan but my friends have all done their dietary changes gradually, if you dive into a vegan diet all at once it might not be the best for your daughter. They are also vigilant about getting B12, either from supplements or I've heard that nutritional yeast is a good option.

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, I have nutritional yeast on my list right now.  You're right about the B12, and so I have made sure to have supplements for her too.

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    OutWestposted 11 years ago

    A 15 year old should be a vegan, at least until she's married. lol  Sorry just could not resist.  But really isn't it her choice?  Better than other alternatives like being bulimic or something.  Plus you can't be with her all the time and can't really force her to eat.

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Well it is her choice, but we are still her parents.  I am supportive of her decision and I am trying to help in any way I can, especially to ensure she gets the right vitamins and minerals she needs.

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    jatinc653posted 11 years ago

    It's good to be a vegan, it would help her mind be fit enough to think properly. Vegan lifestyle brings a total change in her life in a very positive way. I think you should let her go into what she wants.

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I feel pretty much the same way!

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    wqaindiaposted 11 years ago

    There is nothing wrong to be a vegan. In my opinion the vegetarian food can provide all the nutrients including proteins. I have read the book "Look Younger Live Longer" at least 100 times. It was published way back in 1969 by Gay Hauser. The findings of the author are praise worthy and  valid even today.

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, it would seem that not only what you said, but the protein from plants is 100% digestible whereas the human body can only absorb 50% of protein from meat.

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    cuttlerposted 11 years ago

    Hi?
    Going vegan is a tough choice to mak, but, a healthy one. Considering all the antioxidants and vitamins present in fruits and veges, i believe she is making the right choice by going vegan. Other vitamins may be obtained from the pharmacists such as B12.
    I applaud her for making the choice.

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, it's not a decision she made overnight, that's for sure.  She's really given  it a lot of thought and did her research too.

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    Faceless39posted 11 years ago

    It's the healthiest diet for humans, is great for the environment, supports life and peaceful practices, and adds over a decade to your lifespan.  Go for it!

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, I will certainly encourage her!

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    Tirzah Laughsposted 11 years ago

    A vegan lifestyle can be complicated for a beginner.  It is extremely important to make sure you get enough nutrients, vitamins and protein.   I would recommend she speak with a nutritionist to get her started (as she is still growing).  If she cannot afford that, then try going to http://www.veganhealth.org/  for help meal planning. She will also need to decide how strict a vegan she will be (as marshmallows, Twinkies and so on are not vegan items). 
    
    Second I suggest she take a vegan cooking class.  She doesn't learn how to cook and prepare tasty vegan cooking on her own, she'll have a lot of bland dinners and burn out quickly.
    
    Vegan cooking can be tasty and nutritious but it requires planning and practice when you first start. 
    
    http://www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/nutrition/  Another site

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       renegadetoryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I might need that vegan cooking class too!

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    ElleBeeposted 11 years ago

    I am not vegan, but I have eaten vegetarian before, and have also done some research on the topic.  Many people worry about protein consumption in someone who starts a vegetarian diet, but because there are many rich sources of animal protein (spinach, quinoa and soy for example) this is not as big a concern as many people make it out to be.  Getting enough fat and vitamins in the diet, can however be a large concerns - for young women the main nutrients to be careful of will be iron and calcium.  I would recommend she go to the library and take out some books on vegetarian/vegan nutrition, these will give her suggestions to help make sure she incorporates all of the needed nutrients, and also give her recipe suggestions.  And of course, she'll want to make sure to mention her new diet to her physician at her next appointment, so that they can discuss any necessary vitamins or supplements that she should be taking and make sure that she goes about her new diet in a healthy way.

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