11 Year Old Asks How To Go Vegetarian Successfully

Question for Savvy Vegetarian:

im only 11 and i am really wanting to be a vegetarian because i love animals and i hate the thought of them getting ate. my mom and all her friends are like no more steak no more corn beef hash no more...my mom accepts it but i dont think my dad will. how do i get everyone to accept this. P.S. I've tried this before but never succeeded how do i succeed this time. - l.h

Advice From Savvy Vegetarian:

Dear l.h.,

That you're 'only 11' means you have lots of time to become a vegetarian. It also means that you still have lots of growing to do, and you need to be sure you're getting all the good nutrition you need for your growing. And any step in the veggie direction is positive for you and the animals.

If you read the ten tips report, you'll see that I emphasize making the change gradually, because there's a lot of new things to learn, and you need time to adjust. Just as it takes years of training and learning to be a good musician, or athlete, it takes time to get the knowledge and skills to be a successful vegetarian.

Your parents are responsible for your health and well being, and worry about you, so you need to come up with some solid information for them that will reassure them that you're not just being wierd and harming yourself with your veggieness.

If you want your parents to take you seriously, then you need to show them that you're willing to be responsible about your diet, and learn and do things for yourself. For instance, you could start learning to cook and shop vegetarian, and make some things that they can eat too.

o get a couple of good books - one on vegetarian nutrition (I recommend 'The New Becoming Vegetarian' by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis'), and an easy vegetarian cookbook - I recommend Nava Atlas's Vegetarian Family Cookbook, and her website, In a Vegetarian Kitchen. Ask your parents to read the books and visit the site with you.

Gradually reduce the animal food in your diet, and try new vegetarian foods as much as you can. One thing I want to really stress - you can't be a healthy vegetarian, and live on fast food and junk food - for instance, going to McD's regularly and eating everything but the patty. Most of what you eat should be good for you - vegetarians eat vegetables (and grains, and beans, and nuts).

I've attached the SV report you requested on Vegetarian Nutrition, and also the report 10 Tips for Beginning Vegetarians - I think that one will be helpful for you too. Please let me know if you have any questions about all this.

All the best, Judy Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian