# 12 year old vegetarian. Nutritionally sound choice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 3, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998 "2010-08-03T12:36:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/61 "2010-08-04T08:33:07Z")
Certainly, many many kids around the world have grown up just fine on vegetarian or vegan diets. But of course, being merely a ‘technical’ vegetarian isn’t very good for you or helpful to losing weight, if you are eating a lot of crap that just doesn’t happen to contain meat. I recommend checking out the “Eat to Live” book, which explains nutritional guidelines based on scientific studies, and suggests a vegetarian or mostly vegetarian diet that is high in nutrition. It also gives suggestions on dealing with finicky teens. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/62 "2010-08-04T10:19:22Z")
[hijack]Sorry, but that thing about supplements is an American obsession. In other countries, people do not routinely take vitamin supplements for years. They may take them when they know they’ll be low for some reason, they may take them seasonally, but seriously, if you want to get iron in your diet, that’s what lentils, spinach and cockles are for![/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/63 "2010-08-04T11:24:32Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > [hijack]Sorry, but that thing about supplements is an American obsession. In other countries, people do not routinely take vitamin supplements for years. They may take them when they know they’ll be low for some reason, they may take them seasonally, but seriously, if you want to get iron in your diet, that’s what lentils, spinach and cockles are for![/hijack] We’re talking about a known to be vegetable-averse pre-teen here, not a sensible person who loves eating all kinds of interesting foods. If she’s like most pre-teens I know, lentils, spinach, and bivalves (a no-no to many/most vegetarians) aren’t in her self-conceived diet plan. Edit: To the OP - take heart, it could be worse. I had a boss whose daughter was diagnosed around age 10 with celiac disease, as was he himself. This meant that all wheat, oats, barley, rye, and all products containing even the smallest amounts (like wheat-based extracts and flavoring) had to be thrown out. Repeated exposure to the stuff not only causes bad symptoms in those with the disease, but contributes to the likelihood of them developing cancers of the intestines as well. Then his daughter was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. He thought things couldn’t get worse, until she started talking about vegetarianism. :eek: He convinced her that if she thought eating was tough now, things would get much worse if she followed that route. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/64 "2010-08-04T12:10:29Z")
Celiac and diabetes were the combination that sent my friend - a vegetarian of 30 years - back to being an omnivore. She just couldn’t get enough calories with sufficient variety. Eventually sweet potatoes grow old. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/65 "2010-08-04T13:49:48Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > [hijack]Sorry, but that thing about supplements is an American obsession. In other countries, people do not routinely take vitamin supplements for years. They may take them when they know they’ll be low for some reason, they may take them seasonally, but seriously, if you want to get iron in your diet, that’s what lentils, spinach and cockles are for![/hijack] Lentils blahblahspanishcakes are the very basis of the Indian vegetarian diet (and I also grew up eating oily ocean fish like mackerel since Goan brahmins fiated themselves the right to eat fish in the 17th century) and every woman in my family ended up anemia, diagnosed by blood test. There’s a chance that it’s something genetic in my family, but I actually think it’s a serious concern for women who are considering vegetarianism and there are studies that show it’s under-diagnosed in amongst women in vegetarian cultures. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/66 "2010-08-04T15:10:53Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > [hijack]Sorry, but that thing about supplements is an American obsession. In other countries, people do not routinely take vitamin supplements for years. They may take them when they know they’ll be low for some reason, they may take them seasonally, but seriously, if you want to get iron in your diet, that’s what lentils, spinach and cockles are for![/hijack] Hey, I had anemia when I ate red meat 5 times a week _and_ took an iron pill. I’m now vegetarian and take two iron pills with a vitamin C pill. People snark to eat more high iron foods, but I _do_ (and see the red meat 5x a week above). Some people really just have a hard time absorbing iron. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/67 "2010-08-04T15:21:34Z")
I’d like to point out here that there really is a _genetic_ component to iron absorption. Some people absorb too much (see [iron overload)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemochromotosis) due to genetics, and it’s not beyond reason to think that someone might, due to genetics, absorb too little. The only way to determine iron deficiency (or excess) is by _blood test_, not by diet. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/68 "2010-08-04T15:22:49Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > [hijack]Sorry, but that thing about supplements is an American obsession. In other countries, people do not routinely take vitamin supplements for years. They may take them when they know they’ll be low for some reason, they may take them seasonally, but seriously, if you want to get iron in your diet, that’s what lentils, spinach and cockles are for![/hijack] [Our own Cecil Adams states that the iron in spinach can’t be easily absorbed by the body.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/696/why-was-spinach-once-considered-the-ultimate-vegetable) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/69 "2010-08-04T15:23:55Z")
I’m a red meat, leafy green eater and I’m always borderline anemic. And I vomit from iron supplements so its sort of a loose loose. Was sort of an issue pregnant, when vomiting from iron supplements turned into projectile vomiting from iron supplements. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/70 "2010-08-04T15:24:05Z")
> [@kbear](#): > > …The whole thing has become even tricker by the fact that her twin sister appears to be lactose intolerant. Once I’ve determined for sure that is the case, meal prep is going to have to become more organised than it has been. My trainer also wants me to follow a low glycemic index type of diet, which although I’m not completely sold on it, will add yet another layer. It’s getting harder to just grab something out of the fridge and throw it on the table! > > Thanks for all the useful advice so far. With all these food issues, it really might be a good idea to see a nutritionist. Get some help on meal planning & prep. And be sure the girls help, too! ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/71 "2010-08-04T16:25:37Z")
I’m not trying to be a dick, or to threadshit, I’m really REALLY not. But… If I had a 12-year-old daughter who told me she was a vegetarian, my response would be “Eat what I put on your plate or cook something yourself.” I sure as hell wouldn’t fuss about what _ **I** _ was going to cook for her. ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/72 "2010-08-04T22:15:24Z")
Believe me I’ve always vowed not to raise picky eaters. I have a friend who’s 12 year old will still only eat plain pasta with tomato sauce on the side. What a pain in the ass that is! My kids didn’t turn out soo bad in that regard but they’re not as adventurous as I’d like. As for k being vegetable adverse, she’s mostly adverse to the vegs I like and include in many dishes…peppers and zucchini in particular. Old methods of getting kids to eat veg like brown sugar and butter on carrots, cheese sauce on cauliflower won’t work in the weight loss\lactose intolerant universe I live in now. Now that. I’ve had some time to focus on it properly, I do have a bit of a repertoire of meatless dishes to get started on. As much as I’d like to say eat what I put in front of you or go without, I know she’ll sneak crap when I’m not looking. Being the only overweight kid in her grade, I’m prepared to cook special meals for her and it won’t hurt the rest of us to go meatless a few times a week. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/73 "2010-08-04T22:21:50Z")
A hijack, but as I said above, I’m the sort of lacto-vegetarian who never really pays attention to any of this. Having looked into it now, I can’t see any reason at all for me to worry about folic acid, don’t think there’s any reason to worry about protein, B12, or calcium, and imagine I’m alright on iron and Vitamin D. However, there’s this business about Omega/n-3 fatty acids. People who know more than I do, tell me: what’s that all about? Is the lack of fish in my diet something I should be actively compensating? ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/74 "2010-08-04T22:36:16Z")
My SO (now 21) was a vegetarian from age 9-19. His mother took him to a dietitian, which I _highly_ recommend you do, if it’s in your budget (may even be covered by health insurance). I highly recommend you assign the kid some reading too. My SO did it based on thinking animal products were evil etc, but I think he was _really_ doing it because his mother adopted a child without his consent and he decided to rebel. He survived, but he’s the _only_ vegetarian I’ve known who became one as a child and wasn’t malnourished. Anyways, I made him realize he wasn’t doing it for ethical reasons anymore (the man has several pairs of beautiful leather shoes) so he should give up the ruse and do meat. ETA: > [@HeyHomie](#): > > I’m not trying to be a dick, or to threadshit, I’m really REALLY not. But… > > If I had a 12-year-old daughter who told me she was a vegetarian, my response would be “Eat what I put on your plate or cook something yourself.” I sure as hell wouldn’t fuss about what _ **I** _ was going to cook for her. And truthfully, 99% of the former vegetarians I know quit very quickly because their parents did this. But my SO falls in the 1% - he was so dedicated that he didn’t eat Papa John’s pizza for years on Pizza day in school because a friend told him the sauce had meat in it. This kid once ate nothing but water for 36 hours because he wouldn’t eat the stromboli his dad had made for him. So, moral of the story, know how stubborn your kid is. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/75 "2010-08-04T22:39:24Z")
I’ve been a vegetarian since I was two and my ex-husband has been for his entire life. There are tons of meat alternatives and I eat a lot of beans, legumes and tofu. I could be healthier ( I eat too much junk food) but he is the epitome of health. I didn’t see that she doesn’t like veggies. I eat a ton of veggies. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/76 "2010-08-04T22:54:36Z")
I don’t have children, I’m mostly carnivorous, and I haven’t read the whole thread. With those disclaimers, if I had a 12 year old that told me she wanted to try being a vegetarian, I’d probably allow it, with certain conditions, subject to change at my sole discretion: 1. We’ll be making an appointment with her doctor. She’ll be examined, and then we’ll both talk to the doctor about her interest in going vegetarian. 2. If the doc says it’s ok, based on medical history, etc., then fine, we’ll try it on a conditional basis. If there are issues, we’ll be back to see the doc. 3. We’ll be back to see the doc again in six months anyway, just because I said so. And we’ll both talk to the doc again to see if there are any recommended changes. 4. We are not going apeshit with this. We are not maintaining separate dishes/utensils/cookware that aren’t used with meat, or other silliness. Yes, I am the sole judge of what constitutes silliness. 5. She will be expected to take on some of the responsibility of preparing her meals, shopping, etc. (Note: of course I’ll be paying for the food. Her job will be to either come with me, or make me a damn good list of whatever special stuff she needs or wants to try.) 6. She will not convert Dad to her rabbit-food ways. Dad likes his t-bones, medium rare. Dad also likes burgers, chops, ribs, roasts, chicken, turkey, fish, and lots of other non-vegan things. Dad ain’t changing. There will be meat on Dad’s table, probably at every single meal she’s served there. She doesn’t have to eat it, or approve of Dad eating it, but she ain’t gonna bitch about it, either. Otherwise, yeah, I’m fine with it, as long as the doc is fine with it. If this is her big teenaged rebellion thing, I can feign suitable shock and dismay while secretly thanking my lucky stars that she didn’t pick something much worse. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/77 "2010-08-04T23:09:11Z")
12 year old vegetarian = 12 year old who only eats candy, and desserts;) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/78 "2010-08-05T00:25:59Z")
> [@kbear](#): > > My kids didn’t turn out soo bad in that regard but they’re not as adventurous as I’d like. As for k being vegetable adverse, she’s mostly adverse to the vegs I like and include in many dishes…peppers and zucchini in particular. In her defense, I find peppers and zucchini to both be disgusting (its the slimy texture when cooked plus the bland/sharp taste) and I am NOT at all “vegetable adverse.” I enjoy virtually all vegetables that I’ve ever tried when cooked lightly – in fact my father, the chief cook of my house growing up, is a vegetarian – but the fact remains I do not like cooked peppers or zucchini in any form (I like raw peppers). Maybe you’re skimming over the range of foods she rejects, but hating a couple of foods other people serve you frequently really isn’t rejecting all foods. Surely there are a couple vegetables you don’t prefer? If someone constantly served you those few things you particularly don’t like, and you didn’t eat them, would it be fair to say you were adverse to vegetables? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/79 "2010-08-05T03:59:52Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > A hijack, but as I said above, I’m the sort of lacto-vegetarian who never really pays attention to any of this. Having looked into it now, I can’t see any reason at all for me to worry about folic acid, don’t think there’s any reason to worry about protein, B12, or calcium, and imagine I’m alright on iron and Vitamin D. However, there’s this business about Omega/n-3 fatty acids. People who know more than I do, tell me: what’s that all about? Is the lack of fish in my diet something I should be actively compensating? The n-3 fatty acids are beneficial. The n-6/n-3 ratio bit is pretty passe by now. I take my 1000 mg of fish oil in capsule form per day. Flax seeds and flax seed oil, canola oil, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp milk, and several other vegetarian sources, can be fine vegan substitutes. Since you eat eggs, choose the high essential fatty acid (EFA) eggs (they are fed either flax seed or microalgae to boost their EFA content.) An [academic review](http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/78/3/640S). > [@](#): > > With respect to essential fatty acid (EFA) intake and balance, vegetarian diets appear to offer no advantages over omnivorous dietary patterns. Some have suggested that vegetarians could be at a significant disadvantage, as consumption of -linolenic acid (ALA) is low relative to linoleic acid (LA), resulting in limited conversion of ALA to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (6). In addition, vegetarians consume very little EPA and DHA (7) … There is a rapidly expanding database that demonstrates remarkable effects of n-3 fatty acids on primary and secondary prevention of CVD. Both epidemiologic and randomized controlled clinical studies have evaluated the effects of marine and plant sources of n-3 fatty acids from food sources as well as supplements. These studies have established that both marine- and plant-derived n-3 fatty acids have cardioprotective effects. These findings have prompted great interest in unraveling the biological mechanisms that explain these reported benefits. It is apparent that multiple mechanisms of action mediate the effects of n-3 fatty acids … Practical guidelines for achieving optimal EFA intake in vegetarians are as follows. 1) Make a wide variety of whole plant foods the foundation of the diet. 2) Get most fat from whole foods—nuts, seeds, olives, avocados, and soy foods. 3) If using concentrated fats and oils, select those rich in monounsaturated fats, such as olive, canola, or nut oils. n-3-Rich oils can also be used but should not be heated. Moderate use of n-6-rich oils is recommended. 4) Limit intake of processed foods and deep-fried foods rich in trans and n-6 fatty acids. 5) Reduce intake of foods rich in saturated fat and cholesterol. 6) Include foods rich in n-3 fatty acids in the daily diet. Aim for 2–4 g ALA/d. 7) Consider using a direct source of DHA. Aim for 100–300 mg/d. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998/80 "2010-08-05T04:17:49Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > his mother adopted a child without his consent. 😕 Totally off topic, but do parents usually consult their children before having a second child? I certainly don’t know anyone who did this, but maybe it’s common? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-year-old-vegetarian-nutritionally-sound-choice/548998.md?page=5)