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Question
How can I convince my parents to let me go veggie? I went dairy-free eight months ago, and I lost about 10 pounds quickly. My weight is flat-lining now, so that’s okay. My skin has cleared up, I don’t feel sick as often, and I have more energy. Now I want to go vegetarian. But the last time I did, I lost 25 pounds in the 6 weeks I was on the diet. My doctor told me if I didn’t put some weight on he would refer me to an eating-disorder specialist. So my parents made me give up the veggie diet. I’m just unsure how to get them to bite the line after everything that has happened. I have lost more than half of the weight I gained while in therapy for my eating issues. But I’m still classed as healthy.
Answer
If your parents have any sense, you won’t be able to convince them.
I get that you want to eat healthy. And handled correctly, a vegetarian diet can work for people of all ages. But teens have fairly intense nutritional needs, and many vegetarians – particularly those who don’t eat dairy products – have trouble getting enough protein, iron, and calcium.
The fact that you have seen a therapist for an eating disorder suggests you must take more care in this area than most. The fact that the last time you went vegetarian your body did not react in a healthy fashion suggests your parents will not and should not let you make the change. And given your history, I suggest that you do not make major nutritional decisions on your own. Talk to your parents, and most of all to your doctor.
Independence and autonomy are big words for teens. They mean a lot, and I understand your desire to take control of your life. But contrary to popular opinion among teens – and many adults – there is nothing inherently noble about making all your own decisions. Maturity involves more than freedom. The truly mature understand that in some cases, they need help, or they need to listen to people with more experience or knowledge about an important topic. Just like smart people hire plumbers to unclog drains and accountants to do their taxes, those with sensitive constitutions or dietary problems hire experts to advise them.
Don’t push the issue on going veggie. Instead, take a partial step likely to satisfy your parents and make you feel better. When your parents serve meat, eat a small portion, as well as generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Beans, nuts, peanut butter, some breads, and tofu can help you get the protein you need. Eat plenty of leafy green veggies for calcium, and drink juices fortified with calcium. Broccoli, raisins, watermelon, spinach, chickpeas, and pinto beans contain a lot of iron. The preceding nutritional information is courtesy of The Vegetarian Resource Group.
Eat the meat in moderation, and consume plenty of legumes as a meat substitute. And if your weight begins to fluctuate or your doctor sees dangerous changes in your blood pressure or other bodily functions, then listen to his advice and change your diet.
While a vegetarian lifestyle is healthy in theory, children have suffered serious health problems, and on occasion died, because they focused too much on changing their diet. Exercise is healthy. But some people have physical issues that make vigorous exercise dangerous. The same goes for many presumably healthy activities. If going vegetarian causes you medical problems, you would be a fool to do it. After all, you can prove no points from a coffin.
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