Im new to this. I need help!

[Makaila :D]

I need to know what i can eat. Is there hidden things in food i need to learn about? also how in the world do you restist it. im on 15 so this is really hard.
please help as much as you can.


thank you,
makaila:p

[hoodedclawjen]

are you going to be an ovo-lacto vegetarian (one that eats eggs and milk, but not meat like fish, poultry, pork, beef, etc)?

if so, i'd start off by avoiding the obvious things.

yep, there are tricky things, like gelatine (made from animal bones, shows up in jello, sometiems yogurts and sour cream, chewy candy, etc) cochineal/carmine (a red food colouring made from squashed beetles), and rennet (an enzyme used in some cheese production, made from calves stomach linings)... and things like meat stocks in soups.

....but if you're 15 and not really organised yet on the cooking and shopping front, it wouldn't hurt to start simple and work up to that stuff.

[3LittleBirds]

If you're having cravings, you could try some meat substitutes. There are subs for things like chicken nuggets and ground beef that are really good. I don't eat that type of thing much b/c it's very processed. But if it helps keep you from eating meat, then I think it's well worth it!

[rabid_child]

I went vegetarian at 15, so it is certainly doable.

Aside from the obvious - nothing with any meat in it, including fish and other sea life (crabs, lobster, muscles, clams, shrimp)... vegetarians also avoid meat based broths like chicken broth, and anything made with it. Other animal derivatives that are avoided include lard (pig fat - found in things like pie crusts and some baking mixes), gelatin (found in Jell-o, marshmallows, gummy candies like gummy bears, and also some yogurts, and frostings on cereals and pop tarts), and animal based rennet (found in some cheese) to name a few common ones. Some random things have meat ingredients too -- like McDonald's french fries.

For breakfast you can eat cereals, oatmeal, toast, fruit... normal breakfast stuff. Vegans avoid eggs, dairy and honey, but lacto-ovo vegetarians do not... so eggs could be an option.

Lunch could be leftovers, a PB&J sandwich, a hummus and veggie sandwich, a bean burrito, a big salad with lots of different colored veggies and some beans or nuts, a piece of pizza. Pair it with some fresh fruit and veggie and you're set.

We eat all sorts of things for dinner. Last night I made a barley risotto with carrots, acorn squash, mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini and kale. Monday we had Broccoli pasta with black olives. Sunday we had no-chicken noodle soup. Tonight my bf isn't home so I made a grilled soy-cheese and oven fries. Tomorrow we'll be having a seitan pot pie.

In general, it's important to eat a lot of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. It's also important to eat a variety of colors of fruits and veggies, and lots of dark leafy greens.

If you can be more specific in the information you need, I might be able to help more.

[Puppet Master]

Welcome to Veggie Boards!

I became a vegetarian when I was 6/7, so it can't be that hard for a fifteen year old. xP You just have to believe in yourself.

You can eat anything (well, you know, besides flesh). Are you going to be a lacto-ovo veggie? Or just lacto or just ovo or strict?
(Lacto-ovo is dairy and eggs allowed,
lacto is just dairy,
ovo is just eggs,
strict is none of that, and the closest to vegan, but allowing certain things vegans don't)

There are a lot of hidden animal products in foods. Bread, candy, snacks, noodles, sauces, etc, etc. But you shouldn't let that get you down. There are a lot of things vegetarians can not eat, but there is also tons more things they can eat. Just read the ingredients, learn about certain ingredients and what they are from, and it's pretty easy. I do occasionally find an ingredient I have no clue what in the world it is, but I just look it up when I get home.

And be sure to look through the threads on here. There are many things that can help you and give you ideas. There is the recipe section that is full of food ideas. The Vegetarian forum has tons of info, as does this New To Vegetarianism one.

Here are some links you should look through. They have lists of food with hidden ingredients, a list of some food that is safe, and some information about ingredients adn where they are from.

http://bengaluruhuli.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/04/vegetarians-beware-of-harmless-looking-snacks.htm
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/faqingredients.htm
http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/

[Makaila :D]

Hey,
thanks for all your help.
I had no idea about half of this stuff. my friends think its stupid to do this but i think its for me and all the animals. also if possible i could use more information. im not really sure where to get some at all.
thanks
makaila

[hoodedclawjen]

what sorta things do you need? we could help you more if you help us find out how exactly to help!

recipe ideas? check out our recipe section, and look on vegweb.com.

nutrition/meal plans/stuff to stop your mums brain from exploding:

http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/teen_veg.pdf
http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/viewdocument.aspx?id=21
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/teennutrition.htm
http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/guides/vplan03.html

[martino]

Welcome Makaila!

I don't have much to add to what has been said...you can find out what is in certain foods by reading the ingredients part of a label; just turn it over and read the list of ingredients, and if it has animal parts in it, put it back!

Just remember that it's not going to be an immediate, total switch; you have to learn about various things, so what you may have eaten one day, you may realize has something in it you don't eat, so you won't eat it the next. Don't beat yourself up if you make that kind of mistake, just let it go, remember the problem ingredient, and move on.

That's too bad about your friends; they'll likely forget about it in a week, though, or simply accept it and move on. If they don't, then it'd be wise to find people who are accepting, because that group could get pretty poisonous in general.

[xBree]

If you find it hard giving up all those meat based meals you enjoyed so much in the past try and focus on all the new things you can have instead :)
People have suggested the meat substitutes which really are great and have certainly helped me alot. There isn't one thing i used to like that I couldn't find an alternative for, just look through the vegetarian section at your local supermarket.

I'd also reccomend buying a vegetarian student cookbook if you're new to cooking, cos they're easy to follow and actually taught me to cook! I also tried loads of new foods from all different cultures as a result.

Good luck!

[Aberinkula]

Hey, I've been veggie since I was 12 so as someone else said, it is doable! :)
I don't really think I have much to add to this, everyone has really good suggestions!

If you're looking for things you need to avoid try this link http://www.happycow.net/health-animal-ingredients.html
It has what the product is made of, and possible alternatives.
It's actually vegan, so you don't have to avoid everything if you don't want to, if you just look at what the product is made up of, it's pretty easy to find out which are vegetarian.
I have this list on my iPod as well, so if you want that just let me know and I can find the link for you! (That goes for anyone else too :))

And if you find something that isn't vegetarian that you would really like, try looking up alternatives for it on the internet like agar agar is a pretty good gelatin subsitute of you want to make jelly or something :)

Hope that helped, and good luck!! :D

[Makaila :D]

thank you all for your help. i really appreciate it.
im just lookin for foods.

my friends think im starvinmebut im justeatin less and better :D
butthank you all and give all the advicee you can
thanks
makaila

[rabid_child]

You shouldn't be eating LESS when you go vegetarian -- you probably should be eating MORE because a vegetarian diet tends to be less calorie dense than a meat centric diet.

[Makaila :D]

so i should be eatin more ?
im not much of an eater general.
i mean will it hurt me if i dont eat more.
my friend is vegan and well she does not eat much, but sshe went to the doctor and got protein pills. if i dont eat will i end up having to do that?

[rabid_child]

If you don't eat enough, yes, you could make yourself sick and require supplements, or lose too much weight which can cause a host of other health problems. Are you sure your friend didn't get like, iron pills or something? Protein pills don't exist as far as I know.

[jenni-anti-fur]

I went vegetarian at 15, so it is certainly doable.

Aside from the obvious - nothing with any meat in it, including fish and other sea life (crabs, lobster, muscles, clams, shrimp)... vegetarians also avoid meat based broths like chicken broth, and anything made with it. Other animal derivatives that are avoided include lard (pig fat - found in things like pie crusts and some baking mixes), gelatin (found in Jell-o, marshmallows, gummy candies like gummy bears, and also some yogurts, and frostings on cereals and pop tarts), and animal based rennet (found in some cheese) to name a few common ones. Some random things have meat ingredients too -- like McDonald's french fries.

For breakfast you can eat cereals, oatmeal, toast, fruit... normal breakfast stuff. Vegans avoid eggs, dairy and honey, but lacto-ovo vegetarians do not... so eggs could be an option.

Lunch could be leftovers, a PB&J sandwich, a hummus and veggie sandwich, a bean burrito, a big salad with lots of different colored veggies and some beans or nuts, a piece of pizza. Pair it with some fresh fruit and veggie and you're set.

We eat all sorts of things for dinner. Last night I made a barley risotto with carrots, acorn squash, mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini and kale. Monday we had Broccoli pasta with black olives. Sunday we had no-chicken noodle soup. Tonight my bf isn't home so I made a grilled soy-cheese and oven fries. Tomorrow we'll be having a seitan pot pie.

In general, it's important to eat a lot of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. It's also important to eat a variety of colors of fruits and veggies, and lots of dark leafy greens.

If you can be more specific in the information you need, I might be able to help more.

Welcome To VB:)

and I went veggie at 16 so I agree very doable...:)

awesome suggestions and advice:)

[SheThrowsDown]

so i should be eatin more ?
im not much of an eater general.
i mean will it hurt me if i dont eat more.
my friend is vegan and well she does not eat much, but sshe went to the doctor and got protein pills. if i dont eat will i end up having to do that?
What probably happened is your friend doesn't eat enough and became deficient in vital nutrients and was put on supplements. Yes, if you don't eat healthy you may have to be put on supplements. Just eat enough, and a variety of foods and you shouldn't have any issues

[Makaila :D]

ok.well im eatin
i mean i was never much of an eater
but i have lost 11 puonds since 2 weeks ago.
i thought it was good.

[hoodedclawjen]

you shouldn't lose more than about 2-3 pounds a week. losing more than that isn't healthy for your body.

can you post a list of what you've eaten on an average day (including portion sizes)?

we could help make sure you're getting everything you need. you do't wanna get sick. :)

[Makaila :D]

lol well no breakfest
a quacker oatmeal bar for lunch
and a grilled cheese and fries for supper.

[hoodedclawjen]

erm...... thats incredibly unhealthy.

did you look at any of the meal plans i posted earlier? you need to eat a decent breakfast, lunch, dinner, and possibly a few snacks. you need plenty of fruitd and veggies, plus nuts, beans, whole grains, good fats, etc.

long term you won't be able to maintain a diet like the one you've posted, cos you'll get sick, and when you start eating normally again, you'll probably put the weight you've lost right back on cos your body will think you've been starving it, and stockpile everything it can when the real food starts showing up.

its a much better plan to lose the weight a little more slowly, by eating a decent diet with a good balance of nutrients, and doing a bit more exercise- something you can maintain and not end up in the hospital from.

[Photojess]

Makaila, I'm a newbie here too, but in my real job, I'm a nurse, and I'm going to just reinforce what Hooded has told you. If you have really lost 11 lbs, it's some fluids, and muscle tissue, not stored fat.

Besides the fact that we don't want to lose muscle, as muscle burns more calories than fat does, the body doesn't discriminate towards what muscles it starts breaking down. So you could be losing heart, liver, or kidney tissue.....which is all bad. It may not just be coming off of your arms or legs.

I'll let others tell you what and how much you should be eating, but what you posted certainly isn't enough calories for a growing teenager....please read up as much as possible on this, and eat wisely, and healthfully! It's not easy in the beginning for an adult, necessarily, much less for a teen who doesn't control the shopping or the cooking! Good luck, and keep posting!

[hoodedclawjen]

if you feel a bit stuck for veggie stuff thats around the house, give us a shout for ideas to help with that too- cos even peanut butter and jelly on toast for breakfast is veggie and better than nothing- its getting you some protein, fibre, good fats, fruit, etc. :)

[Makaila :D]

Thank you all for your help.
this means alot for me
i have now been a healthy vegetarian for 3 months and a week.

[hoodedclawjen]

good job you! hows the food going? finding better things to eat? eating enough? not losing weight too fast?

[SheThrowsDown]

Thank you all for your help.
this means alot for me
i have now been a healthy vegetarian for 3 months and a week.
I'd love to see an example of how you eat now, maybe post what you tend to eat day to day?