I want to become a vegan but I'm facing a difficult choice. I want to start running and get fit, but I don't want to bulk up. I'm interested in slimming down. Will becoming a vegan help me do this? Some other questions:
1)Is becoming a vegan good for a teenager to do?
2)Do you have some ideas for things I could eat? I'm totally new at this and don't know anything about it?
3)My parents are very against me becoming a vegan. They think it will screw up my body. I keep telling them its a healthy diet. Which one is true and how can I defend my position?
4) At school, my friends are going to bug me forever and try to sneak dairy products into my food(my parents will too). Should I just not eat anything at parties or accept food from them?

Please help!Thanks!

Wow that's a lot of questions.

Slimming down-- I actually fattened up a bit when I first went vegan, but I suspect it had more to do with extreme overindulgence in delicious vegan food! Plus, I was completely inactive. I have started paying closer attention to my portion sizes, and I recently started exercising 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week, and I have went from a size 9 to a size 5. I think these things take care of themselves when you put YOUR focus on a healthy lifestyle.

1) being vegan can be a good thing for anyone to do. It's good for the environment and the animals, no question. But if it's good for you sometimes depends on how well you eat, and that goes with any "diet." It's been great for me because it has forced me to eat a much wider range of foods, and has brought health to the forefront of my food choice considerations. I believe too that being vegan is good for the soul. I have never enjoyed food more than I do now, and it makes me very happy that I am not a contributor to the horrible animal abuse/murder industry.

2. Ideas of things to eat... this is way too long of an answer for me to type. Take a look at the health sections and food sections of this forum for some help. I personally eat a wide range of fruits and veggies, grains (not just wheat), rice, meat substitues like tofu, tempeh, seitan, and some faux meets like tofurky slices, bean burgers etc., beans and legumes, and most importantly, desserts.

3. Well I'm a little biased, but I'd say they are wrong. As a vegan it's really important that you are getting essential vitamins and nutrients, but it's important as a vegetarian or omnivore too. The vast majority of omnivores eat horrible, nutrient-void diets. Maybe someone can post some links for you to information about vegan health (I don't have any offhand). Essentially, the best way you can defend your position is by having knowledge.

4. I'd say do what you're comfortable with. I have found that being vegan gives me a great excuse not to snack on nutrient-devoid foods, since I just assume that things are not vegan. However, if you think it will be too difficult to do this, then don't call yourself vegan, and just do your best.

Yes, being vegan can be healthy. I have never been and felt more healthy in my life then the times I have been vegan. It's true. It's important to recognize that one can eat alot of junk being vegan, also. So if you want to be healthy about it, it's important to eat whole grains and not processed flour breads, pastas, etc. I also personally stay away from refined sugar and only eat molasses, raw honey (even though that's technically not vegan), sorghum (a raw form of molasses you can find some health food stores), and pure maple syrup. I eat primarily whole grains, veggies, fruits, beans, nuts, and some substitution soy products, like fake cheese or whatever.

When they bring up that you need to eat dairy, reference the Okinawa island in Japan. They did a study on why they live so long. They eat fresh veggies, whole grains and fish (though that's not vegan). Although there can be health benefits to eating fish, you can point out that these days there is lots of mercury and DDT in their flesh that we then consume and it stays in our bodies for a long time. What I want to point out is they don't eat dairy. And anther factor was they walk wherever they go. And they are very healthy.

Point out also that many Asians don't eat dairy and look how healthy most of them are. There are a variety of reasons for their health and low obesity rates, but I think a big reason is because dairy is not a part of their regular diets (even countries like Korea who eat lots of meat).

Here's an interesting fact. I was in Korea last year, lived there for a year. Obesity wasn't really ever a problem there on their traditional diet, which consisted mostly of fruits, veggies, meat, fish, and rice. While I was there, they announced a study showing that many young people were overweight and had a problem with obesity now. Do you know why? Because the "popular" treat foods to eat in Korea for young people now are pizza, fried chicken and ice cream! The dairy parts of these, anyway, never used to be in the traditional diet!

I am only speaking of dairy here, not the meat part. I'll let someone else talk about the health benefits of not eating meat. I agree with the previous poster. Learn all you can. Read on these forums and other websites. Knowledge is power. Maybe at some point your parents will start learning about nutrition through you.

Oh, and I do www.fitday.com, it's free. You keep track of the foods you eat, and it keeps track of the nutrients your body is getting, as well as your exercise level. It can break down all the major nutrients in a week or day and show you which ones you are not getting enough. Also, it shows your carb, fat and protein %age ratio. There is some information about being vegetarian on there, also. So one idea is, if you do that, you can show your parents where you are getting your nutrition and where you aren't. You can use it to your advantage, find ways to get your nutrition where you are lacking on a vegan diet. Make sure you take a B12 supplement. B12 is mostly found in meats, but alot of vegans supplement this nutrient.