Question:
Busy 15 year old wanting to cut out meat from her diet?
The Curious One
2014-04-09 21:12:50 UTC
Hello! Anyways, I am a huge animal lover.
I always have been, my 13 year old brother might even be a bigger animal lover! When I was 13 I tried to become a vegetarian. It became very easy.. I was able to restrain from eating meat for 3 months. As you can tell, I caved. I gave up after that. I am not a big beef eater (although I do eat it). I do enjoy chicken a lot- that's what I ate when I was 13.
I will be 16 in June. I am a waitress at a little family restaurant in the midwestern states. I am in theatre (we have 3 shows a year and it is very time consuming). I would like to cut meat out of my diet again. A friend of mine is a vegetarian and she's really inspired me lately to try to do this again. How can I maintain a healthy diet while not eating meat? I'm not a very big snacker. I eat two or (usually) three meals a day. I have no problem with my fruits and veggies- I love 'em! My brother and I decided to make a $5 bet on who could restrain from meat the longest! Please tell me anything I need to know about this lifestyle! Especially how to handle it with my busy schedule! (I'm not doing this for the game- it's something I've tried doing and have always wanted to do. I do not intend of giving up this time... Even if I slip out once or twice.) I am planning on eating eggs & dairy as well.
Five answers:
Genevieve
2014-04-10 08:42:21 UTC
Good for you!! I went vegetarian when I was around your age, 14, to be exact! I'm turning 30 this year and couldn't imagine going back. First off, people have a massive misconception about how much protein a person needs. The average woman really only needs about an egg a day to be fine on their protein. Now since you're so young and are still growing (also, if you're very active, which it sounds like you are), you'll need a little more, but being deficient in protein shouldn't be a big concern. Basically, as long as your hair and nails haven't stopped growing, you're fine. Also, you're coming into being a vegetarian at a great time. When I first started there wasn't too much in the ways of meat substitutes or alternative. Now, there are tons! Go with your mom to the store and look in the produce section and the frozen section, that's where you'll find your meat substitutes. Those are the easiest when you're on the go or just want to grab something quick and easy like a veggie hot dog. Also, Texas Pete chili is veggie, just fyi. :) Don't forget about salads, granola bars, yogurt, fruits and veggies in dip, veggie stir fries, pastas (especially if you're adding veggies and chik'n...meaning fake chicken) etc. There are SO many options, I doubt you'll have much of a problem. As long as you're not going to stick to a diet of french fries and chips, that is. ;) Also, coming from a vegetarian for the past 16 years (wow...I feel old), if you slip up, it's ok. Don't beat yourself up over it and don't give up. It's bound to happen, intentionally or unintentionally (I've eaten tomato soup AND mac and cheese that I found out later had chicken broth in it...it's going to happen at some point). Any effort is a great effort and that's more than most people do! :D
?
2014-04-10 04:46:21 UTC
If you plan on eating school lunch be prepared to eat like **** for days at a time. I would recommend packing a lunch. Trail mix and nuts your best friend. Make smoothies, drink fruit and veggie juice, eat beans. Don't be afraid to ask of something has meat in it, or if they can take it out (at a restraunt) be creative. And don't let anyone scare you about the "dangerous of not eating meat" (all false)
ckngbbbls
2014-04-10 14:54:52 UTC
Fluffy, eggs are NOT a chicken period....birds don't have that kind of reproductive system.

Cows are not locked in cages and milk machines are no more painful than breast pumps are....how many lactating women use breast pumps???

Cows have one pregnancy a year, whether they are wild or domesticated, doesn't matter. If there is a bull around, they WILL be pregnant every year. ALL animals are like that, whether wild or not.

this information has nothing to do with what this girl asked.

If you want to know what happens on a farm, go visit one..videos can be changed, edited, filmed in countries that have no rules, etc.
?
2014-04-10 18:42:03 UTC
fuffy is your typical vegan on here, and idiot. who knows nothing about what they speak.
anonymous
2014-04-10 04:47:24 UTC
Go vegan.

Eat a variety of fruits, veg, beans, nuts, seeds, grains, mushroom, and a little salt not too much salt.

Get(if you don't already have):

-freeze dried fruit (at least 1 of each type they have)

-dried fruit (blue berry flavored crasins, raisins, …)

-Dried vegetables

-Plain canned beans (no salt added, or at least low sodium, and nothing else added- no lard added) Always rinse canned beans well before cooking or eating. Pinto is good for burritos. Kidney is good for chilli(chilli=diced tomatoes, kidney beans, chilli powder)

-Dried beans (one of each type)

-Roasted edemame(green young soy bean) it's a snack food like nuts except high protein, and less fat then nuts.

-Raw unsalted(or at least low sodium) nuts of whatever type you like (sun flower kernels, walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachio, peanuts, cashews...)

-dried rice (white, and wild) (cook rice separate, fry broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, +other vegetables you want to add, +cyanne pepper)

-dry spaghetti or pasta

-asian rice noodles (they are like healthier ramen noodles) +carrots, frozen peas, frozen corn, (other veges you want to add), cayenne pepper)

-Plant based flavored of different types of flavors: triscuits, wheat thins, and other crackers that look yummy and kinda healthy, reduced or low sodium salteen crackers.



-salt, pepper, cyanne pepper, Italian seasoning, chilli powder, cooking oil, olive oil, red wine vinegar(or whatever vinegar you prefer)



-Tea with no caffeine (one of each flavor)



-Fresh and or frozen fruits and vegetables. (eat as snack plain, dip raw vege in dip, or make vegetable soup(white beans, carrot, corn, onion, potatoe, (whatever veges you want to add) cayneen pepper)

-potatoes (slice and fry, or boil)

-whole grain bread (a high quality type that you like)

-fruit nut and grain bars (1 of each type that you think you'll probably like)

-spicy or lemon/lime low sodium tortia chips with salsa.

-instant whole grain pancake mix (only add water to the mix, then add some oil to a pan and cook it)(or mix water flour and maybe a little oil use that as pancake mix)

-frozen whole grain walfuls (add fresh berries/fruit and powdered sugar, or maple syrup)

-peanut butter or some type of nut butter

-high quality vegetable spaghetti sauce

-canned diced tomatoes

-granulated sugar, powered sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder

-whole grain english muffin

-jarred mashed fruit

-malto meal (add brown sugar)

-oatmeal

-whole grain bagel



-refrigerated pro-biotic a good quality one.

-consider a high quality digestive enzyme (especially if your 50+yrs old or have health issues)

-multi vitamin (good tasting naturally flavored chewable) Read the ingredients, make sure you are getting all your daily nutrients.

-b complex supplement (if your multi vitamin does not provide 100%+recommended dose of the b vitamins)

-flax seed oil or hemp oil pill (for omega 3)

-essential amino acids

-calcium+d supplement (if multi vitamin does not provide 100%+, good tasting naturally flavored chewable)

-Vitamin C

-Consider getting a protein shake mix or protein bars (try to get one that is healthy)

-edemame/soybeans, there is dry snack form that is like eating nuts, and there is dry chocolate covered snack form.



Grow your own food. If you don't have a lot of space you can grow 1 of each type of ultra dwarf food trees(only get 4-6foot tall) that will produce in your zone. Only get self fruiting/self fertile types of food trees and food bushes. Get organic non-gmo.

Especially grow perennial(meaning they don't die in the winter) vegetables/food crops for your zone. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNDjKHQKClA/Tv_lJ4uaUiI/AAAAAAAAAYE/mmHBauILpdY/s1600/Table+for+Hard+zone+world+for+blog.jpg

use rain water or purified used shower/sink/gray water for irrigation. Consider getting plastic tube drip irrigation with automatic timer and rain sensor solar powered.

Get a dehydrator or freeze dyer, and steam pressure caner, so you can store your garden grown food for the winter.

Search: solar oven and solar dehydrator, it uses no electricity not even solar panels, just uses heat from the sun.

mint, chives, leafy greens, herbs, beans, and small root veg can be grown inside by the window, putting reflective material and grow light can help it more. Search regrowing vegetables.

http://features.peta.org/how-to-go-vegan/

Good job for cutting meat out of your diet. :D



If you buy dairy and eggs you are funding people who kill animals for meat(with maybe very rare exceptions), often a painful process with standard factory farms.

If your buying dairy and eggs, most likely you are funding animals being hurt, treated badly and in some cases tortured, especially if you dont know where your food is coming from and how it is treated.

It's better to grow your own food and not fund things you disagree with.

What if you were locked in a cage your whole life so people could collect and eat your period.

What if your were locked in a cage your whole life where people continously impregnated you, then stole and ate your baby, and constantly had you on milk pumps that were potentially painful so they could drink your milk. Then when you stoped having your period or stopped producing milk they killed and ate you, someone who does that to you doesn't love you.

Watch videos of what really happens in factory farms.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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