Dear Dish-It, I Want to Be a Vegetarian

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Dear Dish-It,
I have wanted to be a vegetarian for the past three years but I still have not been able to ask my mom. I think she is going to be mad at me but I don't want her to be. What should I do? Please help me!
punkgrl

Dear punkgrl,
Deciding to become a vegetarian can be a pretty big decision. You are going to be giving up a fairly important part of your diet and it could be hard to get used to right away. But, that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. It sounds like you've been mulling over the idea long enough to know what you're getting yourself into. As for your mom, she might be a little upset, but if you present her with the facts, I doubt she'll be angry with you. For parents, they often resist the idea of their kids becoming vegetarians because they think it's unhealthy or too difficult to deal with. But that's not the case.

As long as you know what vitamins and nutrients you need on a daily basis, and where you can get those vitamins and nutrients from, you should be just fine. Your fam may need a bit of an adjustment period, but before you know it, they'll probably be a lot more accepting of the veggie alternatives. Sit down with your mom and read over Kidzworld's Becoming a Teen Vegetarian article together. It'll give both of you some basic knowledge on how to deal with this change. Also, you may want to stop in to see your family doctor to discuss the right diet for you. Good Luck!

Dear punkgrl,
I'm a vegatarian too, like you and you shouldn't be afraid to tell your mom you want to become a vegatarian. I mean what is she gonna be mad about? It's what YOU want that counts. If you don't want to eat meat she can't force you to. MY mom was just fine with it. No questions asked. Though meat has a lot of protein that kids like us need, we can find protein in a lot of different stuff to. Uhhh... lets see... why are you becoming a vegatarian? For a diet or for animals rights? Sorry, just wondering. Well, if you become a vegatarian, you have to keep your vow up. You CAN'T eat meat. I hope my advice helps you! Remember: don't be afraid to ask your mom! She wont bite you!
Kidz Submit by:

Nickname: footballgal0049
Age: 16

Hey, I have been a vegetarian for the longest time. If your mom will not let you do it just do it - don't eat the meat that your mom/dad puts on the table. They should be like caring parents and start buying foods you will eat.

Kidz Submit by:
Nickname: blonde_chik
Age: 13

Dear Punkgrl,
I was in the same boat you're in when I decided I wanted to be a veggie... (I am one now though). I just decided that I would do it no matter what. My 'rents had a hard time dealin' at first, but they got over it and they accept it now. Things get better...

Kidz Submit by:
Nickname: KpLuvBug
Age: 15

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