Better Homes and Gardens, great article on teen vegetarianism

[Guest guest]

Since 40 billion animals are killed every year for food, diet has to be the

number one animal rights issue. 10 billion are killed in the United States,

where most of the population are overweight and eat far more meat than even

a non vegetarian dietitians would recommend.

 

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, distributed to seven million homes every

month, can have real influence on the way people eat. Parents

search through it for family dinner recipes, and information on nutrition.

So I am delighted to note an article in the " Eating Well " section of the

November issue (pg. 302) headed " Teens vegging out: a growing number of

teenagers are making the switch to meatless. " The article is by Mindy

Pantiel.

 

Pantiel's advice to parents whose children choose to go vegetarian is, " For

starters, don't panic. Or at least, don't panic for long. Being a vegetarian

is healthy if your teenager goes about it the right way. "

 

She notes that teens turn vegetarian for a variety of reasons, such as

learning about animal rights and environmental issues. She quotes a mother

of an eighteen your old girl in a small town in " beef country " who was the

only person in a high school of thousands who didn't eat meat: " Once I saw

how determined Tiffany was I decided to support it and now I'm even trying

to eat that way myself. "

 

Vegetarianism has been linked to eating disorders, and Pantiel concedes that

" Some teens, especially girls, shun meat and dairy because they see it as

fattening. " However she makes it clear that it can be a very healthy choice:

 

" Along with ethical reasons, research has shown that a heightened awareness

of the level of unhealthy saturated fats in many meats has motivated some

teens to choose a new diet. In fact, studies show that vegetarians have a

lower incidence of heart disease, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes

than nonvegetarians. "

 

She assures parents that vegetarians can get plenty of protein but suggests

that calcium can be a concern for vegans. She quotes registered dietitian

Kathy Levine:

" Vegans need to get calcium from other sources, such as nutritional yeast,

fortified cereals, and calcium-enriched orange juice. " And she suggests,

" New vegans should consult a nutritionist who specializes in vegetarian

diets. " Not a bad idea.

 

She also writes:

" Levine also recommends teens in either category take a multivitamin to make

sure they're getting the right nutrients, including ample iron. This is

especially important for girls because they lose valuable iron when they

menstruate and can become anemic. "

 

Here I have a gripe. Sure, a multi-vitamin is probably a great idea for a

teenager. The modern diet can be low in nutrients, and girls in particular,

trying to be fashionably slender, can eat so little that it is hard to get

all the nutrients their bodies need. But the article does vegetarianism a

disservice in the tacit suggestion that vegetarians are more likely rather

than less likely to need vitamin supplements. Kids living on non-vegetarian

junk food, as many do, are not ingesting more vitamins than those living on

stir-fry tofu and vegetables.

 

(Note: Absence of B12 in the diet is a real issue for vegans -- B12

supplements should be taken.)

 

The article gives great tips for making the switch easy for the teen and

family involved:

 

Some other tips:

 

" KEEP IT SIMPLE. Teens tend not to be gourmets. They prefer vegetarian

versions of old favorites, such as pizza, chili, tacos, and stir-fries, that

are relatively easy to adapt.

 

" LET THEM COOK. Any person who can solve an algebra equation while listening

to rap music can certainly learn to cook a handful of vegetarian entrees.

Work out a plan that requires your child to cook dinner one night a week for

the whole family.

 

" STOCK UP on nutritious fast foods. Like their hamburger inhaling

counterparts, vegetarian teens often eat on the run. Stock your pantry and

freezer with soups, meatless burgers, and ready-made pizzas for quick meals.

Keep a variety of fresh and dried fruits, cut-up veggies, bagels, and other

healthy snacks on hand to encourage good eating habits. "

 

Then she adds, " While it's true that your teen's initial decision to go

meatless may be a shock, oftentimes it has a way of working out for the

best. " She quotes a mother who was pleasantly surprised:

 

" Kristin couldn't even boil water, " she says. " But since she's become a

vegetarian, she cooks most of her own meals and has inspired all of us to

eat right and healthy. "

 

She ends the article recommending books on teen vegetarianism and pointing

people to the Vegetarian Resource Group website.

 

It is a magnificently positive article. My only disappointment is that this

recipe laden magazine didn't come through with any practical support for the

article -- no vegetarian main course recipes in the November issue of BHG.

 

Unfortunately, the article is not available on line. You can pick up the

magazine to read the whole thing.

 

Please thank BHG for this wonderful article on teen vegetarianism. BHG

(based at 1716 Locust Street) takes letters at:

1716Locust

 

Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when

sending a letter to the editor. Shorter letters are more likely to be

published.

 

Yours and the animals',

Karen Dawn

www.DawnWatch.com

 

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in

the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets.

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