I have two girls, 18 and 16, who have been ovo-lacto and vegan for several years now. They are fine; both take a multivit/min tab each day, but their diet is SO much better than the average teen's; I think it's a healthier choice. By default my husband (and I) eat a lot of veg meals; his cholesterol has gotten a lot better. In the teen years vegetarianism is "cool"; I am sure it's harder in the elementary years . . . but if she's as independent as you say, she will survive, and get to laugh the last laugh.

I am 27 and have been a moderate vegetarian for the past four years and I think it is one of the best choices I have ever made. Most of my family struggles with weight issues and I do not. Every time I try meat because someone tells me how good it is, I get sick. The thought of meat digesting (rotting) in my stomach is in no way appetizing. There are so many options for vegetarians now and I never miss eating meat. The only problem I have with being a vegetarian is that people always make an issue of my 'strange' eating habits. I don't ever question why they are eating meat so I wish they wouldn't question why I am not.

I became a vegetarian during the tumultuous pre-teen year of 12 to 13. Like most kids that age, I was easily influenced and I somehow learned the details of animal slaughter and became a strict vegan. My mother put the onus on me and told me that it was my choice, but that I'd have to do the research myself and educate myself and her about what constitutes a healthy vegan diet. I did that and, with one brief period in between college and law school, have remained either vegan or vegetarian.

I now have 5 children of my own, ranging in age from 3 to 13 and they have all been raised vegetarian since birth.

It's easier now, I think, to be a non-meat eater. There's more awareness, there are more cookbooks and magazines dedicated to the choice, and, perhaps most helpful, lots of good meat "substitutes" in the form of TVP, wheat gluten, and tofu products. My children go to school each day with lunches filled with freshly prepared food that other children envy. Only occasionally does the matter of their diet come up. (Frankly, here in the South, it's a much bigger deal to eat matzoh on Pa*sover, than to abstain from meat at any time of the year! LOL!)

I asked my children what advice they would give other chidren and their parents about being or becoming vegetarian and the consensus is: 1. Don't grandstand the issue or try to persuade others, 2. The corollary to that is -- educate others if they ask (for example, so many people think that they need much more protein daily than they truly do), 3. be upbeat -- it's a choice -- it's intensely personal and it's not "the only way" to live.

Happy eating, whatever it is! Victoria

I was raised a vegetarian too, and it was a little tough eating lunch at school because all the other ignorat little kids would glare at me and ask me what the hell I was eating, following my answer with a bunch of "eeeew"s. They would wave meat around in my face like it was some sort of magic potion, like "Mmmm yummy! Don't you want some?" And alot of thm would ask me if I cared about vegetables dying or not. xD
But now that I'm in high school, vegetarianism is suddenly considered "cool" and everyone's all amazed at me.

My parents raised me and my brother vegetarian but always told us when we were old enough that we could make whatever decisions we wanted about what we ate. Well, now at 23 and 17 respectively neither of us has eaten meat.

I remember in elementary school a few kids teasing me, trying to get me to try beef jerky. Finally my mom sent me to school with a tofu hot dog and said I could tell them I'd try theirs if they'd try mine. LOL. They looked at me in horror and that was the end of that.

Hi there. My children have always had me a their example of a cool vegetarian. Although I have chosen to be a Pesco-Vegetarian for almost 10 years I think it has been the greatest test of willpower, education, and creativity I have ever had. We love to experiment with vegetarin sourses of food savailable to us in our local grocery store. My 14 year old and my 4 your old devour MorningStar Farms meat & sausages, but above all love the corndogs. I make pot pies with chicken replacement from MSF which are really great. BUt I think the thing is we love animals. I could kill a fish if I had to, but I just couldn't kill a cow, or pig, or chicken just to grap a meal. It's really thoutless in my opinion. Oh, and here's another plus, how many meat eaters get fiber from their meat? None. But you can get that with soy or vegetable based diets nad products that are already on the market.

Have you and your child ever watched the movie "Super Size Me". MY son loves that movie. He's watched it for yewars now. He loves to let friends and family watch it. I know , weird huh. But he was totally influenced by the infromation that Morgan Spurlock provided. You might want to give it a try. It's not all about being a vegetarian, although his girlfirend is a Vegan chef. But it is about our kids and all of our helth and the effects of America's typical unhealthy diet.

Good luck to you. It's a struggle. Our eldest son made the decision on his own to give up meat as a New Year's resolution 3 years ago. After some family debate & compromise he has stuck to it and has no plans on going back. t