How to Feed a Teenage Vegetarian

Many teenagers experiment with being vegetarians and end up making it an eating lifestyle. Preparing the family meals while incorporate vegetarian practices is easy with these steps.

Instructions

1. Educate your teenager about eating healthy as a vegetarian. They need to understand that even though fries and cheese dip don't contain meat, it doesn't make them healthy eating choices. Vegetarians, especially female teenagers, need protein in their diet. If they don't get it from meat, they must get it from healthy vegetables.

2. Plan your family meals in advance. Vegetarians can't pick up burgers or a bucket of chicken from the local fast food joint for dinner. Since those quickies meals are out, you must prepare your menu and stock the ingredients early.

3. Provide a selection of healthy fruits and vegetables for lunch and dinner. Encourage your teenage vegetarian to eat leafy green vegetables to obtain iron and discourage them from eating too much potatoes and pasta. Their breakfast should be healthy cereals, such as oatmeal, and whole grain breads instead of sweet rolls and donuts. Peanut butter is a great source of protein and even better if they eat it with whole grain breads or on vegetable spears. Healthy dairy products such as low-fat cheese, milk and yogurt should be included in the teenage vegetarian diet.

4. Try new vegetarian recipes that the entire family may enjoy. Ask your teenager to help prepare the meal with you. It could really be a great way to bond while you experiment with vegetarian meals.

5. Introduce new foods into the teenage vegetarian's diet, such as tofu, veggie burgers and "meatless" meats, such as soy bacon, that you can purchase at health food stores.

6. Check with your family doctor if you feel that your teenage vegetarian is not getting proper nutrition. Your doctor may have suggestions for protein drinks or vitamins that may benefit your teenager. Make sure your teen takes a good multivitamin every day.

7. Buy books with vegetarian recipes and browse through them your teens to get an idea of what type of dishes may appeal to them.