Afraid to Go Veg, Starve & Freak Out Mom

Advice On Going Vegetarian from Savvy Veg

Question

Hi, I'm 17 and I'm thinking about becoming a vegetarian. While the animal cruelty aspect of it helped me in thinking about this, I'm more so in it for health reasons. With all the icky pesticides and health problems that come with eating meat, I just think I would be better off not eating it. I've never been a huge meat fan and I love fruits and vegetables and I'm willing to try new things.

I have three questions. What are the health benefits of becoming a vegetarian, like little interesting facts like does it help your skin, etc?

I'm heading off to college this fall, so my timing I think is a little off. I'm afraid about what my options are going to be like on campus, the school is a pretty small one, and I don't know how many vegetarians there are there. That's why I haven't really told anyone about my contemplation yet, especially my mom. I don't want her to freak out and be even more concerned about me at college then she already will be.

How do I know if this is just a passing phase or not? How do I make this decision? Should I just try it?

Thanks! K.H.

SV Advice

Dear K.H.,

I think you'll find the answers to most of your questions in the free report: 10 Tips For Beginning Vegetarians that I just sent you, and in the attached report: Vegetarian Nutrition, but here are a few extra tips:

Eating more fresh whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables, and avoiding sugar and junk food & soft drinks, plus drinking lots of water, and regular exercise is good for your skin and everything else. If you have skin problems though, you might look into specific food allergies or sensitivities that might be contributing.

It seems like a good idea to look at your options and get settled at college before making major changes to your diet. When my vegetarian daughter went to college, the options on campus were so limited, it was either cook or starve, but she had not much money and even less time, so she was rather thin! And of course, you wouldn't want to freak out your mother!

Vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diets are widespread in much of the world, and your desire is completely natural. Try vegetarian food a bit at a time, learn more about it and see if you like it. You'll know if this is just a passing phase if you are't satisfied and persistantly want something different.

Hope this helps!

Judy Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian

Health Disclaimer:

Savvy Vegetarian provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or improve their diet. We don't advocate any particular vegetarian diet. We don't claim to be health care professionals, or nutritionists, nor do we treat any illness. Any changes that you make to your diet, or results of those changes, are your decision and responsibility. For your protection, we ask you to be completely open with us about your health, and we may recommend a medical exam before changing your diet. We reserve the right to refuse or to end a client relationship if we believe the client's actions may endanger his or her health.

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