My Teenager Is a Vegetarian – What Now?

My advice is to first understand what kind of vegetarian your teenager is choosing to be.

Lacto-ovo: Includes dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and eggs, but excludes meat, poultry and fish.
Lacto: Includes dairy products but excludes eggs and foods containing eggs as well as meat, poultry and fish.
Vegan: Includes only foods of plant origin and excludes meat or animal products such as milk or eggs.

Nutrition plays a huge role in healthy growth and development and is just as important in teenage years as it is in early childhood. A healthy, varied vegetarian diet includes plenty of leafy greens, fruits, nuts, vegetables, seeds, legumes, and whole grain products. And while some vegetarians also choose to eat dairy products and eggs, there are a few key nutrients that as a vegetarian, your teenager may need some help with.

Protein

Protein is often associated with meat. However, other forms of protein are also available to a vegetarians like beans, chickpeas, tofu, cereals, nuts, peanut butter, and soy milk. A combination of these plant protein foods daily will provide enough essential amino acids.

Vitamin B12

Since B12 is mainly found in meat and milk products, vegetarians are more prone to being deficient in this vitamin. If your teenager prefers not to eat dairy or eggs, B12 can be found in fortified cereals or in supplementation.

Calcium

Good sources of calcium such as tofu processed with calcium sulfate, green leafy vegetables, mustard greens, kale, calcium-fortified soy milk, and orange juice.  The Aquamin TG Calcium used in our Zupafood Range is sourced from marine algae, which is ideal for vegetarians.

Iron

Iron requirements of teenagers are relatively high, and iron isn’t absorbed as well from plant foods as it is from meat. Because of this, it is important to eat foods containing vitamin C as part of the diet to increase the absorption of iron from food.

Vitamin C-rich foods: Citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, broccoli.
Iron-rich foods: Broccoli, raisins, figs, rice, oatmeal, almonds and pistachios, fortified cereals, spinach, black-eyed peas, chickpeas and pinto beans.

Iron supplementation is best recommended by a doctor as very high iron levels may raise disease risk and can also cause constipation.

Zinc

Phytate (phytic acid) is common in plant foods and may reduce zinc absorption by attaching to zinc in the digestive system and preventing absorption. This could be a problem for vegetarians who get their zinc from high-phytate sources such as whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. People with high-phytate diets might have zinc requirements up to 50% higher than the general population.

Good sources of zinc include hummus, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, edamame, cashews, and pumpkin seeds.

Tofu Tips

Extra-firm tofu: This type of tofu holds its shape extremely well, this tofu has a slightly chewy texture and is used in grilling, marinating, frying, and roasting.
Firm tofu: This tofu has a smooth, soft texture and can hold its shape in boiling, filling, and stir-frying.
Soft tofu: This tofu is extremely soft and breaks apart easily into a slightly lumpy texture. It is best used for pureeing.
Silken tofu: This tofu has a beautiful smooth custard texture and is often used for pureeing, and simmering, as an egg substitute in vegan desserts, as well as a protein source in smoothies.