Ds 14 has decided to be vegan, feeling concerned!

[Beardie03]

I knew the vegetarianism was coming but today he's announced he wants to be Vegan. He seems to have done lots of research on nutrition and how he can make sure he gets all the right nutrients, he said he prepared to cook and clean up for himself. I'm just concerned for him, is this really sensible for a 14 year old who is still growing. Will it make him an outcast socially, I'm thinking, will anyone want him at their house to eat anymore. Does anyone have any experience of veganism and teenagers? Help!!

I became vegetarian (not vegan) at his age. My parents said crack on but you have to make your own meals. I did and I'm still vegetarian. Is this something you could suggest to him?

Three ways to get b12 - fortification, supplementation, defecation ( i.e. eating a bit of animal shit). As he is homo sapiens he needs to do one of those, our species needs b12. Lots of food miles in that proposed diet but otherwise sounds like he's prepared to put in the effort so let him get on with it.

I’m sure he will be absolutely fine!

A few tips from me (also vegan in a SW backwater)

-lots of international food shops will deliver by post nowadays, so your son can easily access different types of bean/lentil/misc ingredients over and above what is available in the supermarket to make authentic dahl & curries.

• mock duck/chicken/pork in the form of canned seitan is a useful cupboard staple for Asian dishes

-black salt (kala namak) is eggy and sulphuric and absolutely MAKES scrambled tofu

Just loads of cookbooks for inspiration! If he is interested in where his food comes from it sounds like a great opportunity for him to develop interest, skills and pleasure in cooking.

Restrictive diets are OFTEN a trojan horse for eating disorders.
Check his height, his weight, find out from him if weight loss and change of shape is a goal for him.
Plan how to address weight loss and discuss how you will know if veganism is becoming unhealthy for him.

Hel be totally fine its completely normal and easy to be vegan these days, its quite clearly the future and far more healthy.

@OldTinHat

I became vegetarian (not vegan) at his age. My parents said crack on but you have to make your own meals. I did and I'm still vegetarian. Is this something you could suggest to him?

He's willing to cook himself and I was at work last night and this morning I noticed he has made up his packed lunch last night. We will prob eat as a family a couple vegan meals a week with him.

@WindowsSmindows

Restrictive diets are OFTEN a trojan horse for eating disorders. Check his height, his weight, find out from him if weight loss and change of shape is a goal for him. Plan how to address weight loss and discuss how you will know if veganism is becoming unhealthy for him.

It's nothing to do with his weight or how he looks. It's all to do with ethical reasons. He does have an obsessive personality, he's on the autistic spectrum, high functioning.

@murbblurb

Three ways to get b12 - fortification, supplementation, defecation ( i.e. eating a bit of animal shit). As he is homo sapiens he needs to do one of those, our species needs b12. Lots of food miles in that proposed diet but otherwise sounds like he's prepared to put in the effort so let him get on with it.

Yes, I have bought a B12 vit spray and will get a multi vitamin supplement at the weekend as well. So far after only 3 days of it, he's eating far better than he ever did before, had tendency to have choc bar at breaktime at school and a rubbish canteen choice, they don't have much choice. How he's having lots more fruit, veg, oats, nuts, seeds, pulses etc....I guess as long as I closely monitor he will be ok

@BeastOfBODMAS

I’m sure he will be absolutely fine!

A few tips from me (also vegan in a SW backwater)

-lots of international food shops will deliver by post nowadays, so your son can easily access different types of bean/lentil/misc ingredients over and above what is available in the supermarket to make authentic dahl & curries.

• mock duck/chicken/pork in the form of canned seitan is a useful cupboard staple for Asian dishes

-black salt (kala namak) is eggy and sulphuric and absolutely MAKES scrambled tofu

Just loads of cookbooks for inspiration! If he is interested in where his food comes from it sounds like a great opportunity for him to develop interest, skills and pleasure in cooking.

Thanks so much X

Yes, I have bought a B12 vit spray and will get a multi vitamin supplement at the weekend as well.

Just a warning, you may know already so ignore me if you do, but not all multi vitamins are vegan so look for some that are. Good luck, he’ll be fine. I definitely eat better and healthier as a vegan than I ever did as a meat eater or a vegetarian. I feel better too.

Restrictive diets are OFTEN a trojan horse for eating disorders.

No, not often, but sometimes.

Not everyone who goes vegan does so to conceal an eating disorder ffs, there are a huge array of vegan foods now and it's more accessible than ever.

@WindowsSmindows

Restrictive diets are OFTEN a trojan horse for eating disorders. Check his height, his weight, find out from him if weight loss and change of shape is a goal for him. Plan how to address weight loss and discuss how you will know if veganism is becoming unhealthy for him.

Tbf it's a lot harder to hide an eating disorder behind veganism now, as there is so much tasty vegan treat food and normal meal options. I knew someone who did this with gluten free meals: claimed she couldn't tolerate it but then doused her food with soy sauce. It was an excuse not to eat carbs in her case I think

Anyway, you'll be keeping an eye on him I'm sure OP

he will need an omega 3 supplement. .you can't get all your body needs from a vegan diet

@MissTrip82

I went vegetarian as a teenager 25 years ago. It was very unusual and I knew no others. My parents had a meat-based diet and so my mum sent me to a dietician which was really useful.

I have never regretted it and appreciate that my parents supported me even though they really didn’t understand at all.

The only people who will froth and make a fuss are people who eat a very narrow diet themselves and can’t imagine how you can get protein without meat, despite many people around the world managing to do so for years. Those people also tend to assume that you’ll be eating meat-substitutes because they just can’t fathom what else you might eat. Their limited exposure to a wide range of food is not your son’s problem.

Just came on here as I was wondering how you're getting on with this. I completely agree with Trip. It just needs a change to the way people think. Don't think about substitutes, think delicious dishes. Plan food for him and then stick a bit of meat on the side for you if you really can't bear to be without it. I'm not saying do that all the time but go with it yourself for a few meals a week, it might expand your horizons.