Should a thirteen year old girl be allowed to be a vegetarian?
By SimplyMe
@SimplyMe (373)
United States
November 7, 2006 11:11am CST
My daughter's friend is one, my daughter thinks it is a little indulgent of the parents to allow this, especially when this girl is extrememly thin to begin with. Somehow I think it is a bit of an eating disorder that the parents are enabling. What do you think?
3 responses
@compumom (738)
• United States
21 Nov 06
That's a loaded question. As far as being a vegetarian at 13, I see nothing wrong with that. As long as she eats a balanced diet and gets her protein and missing nutrients from other sources.
The second part of your question is a whole different matter. If she has an eating disorder, then her parents should watch her and seek help. Too many teens have fallen for the 'thin is in' culture and have developed eating disorders in order to maintain thinness.
@SimplyMe (373)
• United States
21 Nov 06
I agree with you. This girl is very thin, is prone to fainting and has something going on with her skin. I think she is using the vegetarian bit to "hide" her need to contol her intake. i think she has her parents fooled, but as a former disordered eater, I can see what she is doing.
@amberbambers23 (2615)
• United States
7 Nov 06
maybe she doesn't like to eat meat, and thats why she became a vegetarian. Thats all i can think of unless she has an eating disorder
@wyykidd (1460)
• Singapore
19 Nov 06
If the girl is going vegetarian for religious reasons then it's fine. Because she will know how to balance her diet. But if the decision to go vegetarian is because of losing weight, then she should not be allowed to do that. She will probably go to some very extreme way & may affect her health
