They also include a variety of foods, provide all the nutrients and calories needed for growth, and are not overly restrictive in fat. Work with your teen to ensure the availability of foods they need for a healthy vegetarian diet. It's fair to expect teens to help plan their meals, shop for, and prepare special foods. Stay flexible and creative. Building your own entr es like chef salads, burritos, tacos and pizza allows individual choices regarding vegetarian and non-vegetarian ingredients.
Vegetarian entrees can often serve as side dishes for the rest of the family.
Reserve your right to veto unhealthy eating behaviors, such as overly restrictive diets and those that cause unhealthy weight loss. Remind teens to respect other peoples' right to consume the diet of their choice. Adapted from Nutrition and Your Child Newsletter Fall 1999. Cooperative Extension programs are available to any individual or group without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap. Named products are used for clarification and ease of discussion only and are not necessarily endorsed or promoted by the University of California Cooperative Extension.