Here's some answers!

Hi Capriole,

I have met a lot of different types of vegetarians. Honestly, some eat in a healthful way, and some eat a really junky diet. The fact that you don't eat meat doesn't mean you are eating healthy stuff.

Some vegetarians eat tons of junk like potato chips, brownies, cheese, plus lesser nutritious things like baked potatoes and bread, without eating very much actual fruits and vegetables.

Other vegetarians eat tons of fruit, lots of salads, with lots of variety in vegetables, nuts, seeds, etc. This is the healthy way. I consider veganism the most nutritious form of vegetarianism. Preferably with lots of raw food. This is very healthy and nothing to be worried about.

But what your daughter is eating does not sound very promising. What are her reasons for vegetarianism? Is it health? Is it animal rights? Has she read books on vegetarianism? Perhaps you could buy her a book or two. You could read the books, as well. Eat to Live, by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, is a very good book. It is not exclusively vegetarian, but he himself is a vegan and he promotes that. Also Fit for Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond is an old classic. On the internet, www.hacres.com has great information about the hallelujah diet, which is a high raw vegan lifestyle.

Vegetarians who eat healthfully and exercise should be quite slim. Not that they all will be, but it shouldn't be surprising. But then again, they don't have to be, they can up the dense nutritious food. Your daughter needs to be encouraged to eat much MORE healthy food, densely healthy food such as carrot juice, lots of fresh romaine lettuce, raw soaked almonds, etc. Bread and cucumbers will not keep her healthy in the long-term. I recommend you educate yourselves together and have discussions. Also if you are willing to eat vegetarian meals with her sometimes, that you prepare for her, or you prepare together. This will encourage her and be good for you, as well.

By the way, I'm 23, almost 24. I've been vegetarian/vegan off and on for about 10 years. I haven't touched dairy for 2 years, best thing I ever did. Eat animal flesh on occasion. I am very small, around 5 feet, 105 pounds. In a day, here is what I might eat: 1 grapefruit, 1 cup strawberries, 1-2 cups steamed broccoli or okra, 1 cup brown rice or black-eye peas, 1 apple, 2 pieces whole wheat bread drizzled with 2 Tbl. Extra-Virgin Olive-Oil , 2 cups Romaine Lettuce, 20 oz. fresh carrot/beet/apple juice, 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, 1/2 cup steamed kale. As you can see, that's much more than nothing.

Hope that helps you!
~Squeaky~ Tweet