To Veg Or Not To Veg-A Teen On The Verge Of Becoming Vegan

To all teens out there considering becoming a vegan or vegetarian, read my 5 Steps to help you decide--and don't worry about what your carnivorous parents say.

Hi! It’s Brooke here and those of you who know me, know I am a passionate animal lover. I have rescued many birds that have fallen out of nests; I’ve cared for baby squirrels; I’ve recently signed up to be a volunteer at The Shed Aquarium. Honestly, I think I love animals more than humans–no offense to my fellow homo sapiens, but animals have a special place in my heart and that is 100% the reason why I feel they have no place in my stomach.

Being faced with this difficult life decision, I’ve come up with a plan for other teens. I hope these steps can help you make the choice I’m trying to make right now.

Here are my Five Steps towards trying to become a vegetarian: 1.Talk to Your Parents: Let them know your feelings. Tell them everyday. Don’t give up. Provide them with research and facts, proving that vegetarians grow up healthy–in fact, healthier than carnivores. Do your homework–present your case–live true to your beliefs. They will come around eventually.

2. Read Labels–Not only the obvious food labels–also pay attention to labels for cosmetics, soaps, and other toiletries. Some companies still test their products on animals–disgusting and abusive.

3. Plan well. Spend an hour or two on Sunday and plan all of your meals for the week. This will show your parents how serious you are, help keep organized when grocery shopping and make your week of eating run smoothly.

4.Take vitamins and supplements–especially B12, Calcium and Iron. I became anemic this year, which did not help my case, but I take iron pills daily and it's made a huge difference.

5. Don’t give up–think about how inhumanely animals are treated. Think about the difference you are making. Know deep down in your heart you're doing the right thing!