On a pleasant Wednesday afternoon after driving home from work, you arrive home, open the front door and see greet your family. The teenagers areplaying the play station and your husband is watching the news and you are thinking how great life is when out of the blue your eldest teenager announces “Mum, I've decided to become a vegan”. You exchange an odd look with your husband, you smile at your teenager and say “That's nice dear” and quickly change the subject. Then unnoticed you go to the computer and look up “what is a vegan” on google and let out a loud sigh. Oh good it doesn't involve tattoos or drugs. You turn to your eldest teenager and say “so no animal products at all”?

Now your mind starts racing, dinner tonight is lamb chops and 3 veg for dinner, what are you going to feed your eldest teenager? Now being a vegan does not have to be hard or boring. In fact, it can become quite fun when you venture out of the 3 veg mindset. So you decide, if my teenager wants to become vegan they will have to help with the choice of meals, the shopping and the cooking. You should at this stage discuss with your teenager why they want to become vegan and your expectations if you are going to support their choice.

The first thing I would suggest you buy is a vegan cookbook. There are many excellent cookbooks available and some are aimed at vegan cooking for one, which would be excellent for your family. Have your teenager browse through the recipes and pick 3 recipes that they want to try in the next week. Then its off to the supermarket you go. Buy heaps of fruit, vegetables, legumes and nuts as a basis for their diet. Then purchase the ingredients needed for the 3 recipes. You will probably also want to purchase soya milk and a vegan bread. Most breads have yeast in them which is not really vegan so a flat bread or lavish bread may be your best bet, or better still make your own yeast free bread! Also, you need to pay attention to the ingredients in each product you buy – there are certain additives that a vegan will want to avoid such as glycerine which can sometimes be derived from animals.

Now it's time to start cooking. Make sure you involve your teenager in the cooking and also incorporate the vegan dishes into your family's diet. So instead of that lamb chops and 3 veg meal that you thinking of cooking on Wednesday night the rest of the family may still have the lamb chops but instead of the 3 veg, make enough of the vegan dish and have it as an accompaniment to the lamb chops. Let your teenager cook the 3 dishes, with your assistance and guidance. You will probably be pleasantly surprised at what they accomplish.

The rest of the family may also be pleasantly surprised at the change from 3 veg to exciting vegetable dishes – so in this case a win-win situation. Make sure that your vegan teenager eats a lot of legumes, grains, seeds and nuts as well as fruit and vegetables to ensure they receive adequate iron and other nutrients in their diet. If you are concerned that they may not be consuming a well balanced diet a visit to your local doctor where blood tests can be performed will put your mind at rest.

As long as your teenager is prepared to help with the shopping and cooking and allowed to express themselves with the choice of dishes a vegan teenager can quite happily co-exist in a non vegan family. In fact, with the wide choice of vegan dishes available your whole family will benefit from eating the vegan dishes as well.

I wish you and your vegan teenager well.

Suzette Austin
Mother of a Vegan Teenager
http://www.vegancookingsecrets.com

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Just because you might want a healthy vegan breakfast, does not mean that you have to settle for a tasteless plate of food. There are ways to create delicious breakfast meals for your vegan lifestyle without sacrificing your health or taste. The ideas below will help you choose from available options for a healthy lifestyle.

Traditional Breakfast Ideas

There are always traditional healthy vegan breakfast options that you can choose from each morning. For instance some whole grain cereal with rice milk and a piece of fruit is a well rounded and tasty meal. You can also try two slices of special vegan bread spread with natural peanut butter along with a banana or other fruit. These traditional options are a good fail safe way to cut calories while enjoying a yummy meal.

On the Go Healthy Vegan Breakfast Options

Many people have to eat on the run, and this is no different for vegans. If you find yourself in a hurry and need to take your meal with you, then a vegan fruit smoothie is a wonderful option any morning. Filling a vegan bagel or English muffin with a mix of tofu scramble and veggies is another great take along dish that can be ready in a matter of minutes. Do not sacrifice convenience or taste because of your lifestyle. These delicious options can be take on the road with you no matter where you’re headed.

There are many healthy vegan breakfast options that can follow the rules of your lifestyle without skimping on the taste factor. If you have been searching for a great healthy way to start your day, then the options above can provide you with a few ideas of foods that you may want to try. Whether you are looking for a traditional meal or one on the go, your options as a vegan are vast.

Starting your day with a Healthy Vegan Breakfast is one of the best ways to improve your health and energy. For more info on a Vegan Lifestyle, visit: Healthy Eating Vegan

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