There is limited data on the growth and development of vegetarian adolescents, but the study of the topic suggested that there are practically no differences between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. In the West, vegetarian girls tend to reach their menstrual age a little later than non-vegetarians. However, not all studies also support this statement. If, however, the onset of menstruation occurs with a slight delay, then this also has certain advantages, such as reducing the risk of breast cancer and obesity.
A vegetarian diet has certain advantages in terms of the presence of more valuable and nutritious food in the food taken. For example, vegetarian adolescents have been observed to consume more dietary fiber, iron, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin C than their non-vegetarian peers. Vegetarian teens also consume more fruits and vegetables, and less sweets, fast food, and salty snacks. The most important valuable substances for vegetarians are calcium, vitamin D, iron and vitamin B12.
The vegetarian diet is slightly more popular among adolescents with some form of indigestion; therefore, dieticians should be more vigilant about younger clients who are trying to limit their food choices and are showing symptoms of eating disorders. But at the same time, recent research shows that the converse is not true, and that the adoption of a vegetarian diet as the main type of food does not lead to any digestive disordersrather, a vegetarian diet may be chosen to camouflage the present indigestion.
With supervision and advice in the area of diet planning, a vegetarian diet is the right and healthy choice for teenagers.