Vegetarianism is increasingly popular in the U.S. for a variety of reasons, including health, animal rights and environmental concerns. Scientific evidence suggests a positive relationship between a vegetarian diet and reduced risk of obesity, heart disease and some cancers. A carefully planned vegetarian diet can be nutritionally adequate and healthful for children of all ages. At the same time, vegetarian teens who consume large amounts of foods, such as soda, pizza, French fries and ice cream, could be putting themselves at higher risk for developing chronic disease from excess fat, sugar and salt. Calorie intake must be assessed, along with several nutrients that may be of concern, particularly protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B-12, for any teenager who consumes a meatless diet.
The goal of this teenage vegetarianism continuing education module is to update dietitians’ and nurses’ knowledge of the special nutritional concerns of the vegetarian teen and how to ensure that the diet is nutritionally adequate. After you study the information presented here, you will be able to:
- Discuss the nutrient concerns for teenagers who adopt a vegetarian diet
- Present alternative sources of various nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet due to food restrictions
- Recognize the warning signs of an eating disorder and the relationship to vegetarianism
- Offer reasonable solutions and assurances to parents who are concerned about their vegetarian teenagers
This course is intended for multiple professions, including nurses and dietitians.
Dietitians: Take this version of the course to ensure you receive appropriate credit.
OnCourse Learning is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Accredited Provider (#GD001) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). This course is a Level 2 course.
This course is approved for continuing education clock hours by the Certifying Board for Dietary Managers (CBDM).
This program has been approved for fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the Certifying Board for Dietary Managers (CBDM). Granting prior approval does not constitute endorsement of the program content or its program sponsor.
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Unless stated above, the planners and authors of this course have declared no relevant conflicts of interest that relate to this educational activity. OnCourse Learning guarantees this educational activity is free from bias.
Please see CE Course Instructions to learn how to earn CE credit for this module.
For Florida professionals:
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