Vegan Cooking with Beverly Lynn Bennett

Beverly Lynn Bennett is a vegan chef who recently completed her first electronic vegan cookbook, Eat Your Veggies. She's been working in the restaurant industry since she was 12. Please visit VeganChef.com to get some great vegan recipes and to learn more about her.

Question:

I have only just become a vegan and I am only 13. I'm worried that I won't get enough of the foods I need to stay healthy. And without milk I'm worried I won't grow. Is this true and if so is there an alternative to keep me growing?

Answer:

First of all, congratulations on choosing a vegan lifestyle at such an early age! I often wish that I had become a vegan earlier in life, I just love it. I find that I am encountering more and more vegans that are under the age of 21. Let me assure you that following a vegan diet is recommended by many sectors of the medical field in the fight to prevent many of the diseases that plague the Western World such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, various forms of cancer, and on and on.

Most of what we here in the U.S. know about nutrition comes from what we were taught in our public school systems, such as the Basic Four Food Groups or the Food Pyramid. What we aren't told is that big business (especially the dairy and meat industries) sponsor and pay for this information to be dispensed to us, therefore most of the explained concepts support the use of their products. If you don't believe me, look at the bottom of the posters and you'll see who paid for the privilege of dispensing the information and slant of the campaign. We aren't taught that plants supply many of (if not more than) the same vitamins and nutrients as meat and dairy products.

Unfortunately corporate America and advertising are invading our school campuses and classrooms at an alarming rate. Ever-increasing funds are needed by the U.S. public school systems for their daily operations and educational programs, and corporations are eagerly waiting in the wings with a handout. In exchange for their money they are given the opportunity to bombard young minds with images over and over to sell their products and concepts. Without one knowing it, soon they are repeating back the slogans or factoids whether they are true statements or not.

I highly recommend educating yourself when it comes to what is best for you and your body. Learn to eat as healthily as possible, getting a wide variety of fresh whole fruits, vegetables, and grains, every day. By surfing the Web or visiting your local library you can inform yourself with the latest information on health and well being. May I suggest the writings of the following authors/activists: Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Michael Klaper, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Dean Ornish, John Robbins, Erik Marcus, Meredith McCarty, and Joanne Stepaniak. Two of the most enlightening books that I've read are "May All Be Fed" by John Robbins and "Vegan Vittles" by Joanne Stepaniak.

Since you also mentioned being concerned about growing, may I point out that many top athletes are vegans/vegetarians, such as Martina Navratilova, Carl Lewis, Billy Jean King, Jack LaLane, and Hank Aaron. For additional info check out, http://www.famousveggie.com or http://www.veggie.org. Good luck to you!

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