Book Review

Vegetarian Manifesto
by Cheryl L. Perry, Leslie A. Lytle and Teresa G. Jacobs
Review by Cathe Olson

Living as a vegetarian in a non-vegetarian world can be difficult even for an adult, but vegetarian teenagers have their own set of issues. Young people don't usually have much control over what they eat. Parents buy the groceries and do the cooking. If they don't support their child's diet choice, the teen may have a hard time getting balanced meals. So where can these kids get help? How about from other teenagers in the same situation? The Vegetarian Manifesto is packed with support and advice directly from teens.

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A large portion of the book is devoted to advising young people with carnivorous parents. One of the most common problems seems to be a lack of knowledge about a vegetarian diet. Parents are concerned that their children are not getting enough protein, calcium, or other nutrients. Rather than finding out how to prepare balanced vegetarian meals, many parents continue to push meat on their children. Some parents assume their children are going through a fad or rebelling against them. Teens explain how this invalidation of their choices makes them feel and share advice about how to handle it.

Some of the other issues discussed in the book are: dealing with relatives (grandparents seem to be particularly tricky), eating out or at friends' houses, handling peer pressure, eating disorders, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The book offers lots of advice from teens on how to handle these situations.

The Vegetarian Manifesto can help kids make the decision to become vegetarian. Teens answer questions like why they became a vegetarian, what the benefits of being a vegetarian are, and what impact vegetarians have on the world. It was encouraging to hear that young people really care about the treatment of animals and the environment. Web sites, books, associations, and periodicals are included to help readers make informed choices.

This book makes a good reference manual, too. It includes advice on what foods to eat and how to plan balanced meals with adequate protein, fat, calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. Sample menus are offered for vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodists, as well as tips for shopping and food preparation.

The only negative part of the book was the emphasis on processed foods. Soy meat substitutes and power bars are okay once in a while, but reliance on these highly processed, fake foods is not healthy. The authors also suggest the use of margarine without specifying that readers should choose a brand that does not contain hydrogenated oils. I understand that most teenagers will not do a lot of cooking, but since many people choose a vegetarian diet because they feel it is healthier, some mention should be made that a processed food vegetarian diet is not, in fact, healthful.

Overall, I was impressed with The Vegetarian Manifesto. Teenagers will be inspired and guided by the testimonials from their peers. They'll be encouraged to find other kids with the same concerns. Parents of vegetarians will benefit from reading this book as well. The insight into the motivations of their teenagers may cause them to respect their children's reasons for deciding not to eat animals. The Vegetarian Manifesto will encourage parents and teenagers to understand each other's point of view and to work together.

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Cathe Olson is the author of the new nondairy ice cream cookbook: Lick It! Cream Dreamy Vegan Ice Cream Your Mouth Will Love, as well as Simply Natural Baby Food and The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook. Visit Cathe's website at www.simplynaturalbooks.com and her blog at http://catheolson.blogspot.com.

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