I was vegetarian in HS too and gained a good bit of weight as a result (and have struggled with my weight ever since.) A big part of it is I was very anemic (VERY) and I had zero energy but lots of cravings. Do what you can to turn this around for him sooner rather than later.

Focus on beans, lots of beans (and protein in general.) They're filling, and have lots of iron and other vitamins.

http://kitchenwisdomofficial.blogspot.com/2013/10/recipe-un-refried-beans.html

Get a crockpot and make a big pot of pinto beans every week.You can leave them whole, yummy or throw them in the blender for "refried" beans. Also yummy. You can put a little cheese on them, serve in a burrito or taco or eat plain. You can add avacado, lettuce, tomato, cheese (jack is good) etc in a corn taco shell. Easy and healthy and food a typical teen would like.

The cookbook I had as a teen was by Sunset and there are recipes in there I still use. Nowadays vegetarianism is much more prevalent so there are a lot more books to chose from. I recommend a visit with a dietitian to help him understand his body's needs and how to meet them. I went to a dietitian as a teen and she had no experience with vegetarianism so it wasn't that helpful.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for these responses! I do have the moose wood cookbook and will check out the others. It is hard to make time to prepare some of these dishes, but I agree my son is on a very unhealthy track, so I need to make an effort. I too would love to know how it is possible to set lower carb as a vegetarian!

Eat mostly vegetables.

Also, I've had very good luck with recipes on this website: http://www.budgetbytes.com/category/recipes/vegetarian/

If you're cooking for meat-eaters as well (been there, done that!), it can help to cook or plan essentially the same meal, but swap out the protein. So if everyone else is having meatloaf, broccoli, and sweet potatoes, you'd just swap out the meatloaf with veggie non-meatloaf. (There are a zillion recipes on the web for this--I like ones with nuts and beans--and the Amy's frozen ones are decent, too.) There are frozen veggie burgers that are fine, but it helps to avoid the ones with a lot of soy and fake meat stuff in them.

Also, do it yourself meals, where everyone makes their own tacos, burritos, or pizzas, are great, especially because you can use whole-grain/higher-fiber tortillas and crusts. Taco salads are also excellent.

I can't eat a lot of carbs but have to get a good bit of protein for health reasons, and when I'm in a hurry, the frozen black bean burgers seem to be the best option for me. I also make my own, using Mark Bittman's basic bean burger recipe, and freeze them. I eat tofu once or twice a week, usually in miso soup. I also like steamed or roasted veggies with hummus, as well as veggie fritatatas and omelets.

This is sort of random: My kids are going crazy for this black bean pasta that I found at Costco. It's high in protein and low in net carbs, and it's AWESOME with peanut sauce and whatever veg happens to be around.

I agree with the PP who said that ultimately, he needs to take responsibility for his own diet, but there are ways to make it a positive experience. Also, as another PP mentioned, the Moosewood cookbooks are awesome. (If you can, try to find the older editions: http://www.amazon.com/The-Moosewood-Cookbook-Restaurant-published/dp/B008TCJXOK/ref=pd_cp_b_0).

Anonymous wrote:My teenage son has been a vegetarian for a couple years. (Because of concern for animals). He has put on a lot of weight, I think because he is living on carbs and cheese. Pizza, pasta, mozzarella sticks, bagels, veggie burgers are his standard fare, and he also eats a lot of junk food such as chips, which he will buy himself if I don't have it in the house. I am looking for suggestions for healthier things I can make (or buy) that a teenage boy might actually eat. I am a vegetarian, too, but I eat a lot of soup and salad type meals, and fruit and yogurt, and he wants more substantial "comfort" food. When I go to the trouble of making things like quinoa or couscous salads for him, they end up going uneaten, which is very frustrating. I also have to cook for meat eaters, who will eat vegetatian but not all the time, so I am looking for ideas that are not too time consuming (as many vegetarian dishes are since they require a lot of chopping). Thoughts, especially for lower carb meal options? Any healthy vegetarian websites or cookbooks with recipes you recommend? Thanks!

He doesn't eat vegetables? Instead of pizza make pizza. Nan bread with marinara and small bits of fresh mozzarella with small sprinkle of parm. Veggies to taste. Soup-veggie broth, wide egg noodles, carrots, onion, celery. Bake zuccini with sprinkled cheese.

Long term there are lota of things you can work on, but ahort term I would make a huge batch of veggies burgers and a huge batch of burritos and freeze them so he can always pull out one of those two things for a quick meal.

Longer term, it's going to be about getting him onboard and educating him about HIS diet and choices. If he's not a part of it, he won't eat anything. If he is, you will be amazed at how easy it becomes to find great recipes.

Set = eat

Thank you all for these responses! I do have the moose wood cookbook and will check out the others. It is hard to make time to prepare some of these dishes, but I agree my son is on a very unhealthy track, so I need to make an effort. I too would love to know how it is possible to set lower carb as a vegetarian!

Moosewood: http://www.amazon.com/Moosewood-Cookbook-Katzens-Classic-Cooking/dp/1580081304

It's a classic.

Sign him up for a knife skills class and a vegetarian cooking class.

Anonymous wrote:(Ps-- just reread that you are veggie, too! Sorry! I would've worded that totally differently had I realized that!!!).

Ok, me again. Do u have the vegetarian times thanksgiving cookbook? The lentil meatloaf recipe in there is yummy it's listed as an appetizer, I believe, but works well as a normal meatloaf. Great as leftovers in sandwiches, too.

Anonymous wrote:My teenage son has been a vegetarian for a couple years. (Because of concern for animals). He has put on a lot of weight, I think because he is living on carbs and cheese. Pizza, pasta, mozzarella sticks, bagels, veggie burgers are his standard fare, and he also eats a lot of junk food such as chips, which he will buy himself if I don't have it in the house. I am looking for suggestions for healthier things I can make (or buy) that a teenage boy might actually eat. I am a vegetarian, too, but I eat a lot of soup and salad type meals, and fruit and yogurt, and he wants more substantial "comfort" food. When I go to the trouble of making things like quinoa or couscous salads for him, they end up going uneaten, which is very frustrating. I also have to cook for meat eaters, who will eat vegetatian but not all the time, so I am looking for ideas that are not too time consuming (as many vegetarian dishes are since they require a lot of chopping). Thoughts, especially for lower carb meal options? Any healthy vegetarian websites or cookbooks with recipes you recommend? Thanks!

How can a vegetarian really eat low carb meals? I suppose he could feast on tofu and nuts and the dairy he is already consuming?

Your son is probably on a path to diabetes. This is a horrible diet.

(Ps-- just reread that you are veggie, too! Sorry! I would've worded that totally differently had I realized that!!!).

http://smile.amazon.com/Vegan-Diner-Classic-Comfort-Food/dp/0762437847/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414259955&sr=1-6&keywords=vegetarian+comfort+food.

Vegetarian meat and potatoes. http://smile.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Meat-Potatoes-Cookbook-Non/dp/1558322051/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414260054&sr=1-1&keywords=vegetarian+meat+and+potatoes+cookbook

Vegetarian suppers by Debra Madison. http://smile.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Suppers-Deborah-Madisons-Kitchen/dp/076792472X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414260107&sr=1-1&keywords=vegetarian+suppers+from+deborah+madison%27s+kitchen

if he's a veg for moral reasons, you need more than a few recipes, this could be the way of cooking for him and your family for a long time. I've been veg for over 20 years, I think these would be the best three for a teenage boy. The vegan diner cookbook recipes can be made easily vegetarian vs vegan if need be. The seitan recipes in it are great.

Bean burgers and bean burritos? Chili with beans or meat substitutes.

My teenage son has been a vegetarian for a couple years. (Because of concern for animals). He has put on a lot of weight, I think because he is living on carbs and cheese. Pizza, pasta, mozzarella sticks, bagels, veggie burgers are his standard fare, and he also eats a lot of junk food such as chips, which he will buy himself if I don't have it in the house. I am looking for suggestions for healthier things I can make (or buy) that a teenage boy might actually eat. I am a vegetarian, too, but I eat a lot of soup and salad type meals, and fruit and yogurt, and he wants more substantial "comfort" food. When I go to the trouble of making things like quinoa or couscous salads for him, they end up going uneaten, which is very frustrating. I also have to cook for meat eaters, who will eat vegetatian but not all the time, so I am looking for ideas that are not too time consuming (as many vegetarian dishes are since they require a lot of chopping). Thoughts, especially for lower carb meal options? Any healthy vegetarian websites or cookbooks with recipes you recommend? Thanks!