My daughter wants to be a vegetarian. Is it safe?

Many kids today are conscious of animal rights and choose to be vegetarian or vegan. Some vegetarians will eat milk products and eggs and others won't. Vegans will only eat vegetable and fruit products. The most important thing for kids who adopt vegetarian eating habits is that they take a vitamin every day. If your child is a vegan, a calcium supplement is also recommended.

Protein intake for vegans can include tofu and other soy proteins as well as peanut butter, soy nut butter and beans. A vegetarian or vegan diet can be perfectly healthy if followed the right way. Talk to your child's pediatrician about her diet or see if he or she can recommend a nutritionist to ensure your preteen is getting all of the good stuff she needs to grow up healthy.

Chat it up with other parents of preteens to see how they're dealing.