Online Magazine Offers a Different Kind of Support for Vegetarian Teens

Vegetarianteen.com Online Magazine for vegetarian and vegan teens and their parents was launched this week. It's not only a place where teens and their families can find information and support, but an outlet for veg teens to express themselves through their writing.

This week saw the launch of an exciting new website aimed at educating and providing support for teenagers who have decided to adopt a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Vegetarian Teen Online Magazine (www.vegetarianteen.com) also offers parents advice and information regarding the healthful, life-giving diet their children have chosen. Since much of the sites content is by teens, for teens," it is also a place where young people can publish their thoughts and experiences relating to vegetarianism.

I finally found an appropriate forum in which to express my 'alternative ideas. The website content is absolutely great! I am a sophomore in high school, and my peers are not that supportive of my animal activism. I think a lot of veg teens are going through the same thing," says Ava Wolfberg, age16.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people, especially teenagers, who have turned to vegetarian or vegan lifestyles. Computers and obtaining information from the Internet has also become very popular. Melanie Wilson, owner/editor of both Vegetarian Teen Online Magazine and Vegetarian Baby and Child Magazine (www.vegetarianbaby.com), saw an opportunity to offer support and education through the World Wide Web.

I wanted to create a site just for vegetarian teens that would address them differently than those already in existence. I envisioned a site that not only included the standard nutrition information, but nutrition for pregnant teens; articles on controversial subjects like eating disorders; support and information for parents; interviews done by teens; activism articles; an editorial area; cruelty-free fashion and eco-friendly living ideas; message boards; book, music and product reviews; and anything else we could think of!" says Wilson.

To help establish a safe online environment, writers are allowed to use pseudonyms and the staff of Vegetarian Teen Online Magazine fields all outside communications. All of the contributors published on the site have a parental consent form on file with the staff stating the policies of VegetarianTeen.com, copyright information, and their commitment to maintaining the integrity of this site.

Currently, there are two adult volunteers on staff -- Wilson and Lucy Watkins, Vegetarian Baby & Child magazines interview and activism editor - and approximately 60 young people contributing ranging in age from 11 to 26. This is a labor of love," states Watkins. We have a motivated group of contributors who are passionate about animal rights, the environment, social activism, and vegetarianism. They have really renewed my sense of commitment to the movement, and I think they will affect positive changes with their work."