The article by Angelina Drake titled Starving Budgets, Obese Students has truly been an eye opener. Not only that, but an inspiration. I've been wanting to talk to my school counselor about how to start a vegetarian/health activism club (or some group along those lines) at my school, and this article is honest and persuasive enough to support my desire to start such a club. I have a feeling it'll be a tough battle, but with text such as this in my defence, I know I can succeed. Thank you!!
- Samantha Baun

I was so impressed by Erin Folley's article For the Environment. It was organized very well, which made it easy to read. I have just recently become a vegetarian (about 2 weeks) and I have been doing lots of research about it. All of what I've learned was contained concisely and cleary in her article. And I feel that the reasons she stated for going vegetarian are exactly why I made that same choice. I want her to know how helpful she's been to me. Becoming vegetarian is very difficult for me and her article gave me the reinforcemnt I needed. Thank you very much for this online magazine. It has helped me a great deal and since I don't know any vegetarians my age (17), it has been nice to read about others like me on your site.
Love and Peace,
Janeya

Just a short note from rainy England. I thoroughly enjoyed Laura's article about cruelty where horses are concerned. She writes with enthusiasm and seems to be very knowledgable. I look forward to reading more of her articles in future.
Yours sincerely,
Pia Caise

I think that it is so cool that you guys made a very cool vegetarian website. I have been a vegetarian for a couple years now (I'm 13), and I have gone through a lot of crap from my friends about. Like people say mean things to me and my friends are annoyed by it sometimes. And sometimes I just need a place to go where there are more vegetarians (not counting my house - my mom is a vegan, and my two sisters are vegetarians, too). I love your website - thank you so much!
--Roo

I'm 22 now but I wish there was a site like this when I was young.
--mermaid

The Vegetarianteen site Rawks.
--Kirk Brandt

Thank you so much. This vege site has helped me through this tough road of going to an animal safe diet. Thank for all of your support.
--Ramana

Hey, I just started being vegetarian. For a lot of years so many people have asked me if I was veggie cause I don't like a lot of ground meat. I just really hated that stuff, and I would throw up when I tried it so I never ate it from then on. It got so annoying to keep saying that "I don't like ground meat, but I do eat meat." So I started thinking about going veggie, I'm all for the animal rights thing and no mass production. But then I found out that my boyfriend, (someone who I can really talk to about this crappy world with all it's issues) was vegetarian. I guess this just kinda opened my eyes a little to the bigger possibilities. The only thing was, for all those years and still now, I do like some meat, and that was holding me back a little. That was my excuse, "I would go veggie, but I just love salami and steak and sweet and sour chicken!" But I just realized, I can go veggie and I really believe in the statement that it makes, so what is holding me back?! So now I am, for about a month now or something. It isn't really that hard for me, except for those chicken teriyaki days at school. And overall I'm really glad that I made that choice. I also feel really accepted too, not strange or weird or anything other people might think about being a vegetarian. It's kinda funny to me. I have a coach to help me - Sarah, in my class, likes to convert people to going vegetarian. I'm her new project this year!!! Plus, of course my boyfriend is all for it, and I love him so much for making me consider actually becoming vegetarian in the beginning!
--Dena

As Jessica's father I can attest to the transformation she has made in her life, exactly in the manner in which she wrote it. What is most surprising to those we (my wife and I) tell the story to is that it was not us as parents who taught her compassion and enlightenment to all creatures of our world, but she, who as a child, showed us the way. Her determination was an inspiration to us all and resulted, as she indicated, in myself, my wife, my son and his girlfriend, giving up meat forever. As a result of your web site and this article I am delighted to report that my sister in law has now also embarked on a vegetarian diet. Never will I underestimate the power of a child. Indeed they are the future. Today I am very optimistic that they will value compassion towards all living things and mark the way for a non violent society.
--H. Alleva

I just found your site, and was very impressed by the quality of the writing! I'm 17, and I have read a decent amount of bad school newspaper articles, poor research papers, and pointless arguments by classmates. Well, OK, I've written some downright awful stuff myself! Anyway, to see 14-, 15-, and 16-year olds penning such creative, cohesive articles is truly refreshing!
--Virginia Ferguson

I enjoyed your article, Ictus and Starza: Father and Daughter. I'll be back to your site for future reference. Thanks!
--Harriet Moore

Wanted to thank you for the info you are presenting on veganism for teens!
--Eric Brent, HappyCow's Global Guide to Vegetarian Restaurants & Health Food Stores
www.happycow.net

I am a 19 year old college student and I recently decided to become a vegetarian. My decision was sort of spur of the moment. I was eating at Taco Bell a few nights back and I was disgusted by what I was consuming. It didn't taste good and it definitely was not enjoyable. I researched vegetarianism on sites like peta.org and goveg.com. I watched videos on animal cruelty and was disgusted by the way human beings treat innocent, living creatures. I also realized the positives of becoming a vegetarian. Our environment benefits from choosing this healthy lifestyle and if my decision means one less animal will be killed...it's all worth it. I know my ascent into vegetarianism is not going to be easy. I like meat and I don't know a lot about alternative meals. College is also not the best place for vegetarian dishes, but my school does provide them. Telling my family will also be difficult. I grew up eating meat and my father is an avid hunter. I'm hoping they will understand my choice and support my new eating habits. This whole experience will take strong will and dedication. I am excited to start my new lifestyle and hopefully I can convince others to go vegetarian!
--Ron Grolls

I have only stopped eating meat for about six months now. I wanted to do so sooner, but because it was practically drilled into my head that there is no way to give up meat without living off of supplements, this kind of conformity thinking is very prominent. Kudos to you for capturing it in written form so eloquently.
--Nature Lover Chick

I'd just like to say thank you for making a site such as this for teens like me. I love to read if people give me a hard time about vegetarianism. Thanks for doing this.
--Matt Talon

My name is Katie, and I am 16. I just wanted to comment on Melissa's article. ["Why You Should Attend Liberation Now!"] I found it to be very reader friendly and informative. Although I am from Ohio, I hope I can go to the conference. I have never been to one, but this article made me realize how helpful a conference like this can be. There are hardly any vegetarians where I live. I love vegetarianteen.com; it keeps me going when I get depressed about not having any vegetarians my age around.
--Katie O.

Well done for your excellent website by the way.
--Mary Brady

I was glad to find this website online, and I think its very informative even to unsure parents about their teenager's choice of diet. I was especially happy about the article by Angelina Drake about lunchtime questions. All of us have had to answer extremely ridiculous questions and can at times lose patience with the stereotypes people have. I think most teenagers, not having been raised vegetarian, need support to face either their family or friends and are not always so confident and sure about what information they know about vegetarianism. Being a teen vegetarian I know what it's like, and I'm glad there is a place where teenagers can have this support with other teens. Just wanted to say what a great informative website this is.
--Oresteia

Wow!! What an awesome site!! I'm sixteen and have been a vegetarian since I was born. My mom sent me a link to your webpage, and I love it. it's nice to know that there are other teenagers out there who share the same views that I do. I'll be visiting this site frequently now. Keep up the good work!!
--Katie

I really like the site and it has helped me a lot. There is a really great band out there too which has given me hope as well. The band's name is Propagandhi. They play punk rock, but they really stand for a lot. Not only are they vegans and fight for animal liberation, but they also support the gay/lesbian movement, are very political, and are pro-feminist. They are great people and deserve more credit. One of their songs that has really helped me is called: Nailing descartes to the wall/liquid meat is still murder. If you could put up more info on bands who inspire hope in people it would be kindly appreciated, not only by me, but by the billions of animals destined to die each year.
--Peace and Love,
Matt Coombs

I applaud your website for publishing teen views. I believe that our progress will depend heavily on the next generation.
Best wishes,
Phineas.

I live in Samoa which is in the South Pacific, and my mum thinks this vegetarian thing is crazy and like a starve-yourself diet and well, my dad doesn't take me seriously, because he thinks it's just a "teen phase" since I never did like veggies (and I mean never), but suddenly for the strangest reason I dropped meat without hesitation...They won't buy me veggie or fruits, and things like that since being a Japanese-Samoan household it's similar to an American household of tons of meat and dairy products. The only person who supports me is my sister, however she's not a vegetarian.
--via email

I get so frustrated that people are ignorant, and this site is great because it lets me know that there are people out there that know what I know, and it doesn't make me feel alone. Thanks.
--big blink

I LOVE this site ! I'm a 52 year Vegan ( of 15 yrs ), and love the fact that this site is filled with healthy ideas for teens, and they are concerned about animal welfare. I was reading some of what you eat, and it was wonderful. It's so refreshing to see the teens eating more healthily then my generation, and being SMART about nutrition. Great informative site, keep up the GOOD work!
Blessings,
Cyndi

PS- I was very impressed with the article The Sociology of Saying No by Kate Epting. This was an excellent read, well written, to the point, and humorous as well. Hard to believe the author was only 19!

I was recently browsing through your web site and was very pleased to see the optimistic promotion of safe and healthy vegetarian living for teens. I thought that I would share my vegetarian experience with you. I became a vegetarian at the age of six, and, 13 years later at 19 my beliefs and commitment to the meatless diet only grow stronger. When I was little my older brother Martin was quite the tease and never left me alone when it came to the animals that I was eating. Although he adored his meat he would do such upsetting actions as singing the particular animal's call like mooos and oinks, or say that I was an animal killer. Of course, I didn't think much of what I ate because I was so young. After my bunny Flopsy died I could not bare the thought of killing or eating baby animals anymore. It was then that I began to reject meat. The only meat I would ever eat was McDonald's. In fact I was eating in a McDonald's restaurant when I decided, "I will never eat another hamburger or animal again." I am educated on the matter and am in constant investigation towards product labels and ingredients. I must admit that it is not easy being a vegetarian. I mean, the no-meat thing is a breeze for me, but the constant questioning and attempts of peer pressure is a pain the brain. As vegetarianism requires much dedication and commitment, I believe that it has encouraged me to want to accomplish my goals and achieve whatever I set my mind to.
--Sarah Vezer

I work for Animals Asia Foundation, and I recently read on your web site Starza Kolman's review of our China Bear Rescue video. I just wanted to let her know that several people have ordered the video as a result of her review. Many animal lovers are afraid to watch our film for fear it will be depressing. Starza's wonderful review spreads the word that this film is actually uplifting and inspiring. Thank you for including her review on your web site! If you can, please relay a huge thank you to Starza as well!
Warm regards,
Andi Mowrer
Animals Asia Foundation, USA
802/651-1088
amowrer@animalsasia.org
Find out more about the historic China Bear Rescue by visiting the Animals Asia Foundation website at http://www.animalsasia.org

Great site, gives me some hope for the future world you all will live in. I am an old veggie. My daughter was like you as a teen. She started alone on the road that four years later led to her high school removing mandatory dissection of real animals in Honours and AP Biology classes, by refusing to do it and standing up to even the superintendant of schools! She is still veggie even in her 20's. Keep at it guys, some of you will make it into the adult world to make positive changes! Keep Greg Smith out in front, I would love to see him as President of America in my lifetime!
--Barb S. Pakula

I was searching high and low on the web for an online shopping source for TVP. Thanx to your web link I got it! Thank you much for what you are doing!
--Sandia Waller

I just wanted to tell you how much your site has helped me.I have been trying for a while to become a vegetarian but it never worked out. Now that I have started reading some of the articles on your site I feel more confident about what I am trying to accomplish. Thank you so much for making this site!
--Sarah

"I work with Compassion Over Killing (COK), one of the animal rights organizations listed in your "Animal Activism Links" section, and wanted to thank you for such a fantastic website. Unfortunately, when I became vegan at 19 (in 1990), helpful empowering resources like VegetarianTeen.com weren't available, but it's so heartening to know that young vegetarians can get empowered and learn more about compassionate eating online!"
--Miyun Park

"Best site devoted to teens I've ever seen."
--Lorraine

"Seeing my own name and work on vegetarianteen.com allows me to take pride in the beliefs and choices that the world so often tries to make me ashamed of."
--Ava Wolfberg, 16

"I'm a 17 year old vegan, and I just came across your site. I just wanted to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for all that you do. It's amazing to see a site (and a good one, too) that is dedicated to veg teens. I found some great places to look for boots and things as I'm sure you can imagine that it's pretty hard these days to find vegan boots. Living in Canada it gets cold! Thanks again for all that you do!"
--Scotty, 17

"This is all so exciting and a wonderful opportunity! I don't know too many people that share my views, but I think this will turn out to be a wonderful source of support."
--Rachel Crowley, 16

"Originally, before the site was up, I thought it was gonna be pretty lame, full of a bunch of stupid junk. But on the contrary, the site is the complete opposite. I enjoy it a lot, and the info is really good. It's nice to see so many young kids getting into veg*nism. I made the veg conversion in 94, and vegan in 96, and I wish there was a site like this when I was first starting out. You guys have done a great job, and I'm sure you'll continue to do so. I really think the site will help out a lot of kids."
--Melissa Rose, 18

"Awesome! Vegetarianteen.com is fabulous! I've browsed through many pages and your navigation is great, the site looks fantastic, the articles are nicely targeted. Congratulations!"
--Erin Pavlina, VegFamily.com