Living With A Vegetarian Teen And How To Make It Work
  plus a recipe for rice and bean burritos

1. Allow the vegetarian to create her or his own shopping lists and make it clear that if it wasn't on the list you won't be making special trips back to the grocery store.
2. Discuss menus and prices of grocery items and have the teen accompany you on shopping trips whenever possible.
3. Try to avoid the pre-prepared menu items and go with individual ingredients to make vegetarian meals from scratch.
4. Have the vegetarian prepare, cook and help serve her or his own meal items.
5. Make the policy that what others eat is their choice and no statements will be muttered at mealtimes to the tune of "Do you realize what you're eating is animal cadaver?" "You just put dead animal tissue in your mouth!" or "That used to have eyes" or "I wonder if that cow had a baby?" or "That meat you eat is going to shorten your lifespan, ya know?"
6. Make another policy that no one criticizes the vegetarian with statements like: "That's rabbit food" or "What the heck is tofu?"
7. Try to plan meals in advance collaborating with the vegetarian and make sure at least one course can be shared between the 2 groups (vegetarian and meat eater) such as a salad, or rice dish. Sharing the health and saving money...
8. Serve meals buffet style where foods are set out on a table or counter top. The family members can pick and choose a healthy selection.
9. If possible ease the whole family toward a goal of eliminating meat from their diets from several meals per week. Possibly someday dropping meat from all meals...everyone joining the vegetarian. It would not only be healthier, but would ease the complications of creating meals and overall cost.

Here's a recipe our vegetarian teen likes:

BEAN and RICE BURRITOS

• 16 ounces vegetarian refried beans
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 - 2 cups chopped lettuce
• 1/2 cup diced tomato
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup green pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1/2 cup sour cream or tofu stand-in
• 1/4 cup sliced olives - optional
• package of soft tortillas 10 to 12

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Heat the oil in a large skillet and saute` the onions and green peppers. Add the rice and heat another 5 minutes. Add the beans and mix with the rice and onions. Cover, reduce the heat to low.
Warm tortillas in a frying pan, or microwave for 15-30 seconds - until warm. When the rice and beans are hot, place an equal amount of rice and beans on each tortilla. Top with equal amounts of salsa, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and olives. Roll up and serve.