Last modified: Sunday, March 18, 2007 11:15 PM EDT Tyler Chauncey likes a veggie burger sandwich, which includes a veggie burger, veggie bacon, lettuce, ketchup and mustard on wheat bread. (Staff photo by Mike George) Vegetarian eating not just for adults BY TED NESI FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE Tyler Chauncey cannot remember a time when he was not a vegetarian. It's "been a part of my life," said Chauncey, 14, "and I really don't think about it that much because I'm really just used to it." The whole Chauncey family of Attleboro is vegetarian, and Tyler said it is simply not a big deal. "I've tried (meat) a couple times, and I liked it," he said. "But I kind of wanted to stay a vegetarian, because it's just normal for me." About 1.4 million Americans between the ages of 8 and 18 - 3 percent of that population - are vegetarian, meaning they never eat meat, poultry, or seafood, according to a Harris Interactive survey conducted in 2005 on behalf of The Vegetarian Resource Group. The same poll found the highest percentage of vegetarians in that age group were 13- to 15-year-old girls - just over 10 percent. "A lot of people, when I say I'm vegetarian, they say, how do you get your protein and stuff? But I'm a pretty big kid for my age," Tyler said, pointing out with pride his height of nearly 6 feet. "I think it's perfectly fine for young children to be vegetarians, as long as they are not vegans," said Professor Barbara Brennessel, a nutrition expert at Wheaton College in Norton. "It depends on the food choices and the type of vegetarian diet." Brennessel said that young vegetarians can obtain sufficient protein to support their growth by consuming eggs, beans, nuts, including peanut butter, and dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt. But, she added, "If the vegetarian choices are items such as bagels, pizza, French fries and pasta, they will be loading up on carbohydrates and may have a problem obtaining sufficient protein." Amanda Matte, a 17-year-old North Attleboro High School student, has also been a vegetarian her entire life. She followed in the footsteps of her mother, who is also a vegetarian. "It's not something I'm really preoccupied with," Matte said. "None of my friends are, so they don't really understand it. It's just what I do." As more students decide to become vegetarian, school food officials are looking for ways to accommodate them. Matte said she does not usually have a problem finding vegetarian options, but she almost always packs her own lunch to bring to school. "It's just easier in general to bring your own food because you know what's in anything," she said. "But I think they'd be open to talking about it and finding better options at school, too." Bob Palmieri, director of food services for the Attleboro schools, said vegetarianism is "treated similar to an allergy situation." "On our menu there is a possibility of choosing a meal if you are a vegetarian, unless you are such an extreme vegetarian that we need to meet with the students," Palmieri said. He said 75 percent of the schools' March food menu is acceptable to vegetarian students. "My mandate is to publish a menu that covers 99 percent of circumstances," he said. "That published menu is not as deep as our capabilities could possibly afford. That's why folks kind of misunderstand food service. "There is a published menu - it has to meet certain requirements, and just like in a restaurant menu you have a special of the day," he said. "But beyond that, as in many restaurants, the capabilities go much deeper than that." Tyler Chauncey, who attends Wamsutta Middle School in Attleboro, said he found few vegetarian options at Thacher Elementary School, "but usually at Wamsutta I get a bag of Sun Chips or a bagel." Other area school administrators said vegetarianism was not much of an issue for them. "We don't really have many of those requests, and any requests we handle on an individual basis," said Judy White, who oversees food services for elementary and middle schools in Wrentham and Plainville. "It's not a big issue in elementary and middle schools." Martha Dooley of Foxboro schools' food services department echoed White. "You hear a little about them," she said of young vegetarians. "Now and then some kids will request it - they have over the years - but sometimes the managers have talked with them, and they don't pursue it, and therefore, we haven't either." All the officials stressed that they want to make sure the needs of all students are addressed. "All food service providers have got to provide options," White said. "We cannot discriminate against anybody. We're a federal and state program." As for the idea that all vegetarians eat extremely healthy diets, though, Amanda Matte calls it a myth. "I live on frozen food," she said. "I'm the least healthy person I know."