AN INCREASING number of adolescents, particularly females, are turning away from the traditional omnivorous diet to a diet devoid of meat, fish, and poultry. Although the reasons for shunning animal products are many, typically, vegetarians will voice their concern for animal welfare or their desire to improve the quality of their diet (and thus their nutritional health). It is not apparent, in "born-again" adolescent vegetarians, whether this change in dietary preference has a positive or negative impact on health.