Wednesday, February 1, 2012

How to persuade my parents to let me be a vegetarian?

I'm sixteen, and i want to be a vegetarian,

They don't agree with it,

But i've wanted to be a vegetarian for a long time.

Has anyone got any tips?How to persuade my parents to let me be a vegetarian?
Tell them that you believe that being a vegetarian is the right thing to do but say that you do not think that they are bad people for eating meat or anything. Assure them that it will not be a hassle because there are many healthy vegetarian recipes that are very quick. Tell them that not only do you not need meat to be healthy but that not eating meat is actually healthier, when you eat balaned meals. Assure them that you will eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. Say that you understand why they wouldn't want you to be a vegetarian but that, if they let you be a vegetarian for just a month, they'll find that it's not that hard. Promise that any extra work that comes from your vegetarian diet will be your responsabilty and not theirs!

I hope this works for you and, remember these two things:

1. Even if this doesn't work, you can still be a vegetarian once you are older.

2. There are lots of ways to help animals and improve your health besides abstaining from meat!



Best of luck,

Katherine Flinn
Read up on vegetarianism and especially food combining and how to get enough complete protien on a vegetarian diet. Getting proper nutrition as a vegetarian is not a simple thing, it takes knowledge and forethought and planning.



If you don't get enough protien your body will start using your muscles as food...not good! Also, you'll be tired, cranky, lethargic and your school work will suffer because your attention span and memory will not work normally.



Maybe your parents will compromise on you not eating beef and pork, then you can impress them with your (new) knowledge of food combining and protiens and maybe you can cut chicken, then fish.How to persuade my parents to let me be a vegetarian?
Wait until you're 18, move out, then become a vegetarian. All depends on what kind of parents they are some may be able to be convinced some not, I would never let my son become a vegetarian, I believe it is the parents job to make sure their kids are getting the nutrition they need, kids don't always know what's best for them and it's my job to make those decisions for them while they are still considered a kid, when they are adults then they get to make their own decisions.



While I may not be able to force my son to eat meat, I would probably cook every dish with meat in it and leave it on the table for him to choose to eat it or not. If it got extreme, I would cook each dish with meat bouillon or ground meat hidden inside somewhere.



My Dad was a strict vegan for religious reasons for much of my childhood, I am thankful my Mom being a nurse forbid him from forcing me into being one while I still could not make decisions on my own. He did not monitor his nutritional needs very well and became a very sick man when he reached his forties. While he never had heart disease he suffered many neurological problems from vitamin deficiencies.



Meat is good for you in moderation, too much will give you heart disease. Vegetables are good for you, but if you eat nothing but vegetables all day without very careful dietary management it will make you sick as well. The trick to a healthy diet is eat everything in moderation.
Learn to cook and then show them how fantastic vegetarian food is.

I was not a veggie until I was in my 30's and as my husband was one it just made cooking more convenient. I have never enjoyed food so much. There is so much more interesting things you can cook when you cook veggie food.

Perhaps your parents don't want the hassle of having to prepare 2 meals and shop for extra things but if you learn how to cook them yourself then you can cook something new for them to try and they may be surprised.

Start with The Cranks cookery books....great food.

Good LuckHow to persuade my parents to let me be a vegetarian?
Just do it. Tell your parents you're vegetarian, eat whatever you can find on your plate that's not meat, and eat whatever you can find in the house if they refuse to make meals for you. There are MANY good websites for vegetarian recipes, and if you're sixteen, I'm assuming you know how to use a stove so you can cook yourself. If it matters that much to you, you won't take no for an answer.
If you remove meat from your diet you need to eat some other form of protein or you will become unwell. Also look into other supplements (ie. vitamins and minerals) that vegetarians need in order to stay healthy. Do not become vegetarian unless you substitute for the lack of meat.

Your parents should see that you are being sensible and should trust your decision. Sit down properly and discuus your findings without resorting to arguments.

From a Veggi : )
Tell them that, contrary to popular belief, you can still get your nutrients, if not more, from veggie food. I was ignorant before I became one (3 years ago now) and was not aware of the wide choice of veggie brands and alternatives and thought that it wasn't as healthy. But I found out about brands such as Quorn, Fry's, Cauldron and Redwood's, who do many meat-like products, from sandwich slices to sausages and chicken-style slices and can now be found in most supermarkets and health food stores. They are high in protein too. It is basically effortless for you AND your parents. Though if she's concerned about having to cook two different meals now, offer to help or cook your own.



I have never looked back since becoming a veggie. I feel healthier and more pure.



Good luck!
First of, I would suggest learning how to cook some meals on your own, as your family will most likely be impressed with how tasty and healthy vegetarian meals can be. After all, when most omnivores think of meal planning, they first think of what meat they will serve and then decide the "sides" from there; however, with a vegetarian meal, you leave off that piece of meat (which is usually really just a small portion of the whole meal anyways, although most omnivores don't even realize that) and load up on other nutritious goodies (e.g., veggies, pasta, rice, etc.). Your family can then see that there's not really a big difference when that piece of meat is left off, and I'm sure that they will be more open to hearing what you have to say about your dietary preferences.



Secondly, I would suggest doing a lot of research on vegetarianism. Your family is undoubtedly going to be asking you a lot of (sometimes very silly) questions about it, such as "Where will you get your protein?", "Will you get enough iron?", etc. Some great books are: "You Don't Need Meat"; "Diet for a Small Planet"; "Diet for a New America"; "The China Study"; "The Food Revolution"; and "Vegan Freak" (these are just a few of many great books out there on vegetarianism and veganism, I might add!). I would also pick up a copy of "Diary of a Burger as Young Calf", as it really gets to the heart of factory farms, as well as the disconnect between what people do (i.e., eat meat) and what they feel (i.e., compassion for animals). The better educated you are about your choices, the better chance you have of convicing omnivores that vegetarianism is safe and healthy for you.



Thirdly, I would also look at watching "Earthlings" (and if you can convince any family members to join you, then I would highly recommend that they watch it too); it is a moving (although very graphic) video about the abuses human beings perpetrate on animals. Many people who watch this documentary really re-think the way that they consume food and other animal products, and there are many out there who have committed to vegetarianism and/or veganism because of it.



Good luck :)
Nothing you say is going to convince them. You have to prove to them that you are going to take this seriously i.e make sure you get a nutritionally balanced diet. It seems pretty clear that your parents are not going to go out of their way to meet your needs. Therefore you are going to have to cook for yourself. Cooking the odd or regular meals for your parents will go a long way in convincing your parents that you are serious about this.
First of all i think it's important that you try and find out why your parents are against you being vegetarian - is it because they think that it is unhealthy? think it will cost more? be inconvenient? It's only once you understand this that you can set about changing their mind using some of the suggestions made by other posters.
im a vegan and at first no one approved.

then i showed them i could prepare veggie dishes and still get PROTEIN

which everyone is so worried about :P

now they approve

plus remind them that its a statistic that vegetarians live longer and vegans live even longer than that

plus who wants a dead animal corpse inside of them???
I don't think you really have to convince them. Just don't eat meat. They're not going to force you to do it. Tell them that if they cook meat for you, you're not going to eat it. They'll get tired of wasting their money pretty quickly. If necessary, buy your own veggies and cook for yourself.
Just do it! You're 16, no 5. They cannot strap you into a high chair and force feed you meat. I went vegetarian at 12 and my parents didn't like it either. Just say "no thanks" to the meat at dinner and eat more veggies. They'll get used to it, trust me. It just takes some time. Just stay strong and stick to it.
yeah im 18. male. just became a vegetarian. my parents are mad at me too. for now just be a part-time vegetarian. like only eat meat when you're around your family. when you're alone, dont eat animal foods. when you're grown, you can do whatever you want. peace. you're very beautiful by the way.
"plus remind them that its a statistic that vegetarians live longer and vegans live even longer than that.."

While this is true don't forget to mention another statistic that shows you are 3X more likely to go completely nuts. Don't take my word for it... look it up.
Just make sure you get enough protein. Without it, your immune system can weaken and you can get sick MUCH more easily. Otherwise, it shouldn't be a problem.
Tell them you no longer what to be apart of the cruel slaughtering of animals. And that this is a new way of life you have chosen to take part in and that they should support you. As long as your not hurting anyone or anything :).
Vegetarian meals are generally less expensive than ones with meat. Mention that you will be saving them a bundle of money, that can go towards Dad's beer fund.
Tell them how good it is for your health. But ultimately it's your decision and they can't stop you from being vegetarian if you want to.
Try to find in Internet all information about it or even let them watch some DVD about how no good to eat meat and probably they will be with you and all family will change the way of life.
they cant stop you, you're sixteen , tell them its your life and such.
announce it plain and simple
Buy your own food and cook for yourself. How can they control that?

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