I want to become a vegetarian...how do i convince my parents?

I have wanted to become a vegetarian for quite some time now. A big problem is my parents don't agree with it and I really want to show them my reasoning for wanting this. I need help! So maybe you could give me some pros and cons on the whole thing and is there any videos or anything online that I could show them? Thank you!!I want to become a vegetarian...how do i convince my parents?
If there is one time you shouldn't listen to your parents it would be when they try to keep you from becoming a vegetarian.





-Being a vegetarian saves 95+ lives a year!



-They wouldn't eat their pet cat or dog, right? What's the difference between their pets and farm animals? "...farmed animals are no less intelligent or capable of feeling pain than are the dogs and cats we cherish as companions." http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp



-Leading health experts agree that going vegetarian is the single-best thing we can do for ourselves and our families. Healthy vegetarian diets support a lifetime of good health and provide protection against numerous diseases, including our country’s three biggest killers: heart disease, cancer, and strokes.



-The American Dietetic Association states that vegetarians have “lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; … lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer” and that vegetarians are less likely than meat-eaters to be obese.



-Well-planned vegetarian diets provide us with all the nutrients that we need, minus all the saturated fat, cholesterol, and contaminants found in animal flesh, eggs, and dairy products.



-A plant-based diet is the best diet for kids, too: Studies have shown that vegetarian kids grow taller and have higher IQs than their classmates, and they are at a reduced risk for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other diseases in the long run.



-Studies have shown that even older people who switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet can prevent and even reverse many chronic ailments.



-A 2006 United Nations report summarized the devastation caused by the meat industry by calling it "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global."

http://www.goveg.com/environment.asp

Chickens are inquisitive, interesting animals who are thought to be as intelligent as cats, dogs, and even some primates. They understand sophisticated intellectual concepts, learn from watching each other, and even have cultural knowledge that is passed from generation to generation.



Pigs are curious and insightful animals thought to have intelligence beyond that of an average 3-year-old human child. They are smarter than dogs and every bit as friendly, loyal, and affectionate.



Fish are smart, sensitive animals with their own unique personalities. They have excellent memories and can learn to avoid nets by watching other fish in their group and can recognize individual “shoal mates.”



Cows are intelligent, loyal animals who enjoy solving problems. Cows have been known to use their smarts to perform amazing feats, such as leaping over a 6-foot fence to escape a slaughterhouse, walking 7 miles to be reunited with a calf after being sold at auction, and swimming across a river to freedom.





Turkeys are social, playful birds who enjoy the company of others. They relish having their feathers stroked and like to chirp, cluck, and gobble along to their favorite tunes. According to Oregon State University poultry scientist Tom Savage, turkeys are “smart animals with personality and character, and keen awareness of their surroundings.”



Geese are very loyal to their families and very protective of their partners and offspring. Often, they will refuse to leave an injured or sick mate or chicks behind, even if winter is approaching and the other geese in the group are flying south. After a partner dies, some geese spend the rest of their lives without a mate; this can be a long time, because geese can live up to 25 years.

http://www.goveg.com/amazingAnimals.asp





Here are some video links:



http://www.themeatrix.com/



http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp



http://www.petatv.com/veg.html





Oh and here is some Vegetarian101 for you:

http://www.goveg.com/vegetarian101.asp



And some Vegetarian FAQ:

http://www.goveg.com/FAQs.asp





Good luck!!!
Hi. I have been vegetarian for about four years now and my parents hated the idea when I first presented it to them. The worry they had was that I wouldn't get enough protein or fat, etc. This is probably your parents worry too (unless you are really religious or something like that).



The best way to convince them to let you is to go to some vegetarian websites, diet/cook books (I highly suggest Vegetarian magazine, great recipes) and just gather information about it. If you can, go to the doctor/nutritionist and have them tell your parents about vegetarianism. If you present your "case" very maturely and professionally, they will see that you are serious and educated on the subject and thus will be more likely to let you go veggie.



Remember, knowledge is power (cheesy I know, but not in your parent's eyes). Good luck with your ambitions!I want to become a vegetarian...how do i convince my parents?
i become a vegetarian and my parents at first was not agreeable, but my family are buddhist, from religious point of view, they can accept it . if your parent are not religious and you take it out of other reason just tell them so. Plus i am healthy be4 and after taking so they are ok. why dun you say try for a week and show them this diet dun affect u and their life, in turn they can accept slowly. and believe it will not affect ur health, and is actually good for you. :) good luck
I am not sure about videos on-line but if they are old-fashioned like me you can get them a book called "Diet For A Small Planet" by Frances Moore Lappe. It's old but it explains why it's important for the world's meat consumption to decrease, exactly how to get good protein from plant sources, and some simple recipes to get you started. Once they read it, they might even change their food choices too!!I want to become a vegetarian...how do i convince my parents?
Yes. i have a video. i have been a vegetarian all of my life and thats like 15 years since i am 15 so yeah and i'll soon be vegan so yeah here is the video that will convince your parents~



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIjanhKqV…



12 mins very sad video on how animal have to suffer!!
Bring it up, ask their opinions/concerns, print out information to address their concerns. If you need help, you can always email me.
It can be a little frightening to transition to a veggie lifestyle when you're still living with your parents. I was fifteen when I became a vegetarian seven years ago, and my mother was very upset in the beginning. Here are a few things you can do to calm your parents down:



1. Explain to them why you want to become a vegetarian. Have you always loved animals? Are you concerned about the environment or your health? Many parents are proud of their children when they express articulate opinions about the world around them, even if the viewpoint differs from their own.



2. Research vegetarianism on the internet together. There are many good sites to take a look at, though I would recommend avoiding information from radical groups like PETA. Most parents aren't receptive to their style. Check out nutrition sites, sites about the way animals are treated in the meat industry, etc. If your family is religious, many religious groups also have information on the spiritual benefits of being a vegetarian.



3. Decide what sort of vegetarian you want to be. There are many different kinds. The traditional vegetarian is called a lacto-ovo vegetarian. They don't eat any meat or seafood but do consume eggs and dairy products. Pesco-vegetarians don't eat red meat or poultry but do eat seafood. Vegans, on the other hand, don't eat any products that come from animals, including eggs, dairy, and even honey. Once you know what your diet will be like, you can research ways to stay healthy and get all the vitamins you need. Many parents worry about how their vegetarian children will get proper nutrition. Discuss meals and vitamin supplements with them to make them more comfortable.



4. Ask you parents what, exactly, is concerning them. My mother was upset because she felt sure that I would never be able to eat with the family again. Once I reminded her that many of our traditional family meals were or could easily be made vegetarian-friendly (like most pasta dishes, pizza, etc.) she felt better. I also made a habit of eating the side dishes my mother cooked for the family and just substituting a soy product for whatever meat they were eating. Morningstar Farms, Boca, and Gardenburger offer a wide variety of frozen, protein-rich products you can substitute for meat.



5. If you are sixteen or older, offer to get a job to help buy groceries. If your family doesn't normally purchase vegetarian-friendly food, it can be expensive for them to get their normal groceries in addition to tofu, fresh veggies, hummus, Boca burgers, and all of the things you will need to keep a healthy diet. They might be much more amenable to the transition if you offer to take responsibility and pay for some of your own food.



I hope this helps. Every parent is different, and their concerns may vary. Just talk to them openly and honestly and think of ways to deal with their specific worries. Most importantly, DON'T FIGHT. They'll respect you and your decision more if you approach the problem calmly and rationally and don't lose your temper.



Good luck!