Convincing parents about becoming vegetarian?!
Convincing parents about becoming vegetarian?
I am a 13 year old girl and have decided to become a lacto-ovo vegetarian(doesnt eat meat but eats egss and dairy products). My mom was iffy about it but i convinced her. The problem is my dad. He said no right off the back and is strict. He says its my time for growth and cutting meat out of my diet with stunt my growth and energy levels. I live in a house where meals are based around meat. Please give me some websites to prove to my dad i can still stay healthy.
Additional Details4 months ago
Thxs guys. Any one else have anymore websites?
Answers:
4 months ago
Thxs guys. Any one else have anymore websites?
www.meat.com (if your dad would even watch it)
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/vegetar... (a guide for teens)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vegetar... (an actual hospitals websites advice on eating vegetarian)
http://www.jtcwd.com/vegie/ (information on all subjects)
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/teennutriti... (another page just for teens)
However despite how many good websites you produce on the healthy benifits of being vegetarian it is pretty likely if your dad is set in his ways he is not open minded and will not care what a website says.
This is such a common problem among teenagers, and it was for most of us too growing up.
My suggestion is to take your facts to your dad (print them out maybe so he can read them when he wants) and just tell your dad that you are a smart girl and you are smart enough to make your own decsions and you feel this is the best decision for yourself and for animals and you are not going to eat meat anymore, period. Hand him the papers and walk away. Don't argue, don't whine, don't try and convince more then handing over the facts, and don't eat meat.
If you really want to stop you will, they cannot MAKE you eat meat. Pick around it, or learn to cook your own meals. (For example just eat plain pasta, pass on the sauce if they won't make a meat free sauce. And have a banana for a snack later after dinner) My mom even used to try and mix chicken broth in my tomato soup but when she saw I wouldn't eat it then she stopped.
Since your mom is semi-supportive maybe talk to her and see if she will help you prepare a vegetarian meal once every week for the whole family. you will look really responsible if you find healthy vegetarian recipies and want to cook them for the entire family.
Also tell your mom you care about your health and would like to start taking a multi-vitamin (if you don't already) be careful though, some kids chewable ones contain geletain which is pig/cows so read the ingredients first.
Also you could have your mom contact your doctor. (if hes not to old fashioned, stuck in the mud doctor) most understand that a vegetarian can be healthy and will help ease your parents fears and help you build good eating haits.
Goodluck.
http://www.goveg.com/lettuce.asp...
http://www.goveg.com/healthconcerns.asp...
You don't need to prove it to him. I'm ten and I'm a vegetarian. Your dad can't make you eat meat.(mine tried to)Your body is yours, do what you want with it.
Thats a good idea your mom did that. I became a vegetarian so my mom did. But I knew she couldnt do it. SHe never challenges herself. But here are some websites for your dad.
im 11 and the same thing happened with my parents. they hated me for "doing this to myself".
it didn't really get resolved, but my parents learned to deal with it. my mom said i am too old for her to force me to. www.goveg.com is a really good website
my advice to you is to let him know the benefits of vegetarism, explain why you are doing this, promise him a better lifestyle, and if all fails ask him if he is reallly going to force feed you. i hope it doesnt resort to that.
tell him this is what you are going to do and that this is what you believe him. then tell him that millions of kids have done this. i'm cheering for you.
oh and some advice. i have been veg for almost a year now, and in the begining i was always hungry and eating a lot of carbs make sure you are eating right, especially in the beginning.
Hi. When I was 16, I decided to become a semi-vegetarian (still ate fish, eggs, dairy, and poultry....no red meat or pig products). I had to convince my parents by purchasing a healthy cookbook for vegetarians that explains how to get enough protein without eating meat. I chose to become a semi-vegetarian because I knew it was the only way I could get my parents to consent -- I would compromise by still eating some meat (just not very often). My parents finally gave in when I explained how I could get protein in other ways. As long as you're chosing healthy alternatives, it should work! :)
You've already gotten some good links in your first answer for general purpose knowledge about going veggie.
I'm going to suggest a tactic that *might* work on your dad
This information should scare the dickens out of him and (along with the information that veggie diets aren't just adequate but healthy) might thaw him out and possibly impress him that you are concerned about your future well-being!
P.S. (I'm a grampa and been veggie since 10 years old