Help, I’m trying to be a vegan in a meat eating family, need advice.?!
Help, I’m trying to be a vegan in a meat eating family, need advice.?
Everyone in my family are meat and cheese lovers. I want to be a vegan. We barely have any fruit or vegetables, only carrots and oranges. I am an adolescent and don’t have any choice on what groceries my family buys. I asked them to add soymilk and tofu to the grocery list and they get angry. I don’t have enough money to buy my own groceries now. I get a job in July. What should I do?
Answers:
That's a tough one.
Basically go for the one parent who is slightly less resistant and try to convince them. I had the same problem -- with having a**hole parents in general, not to mention they wouldn't buy food I enjoyed eating. We never ate vegetables, except the odd 'salad', but mostly canned peas. They come from a British background where they cook the crap out of everything. Even a meat eater or anyone in general would find it difficult to swallow any of our meals. So, getting them to just buy some 'real' food was impossible. "tomatoes are too expensive" is what's they'd say... (I didn't ask about tomatoes) So I was stuck eating cheap granola, potatoes, etc.
Good luck -- until you move out!! or get $ of your own.
Eat meat it is an essential part of the human diet. Since the early beginnings of man we have had a diet rich in protein. Plus have you ever met a true vegan the just don't look healthy. Cheese and Dairy does the body good. What about Pizza?
This is tough...and i totally understand what you're going through...I've been in your situation. Maybe if you educate your family about what being a Vegan really is...Maybe that could help a little. Just don't get all preachy about though...that'll just make things worse. Explain to your family how important this is to you and why...I'm sure they love you enough to listen. ^______________^ Maybe do extra chores for a couple of choices on the grocery list? Or perhaps leave out a favorite cereal of yours for the soy milk and tofu...things like that.
do you get an allowance? Can you rake the yard for your neighbors? Do a google search for vegetarian awarness and make a fake email address and send it to your parents email. You could always eat the meat and then roll around in the floor like you are in excessive pain and pretend as if you are getting sick. Just some ideas.
sit them down and try to explain to them why you want to become a vegan. get all your facts straight, maybe print them out on a piece of paper. im vegan in a omni italian family so i know what your talking about.
Man, it's too bad you don't live here. This is like orchard and farm city...I just go pick fruit off of people's trees along the road all the time. You can find good things to eat in the woods too, like poke salad and wild plums. All free!
eat out more often (at healthy places or friends houses), ask your parents for money for that, and they basically cant say no. if you go to friends houses they will probably be nice and support your vegan options and so you can just eat vegan foods. good luck!
Do your research, present your findings in a nonconfrontational way, and if they don't budge refuse to eat the meat. It doesn't sound like you can go fully vegan until you have more control or more tolerant and supportive parents.
Good luck.