How can I convince my mum to let me be vegan?!
How can I convince my mum to let me be vegan?
She won't let me because she says i'm too young (i'm 12). I've been a vegatarian for about 3 years.
Answers:
“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”
“Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence. Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals. Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.“
-ADA’s and Dietitians of Canada position on Vegetarian and Vegan diets
Show her a diet plan that is designed for a growing child (I hesitate to call you a child but something for children could be even more convincing than something for an adolescent). Discuss with her the consequences for your health of an ill-planned vegan diet, and explain how you plan to avoid them. Explain your reasons for being a vegan instead of a vegetarian, without any whining. If she knows you're aware of how conscientious you need to be about getting enough protein and vitamins, and trusts that you aren't dieting because of a psychological problem (fear of not being attractively thin), she's more likely to let you do it. And if she cooks for you and your whole family together, go find recipes yourself that will make it very easy for her to adjust.
Part of the problem may be that she does not want to have to make you something different than the rest of the family. I am sure that your mom is busy enough taking care of you and the rest of the family and does not really need the extra hassle of fixing you special meals. I understand that you want to be vegan, but you are going to have to take some responsibility for fixing your own meals. You also have to be sure that you are getting the proper vegan meals so that you are getting enough protein, etc. to keep you healthy and to provide you with all the vitamins and minerals that you need. You are at and age when your body is growing and changing very fast and you need proper nutrition to do so.
i think you should accept her answer.... why? because you are living under her roof... she pays the bills, buys the food, buys your clothes and other things you need or desire... Respect her decision as she knows what is best for you. She takes care of you and you should be thankfull for this and that you have a mom who cares about you. Wait until you are 18 and can pay for your own food. Food is very expensive and for her to have to buy additional foods to keep your growing body healthy will also be quite costly. (maybe for you even a few hundred dollors per each month) If you are willing to pay for the foods you need to make a strong body then let her know that you will take over your grocery shopping out of you own cash. Remember, it is extremely important that a growing child (yes, you still are) eat a very well balanced diet to grow into a healthy young woman. If you miss out on the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals, proteins, carbs and sugars, and more... you are setting your self up for serious disease... and very possible that your growing vital organs will not grow properly. This could affect your adult years in many ways... even to the point you can not have your own children or will stunt breast growth, heart growth, liver health, and more. Please.. stick with mom for now and smile and thank her for understanding what is in the best interest for your lifetime of health, due to the fact your body is still growing and changing into an adult. Wait until you are 18 and then at that time learn all you can about vegan and health. Be careful- and discuss with a doctor or a licensed educated nutrintionist.... or even go to your school nurse. If she feels this is a good decision at this stage of your life have her call your mom. One more thing... check out from the library or buy at the bookstore, the inexpensive paperback book called 'The Ten Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up There Lives', the national known best selling book by Dr. Laura Slesinger. You will be thankful for this book if you read it.... it is perfect for your age as you are already beginning to make your own decisions about your life.
So get over the vegan for now...and remember every decision you make in your life has an outcome... be it a good decision or bad decision... there will be either a good consequence or a bad one... and consequences of decisons you make will affect your path in life (even the kind of friends you hang around). ... and just give mom a big hug because she loves you so... there is no reason to be upset with her.. Remember the bible commandment, thou shall honor the faather and mother... chill out ... only 6 years til you are 18... plan for then and enjoy your next 6 years under moms care and guidance... Remember, many kids dont even have a mom or dad that cares or none at all. Be very thankful your mother hen is watching over her precious chick!
Maybe you could slowly ease into it? Like, start with replacing milk with soymilk. The great value brand from wal mart is almost as cheap as regular milk, and you can tell your mom how much healthier soymilk is, like how it prevents heart disease and has less saturated fat and no cholesterol. You could ask her to buy italian ices or sorbets (both very cheap) for you to eat instead of ice cream. Have her leave the cheese off of your food. Just slowly cut things out a little at a time, you don't even have to tell your mom that you're becoming vegan...just try your best to choose foods that are. Here are several lists of things that are vegan and readily available: http://www.peta2.com/stuff/s-recipe.asp....
Or you could always fake lactose intolerance and an egg allergy lol.
you shoudl NOT give into her. NOT. NOT. NOT. NOT. NOT. hear that? because you believe this. hasen't she been teh one telling you all along to do what YOU beleive instead of following others' examples? yes. so. you find a well designed meal plan, discuss it with her, tell her that you know if you do this incorrectly it could cause problems and tell her your plans on avoiding them. Also tell her that you are going to do this and it would make it a lot healthier for you if you could have her support. i know that sounds harsh, but seriuosly, this isn't like choosing a religion(where it doens't hurt anyone), it's doing what is RIGHT(every moment you delay and animal is being hurt, and you know that's wrong). Explain things to her rationally, but don't yell at her, i think she will understand if you can get her to realize that you NEED to do this.
Get some research to show her. Even kids can be vegetarians and it's healthier to start at a young age. Show her that you will be getting plenty of protien from beans, nuts, soy, and veggies, and you can eat redskin potatos, carrots, and take a multivitamin for your B12. Make a menu with some foods you would like and see if you can get her to talk to your doctor about it. She may be skeptical about certain things but if you let her know you have done the research and you understand what you are talking about then she may let you give it a shot.