Could you help me become a vegetarian?!
Could you suggest some nice substitutes and maybe give me some links to non-meat recipes and such? I think that if I can last a little time without eating animal products I'll forget about it and won't want to eat them.
Oh, and how should I tell my parents (Passionate meat eaters) I want to change my eating habits?
Answers: I have decided to quit most derived products, but I don't think I'm quite ready to stop eating something I've been used to eat all my life.
Could you suggest some nice substitutes and maybe give me some links to non-meat recipes and such? I think that if I can last a little time without eating animal products I'll forget about it and won't want to eat them.
Oh, and how should I tell my parents (Passionate meat eaters) I want to change my eating habits?
No. We can't. You're the only one who can help you go vegetarian.
Go to the grocery store and look around. There are a million different kinds of produce. Go to the frozen section and find the vegetarian foods.
www.goveg.com
www.fatfreevegan.com
How you tell your parents really depends on your age.
Tryby making a habbit of staying away from the meat section when going shopping. That probably won't be hard concidering most meat sections aren't very big. There are lots of deliciouse food items that don't include meat. Also try writing down all the things you hate about meat, the when your tempted to bye meat you can just remember all the things you hate about it!
The easiest way to tell your parents is to think it through yourself first. Show them that you will indeed still be getting enough protein and eating right. Also present the with alternative meals, easy, tasty meals that would make a quick substitute for meat or even small one serving meals so that they can continue to eat meat. It may also help if you offer to cook occasion.
As for substitutes there are a wealth of vegetarian alternatives. Check out your local grocery store. I know the one used most in my house is Morning Star. As far recipes, try check out some the attached links. Good luck!
Sources of protein
Soy, tofu (soy cheese), sunflower seeds, sesame, mushrooms, oat, chestnut, hazelnut, peas, beans, avocado coconut .. You can eat anything, just not meat..you'll see it's pretty easy. For the recipes check out http://www.vegcooking.com/
And you should definitely tell your parents :)
HEY ITS NOT HARD TO BECOME A VEGGIE!!! IM A VEGGIE (HAVE BEN SINCE 10 NOW 12) NOT TOO HARD JUST STAY AWAY FROM THE EVIL FOOD FOR A MOTH OR 2 AND THEN YOULL EVEN FORGET WHAT IT TASTES LIKE AND BE AFRAID TO EAT IT AGAIN!! It worke for me!!
For starters, go to Trader Joe's. They have a variety of tastey non-meat options (I recomend the vegan corndogs from Morning Star). Start taking a multi-vitamin daily, and make sure to get a significant amount of protein.
If I were you, I would go to Trader Joe's on my own and purchase the food. It will show you're parents that you're responsible and serious. Also, don't try to convince them to give up eating meat. Instead, talk to them about why you want to become one, and how you belive it will make you feel better. Most importantly, give the information (books, websites, ect.) on how to be a healthy vegetarian. That way they'll know you're going to be healthy and happy!!
First off, it really depends on your reasons for being a Vegetarian.
I did it because I really feel strongly about animal rights,
and I'm already so picky about my meat.
I'm not actually vegetarian, I'm sure a lot of true Vegetarians would hate me for calling myself one.
The way I do it is,
I don't eat meat. But, if I really really just need a hamburger, I'll go get one. No big deal. If I'm a guest, I'll eat it. I won't make a big deal of it.
I figure that eventually, I'll probably just end up being full-out vegetarian, you can start out the way I am.
Just don't eat meat,
but don't go out of your way to avoid it, either.
It'll make it seem easier,
and as times goes on,
you'll eat less and less.
As for telling your parents,
don't really mention it.
At dinner, if you're eating meat,
and they offer you some,
just say, 'No thanks. I don't eat meat now.'
If they make a big deal about it,
just shrug and be like, '
'I just don't eat meat anymore. That's all there is to it.'
If they really freak out, say thats it's probably a phase.
Thats something parents seem to accept, even if it's not true.
I don't know. I didn't make a big deal of it, so neither did my family,
they all figure it's my business.
Hope I helped!
oh YAY, another vegetarian! good on you. dw, its really easy to make your normal meals into vegetarian ones.. i thought of these myself :)
*tacos/burritos (instead of meat, beans but with the same spices)
*have sandwiches with vegetables and lots of cheese (you could add toferky but i personally think it tastes like dog food)
*vegetable lasagne
*when your family eats burgers, have a VEGE burger, you can buy them in the frozen section their goood
*tofu cooked with spices, soy sauce, and sweet chilli/tomato sause, when your family is eating meat
*PASTA
*cheese/vegetarian pizza
*stirfries
*noodle boxes (their boxes of like pad thai, satay noodles and stuff and all you do is add water and microwave)
*vege-nuggets (havent had them but apparently their even better than chiken nuggets)
*avacado and cheese quesidillas
*ceasar salad
*spinach queche- no ham of course
theres really soo many options! and i agree with you i think if you start cutting out meat you won't crave it anymore, thats what i did.
About telling your parents.. i had the same problem. It depends how old you are because if your really young it might be a problem but if your a teenager then it should be easy enough. I am 14 and told my parents about 2 weeks ago about it. They were absolutely fine with it, its really not as bad as you think, its scary but just go up to them and say, i've decided i want to be a vegetarian, calmly tell them why, and say that you'll help with making other things for dinners and stuff. believe me, i was freaking out, my dad is a manager of kfc....
here are some sights also:
http://vegkitchen.com/
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/...
http://www.recipesource.com/special-diet...
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Everyday-C...
http://www.vrg.org/recipes/
Hope this helps! :D