I really want to become vegan?!
I think that my dad is concerned about health, but mainly, like everyone else, inconvenience. I even offered to prepare all of my own meals, but he still refused! By the way, my parents are divorced, and we live with my dad one third of the time. Any suggestions?
Answers: I have been vegetarian for about one year, and it's fairly easy for me, especially because my little sister, who is 9, is also vegetarian. However, after considering it for almost a year and finally after seeing an animal cruelty video on PETA, I decided that it really is a choice I want to make. My sister agreed that she would like to do it as well. But three of the four main adults in my life (my dad, my mom's boyfriend, and a very close family friend) are fully against our vegetarianism. My mom has been fairly supportive in that, but she feels that veganism is over the top. I have only talked with my dad about veganism, but he was disbelieving and dismayed, and I'm sure that the other two adults will have the same reaction.
I think that my dad is concerned about health, but mainly, like everyone else, inconvenience. I even offered to prepare all of my own meals, but he still refused! By the way, my parents are divorced, and we live with my dad one third of the time. Any suggestions?
I think you should go for it. You certainly sound mature enough to make your own decisions. And it need not be inconvenient, unless you're planning to be gourmet about it. Make out your own grocery list and go shopping with your dad.
Research the nutrition argument so you'll have responses ready. (The trolls who hang out here are great practice!) Cook for yourself, clean up after, and he'll eventually get over it. No one can make you eat something you don't want to.
For support, this is a good website:
http://www.vegetarianteen.com/
You need to do some research on nutrition and present the results to the adults. Just saying you wish to become a vegan is not a convincing argument. In any case, by doing the research, you'll learn which foods you can substitute for meat and meat by-products without harming your health.
dont start
Good for you becoming vegan but for a 9 year old you might be cutting out too much, that could be unhealthy.
to tell you the truth i think being a vegan is bad. i dont really see it has healthy in anyway. and u need to like all vegetables and probably take a lot of vitamins. thats just my opinion. but if your up for the challenge go for it. no one can really stop you. you can always just try it out and if you dont like it just be a vegetarian. my mom and gramma [the mian ppl in my life] support me on it, but they do wish i would eat meat cuz they dont think its very healthy.
I agree with Elaine P on this one, so long as you've done careful research. And very good with offering to prepare your own meals. However, I could never see my way clear to be a vegetarian, so I'm sure I don't know what you're going through, but I wish you the best of luck all the same.
If you want to do it, dont let others tell you otherwise.
Personally, me, I could never become a vegetarian/vegan. I would die without meats and food we have been eating since the the caveman days.
There will always be someone who's got a problem with the way you choose to live your life. That simply cannot be helped.
The best way to earn the respect of the nay-sayers around you is to live your life as a happy and healthy vegan. Get reading (I highly reccomend Davis & Melina's "Becoming Vegan"), learn to cook for yourself, and take care of yourself.
I also reccomend you read "Vegan Freaks" by Bob Torres and Jenna Torres - it helped me a LOT when I was a new vegan. Check out their podcast: Vegan Freak Radio. There's lots of profanity - you'll love it! (JK!)
A last word of advice: If you want advice on veganism, talk to VEGANS. Omnivores don't "agree" with veganism because they aren't vegan and don't know a lick about what it's like to be vegan, so naturally they're going to tell you they don't approve, that it's unhealthy, blah blah blah. Go to a vegan food forum where you're going to be educated and supported by people who actually know what they're talking about because they live the life and they live it well. (Veganfreaks.org, theppk.com)
Best of luck!
I have just checked your profile, and seen that you are 13. Since you still depend on your parents, not only financially but morally and for many things in life, don't you think it is a little early to take such a drastic decision? I do not mean that you are unable to think for yourself, on the contrary (and I can see you have really weighed your decision and have good arguments), but maybe you should also take the advice of the adults who are, for the moment, responsible for you. As for deciding for your 9-year-old sister, for me it is the same: your parents should be deciding for her, not you.
I may appear very old-fashioned to you... Sorry...
I want you to know if you stick with it, they will eventually learn to deal with your choice. I've been veg for 17 years now, and at first my parents were horrendous, even slipping meat products into my meals. Your offer to make your own meals is a good first step to staying strong, and I would learn everything possible about your choice, so when your family deride your choices, you can educate them about your decision. Get cookbooks galore from your local library, and adopt a diy attitude as much as you can. Also, does your dad know Clint Eastwood is vegan? Sometimes even silly facts like these allow your parents to accept veganism as more than a new age cult. It may take many years, it took mine about 3-5 to stop pestering me, but if you treat it like an adult decision and are responsible about meal prep and nutrition, eventually they'll recognize your choice. Good luck, I remember those days.
I'd wait till you weren't relient on other people for sustenance (food, nutrition). Its amazing and remarkable that they are semi-somewhat supportive of your vegetarianism. I waited until I moved out of my parent's house before I became vegan, and I dont regret the wait. Veganism is great and truely an amazing lifestyle but if it isn't carried out properly (eating a well rounded meals, supplementation, and paying careful attention towards nutrition) it can be quite disastrious for a young growing body. The main reason is because of nutritonal disparities that can occur if the diet isn't properly regulated. I know this makes it sound hard, and it is and it isn't. Veganism for me would be impossible when living under parents roof, because they weren't overly, enthusiastically supportive, in fact they weren't even really supportive of my vegetarianism . When I began purchasing my own food, i adopted the veganism lifestyle (and after 3 years haven't turned back.) I'd wait till you lived on your own, bought your own food or had the supportive of your family.
If you are really serious and your family is accepting, I'd definitely recommend speaking with a Registered Dietitian. They hold a wealth of information regarding the nutritional requirements of various lifestyles and diets (veganism/vegetarianism, more specifically.) And I know they would honestly love to help you, as they love it when people care about their body and health.
If you aren't supported in this, I would reccommend waiting until you are responsible enough, even though you may be quite responsible, wait till you are fully responsible for yourself. Well Goodluck, and don't fret on it, if you can't adopt veganism for a few more years, well all be supportive and welcoming of you once you do adopt it, and empathize on why you can't now.
If you do it right you actually can be healthier as a vegan than as a omnivore or vegetarian. I have been vegan for years and feel more alive than ever.
Now remember just like omnivores can eat badly, so can vegans. You need to focus on having a well rounded diet. Cut out the white wheats and rices and institute the whole wheats and brown rices. This will increase you protein intake as well as slow down your carb uptake with much needed fiber.
As for as protein goes there are many more vegan complete proteins than many omnivores know or would like to admit.
Here is my short list.
1.Soy
2. Hemp Seed (Great sprinkled on Salads and cereals)
3. Quinoa (Actually a fruit but tastes like a grain. This food can be a great friend you just have to go out of your way to get in the habit of using it. I couple it with the grains I cook).
4. Spirulina (A bit expensive to supplement but it has a bunch of iron and B12 on top of being a complete protein).
Of course you can combine many foods to make a complete protein such as rice and beans. Another little fact many don't know is brocolli is over 40 percent protein.
Nutritionally you'll be fine. It sounds like you are a minor and will have problems with your parents. Keep in mind you are much more in control than you might presently know. Just stick to your principles.
Maybe make small compromises if you must. Just keep coming back to vegan choices whenever you can. Soon you'll be out of the house and more in control of your choices.
It sounds like you are more mature and wise for your age. I wish I found out as young as you have to make compassionate and healthy food choices.
At any rate you have my full support. Just remember be persistent and you will over come this situation. It doesn't have to be a knock down dragged out fight. Just keep making the right choices whenever you have opportunity. I believe the higher power will understand those times in which you have less control.
"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Amen."
--Reinhold Niebuhr
Be vegan, but not yet. You can wait five years, can't you?
My daughter's vegan, by the way. She doesn't change her menu to accommodate my tastes when I visit, et vice versa. This is okay: she's an adult, I'm an adult. I pick out the caramelized tofu bits in the salads she prepares (sometimes), and she moves aside the bits of browned beef or grilled tuna that I put in my salads. Neither of us has a problem with the vegetable medley.
But while her mother was calling the shots at dinnertime, we ate a lot of chicken--which neither my daughter nor I find especially appetizing. And, for reasons of family politics, we didn't make a federal case about it. Eventually my daughter moved into her own place and learned the joy of eating what she felt like eating when she felt like eating.
I suggest that you postpone adopting the vegan diet until you can do so without having to fight over every bite. Everyone's stomach lining will thank you for the reduction of tensions in the house.
By the way, some vegans ARE airheads, but the ones that look healthy probably have sound advice to give. Ditto us pork fans; the guy who eats pork but isn't porky is probably doin' okay with his diet.
I'm glad you are planning to take this decision to your doctor because veganism is very extreme and you will more than likely need to take supplements in order to make up for the nutrients you will not be getting. Talking to a nutritionist is probably a good idea as well. Also, unlike the poster who said "Don't talk to the omnivores...", I feel it is a good idea to talk to everyone. I'm sure you already know this, but getting information from all sides is the only way you can become fully informed.
Good Luck
Its good that you want to become a vegetarian but your body needs protien, that is in meat, to function normally. so talk to your doctor or GP and see how you can give your body exactly what it needs while still being a vegan.