Why should I be Vegetarian?!
Thanks for any help!
Answers: I'm debating on some good reasons to give my mom.. I'm 15. I know its healthier, and I've used that arguement. I told her about the cruelty in factories and she said if the government sees that stuff, the company gets shut down.
Thanks for any help!
well it's only healthier if you're a good vegetarian- unfortunately the title of vegetarian has been tainted a bit by people who eat only meat-free junkfood or use it as an excuse for anorexia (not saying that you're one of those people or anything).
Tell her you're just going to try it for a week. Get some good recipes (http://www.ivu.org/recipes/) and try some new foods like tofu or veggie stir frys, and cook it all yourself. This will show her that not only are you learning to cook for yourself, but you're trying a wider variety of foods while still getting the nutrients you need (tofu is very high in protein as are nuts, spinach and other dark leafy greens are full of iron, other veggies and fruits are good too of course). Avoid fake healthy foods- things like fruit juice and whole grain chips may seem healthy, and they are if you have them once in a while, but can be deceivingly high in sugar and fat.
A good place to start is not going entirely vegan, but going ovo-lacto- still eating dairy and eggs. It's even easier to get your protein, and it allows for a wider variety of foods you can still eat.
I saw that someone above me said you would need a dietitian. I've never even met a dietitian and i just had my levels of nutrients checked and i'm a-okay. And it's wishful thinking unfortunately to think that all animals are treated well. Chickens are kept in tiny cages where all they do is lay eggs all the time, they never are able to run free (that why I buy free range eggs only), veal calves are kept in tiny sheds to keep their muscles tender, other livestock are transported in cramped, filthy conditions. Just watch the news- only a few weeks ago there was a video of workers beating a cow, and while this may only be one example, that doesn't mean that it doesn't go on every day- the government doesn't have the resources to carefully watch all the production in the US. So it is partially up to consumers to support people who make free-range eggs, and to buy milk from cows that are not treated with hormones (look for the milk that says it's from cows not treated with rbST).
Good luck, and really do just try it for a week. If you don't like it, you can always go back, it's not like you have to sign a contract in blood or anything .
Ha, the companies do not get shut down. My reasons for going vegan were all animal rights oriented, so I personally focused on that. But I never really felt the need to tell my parents my reasoning (they just kind of rolled there eyes).
Good reasons: Factory Farming, Environmental Reasons, I mean..you're murdering animals and eating their flesh...do you really need any other reason?
The only reason you should have to give her is that it's what you want to do.
I hope she supports you.
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Show your mom these:
http://www.goveg.com/government.asp
http://www.goveg.com/government_hsa.asp
"No federal legislation designed to protect farmed animals has hit the House or Senate floor in almost 30 years, and no federal law protects animals in factory farms, where they spend their entire lives, from even the most egregious cruelty.
The one federal law that protects farmed animals at all, the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act (HMLSA), affects only the final moments of life for cows and pigs in the slaughterhouse—it excludes chickens, turkeys, and fish entirely despite the fact that they constitute 99 percent of the animals who are killed for food in the U.S."
You could also talk about the environmental benefits:
http://www.goveg.com/environment.asp
Good luck!
It's your decision no one call *tell* you to become veg. But here are few things which convinced me & helped me make up my mind.
Here are a few reasons from http://www.goveg.com/theissues.asp
1. Cruelty to Animals
C'mon we all know what goes on in factory farms.
2. Your Health
Meat is full of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, growth hormones, fat and cholesterol.
3. World Hunger
Coz the tonnes of grain used to feed animals could be used to solve world hunger.
4. Worker Rights
Abottoir workers, and other meat industries are the most exploited and lowest paid workers in the world.
5. Government Negligence
The government subsidises meat and dairy production. They subsidise water & grain to keep prices low, if the true cost was past on to the consumer it wouldn't be affordable. Is that where you want your tax dollar to go??? I would rather my money go towards education, health, and green research initiatives. (I know your 15 & you don't pay taxes but I bet your folks do)
6. The environment
Eating meat contributes to carbon emissions, Beef generates about 24 times more CO2 than an equivalent vegie and rice dinner. Thousands of hectares of rain forest are cleared every year to house or graze animals. Even more land is cleared to grow grains to feed these animals (grains which could be used to feed starving people). This is in addition to the massive amounts of waste they produce, which goes largely untreated into the environment.
There is heaps of research out there and tones of statistics. Here is an interesting article well worth the read. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekin...
Good luck... =0)
because meat is disgusting and it makes you sick to see that your eating an animal which is saddening cus animals should live and vegies give u a lot of vitamins instead of fat and wen u eat meat u have to lose weight cus meat is full of fat
you could point out that cows, pigs and chickens are not covered by the same cruelty laws that protect cat and dogs. You have a computer, you can show her any of the numerous videos out there that document the treatment these animals go through. Most of those factory farms recieve nothing more than a fine, if that. You can point out to her how much pus there is in cow milk, because of their severe mistreatment. You can show her information that explains how Mad Cow disease can be passed on to humans who eat sick animals, and that the US goverment tests less than 1% of cattle for such diseases. You can tell your mother that the amount of grain it takes to feed a single cow before it is slaughtered could be enough to feed hundreds of starving people, and that raising so many animals produces massive amounts of pollution (animal waste) that taints the water and air.
And that's only the beginning. And the fact that you are capable of living a healthy, productive lifestyle without ever eating another animal product should be enough to convince her, if she's a reasonable person.
Lord..why nobody here supports vegetarianism??
ok., im a veggie here..so no fear.
'cos i got lots of reasons..and me too went through lot of criticism.Like they will try seducing eating KFC or something like that but..yeah I'm not that weak :P
1.Many people here think veggies are weak cos of the lack of proteins and iron,zinc that meat/poultry offer..
Well HELLO..thats why we have soya milk,toffu (soya curd),pulses (like peas, dal, beans)
Kidney beans, green leafy vegetable got alot is a rich source of iron (which is needed more in women) and also other vitamins,minerals.Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc.
2. Now what about those omega 3 fatty acids which is "supposed" to be in fish only..again another wake up call.Where do fish get their omega 3 fats? They eat the sea weeds..called spinar algae ..veggie stuff
3. http://www.greenissexy.org/2008/01/30/th... It is proved being a veggie helps decrese global warming!!
4. Like you said, we should be kind to animals.This will make us more connected to nature.
5.You must be proud of your already small waist line.Where as its pretty hard for meat eaters.
6. In yoga, (its scientifically proved) meat of any kind rots in your gut for 2/3 days before excretion.Clean guts - veggie all the way!
7.Live longer.
8.You can put more money in your mutual fund. Replacing meat, chicken and fish with vegetables and fruits is estimated to cut food bills by an average of $4,000 a year.
If you cant convince with this, then nothing will!
Hi. I too am about to become a vegetarian after giving it much consideration. My reasons are that I am so upset and sick and tired of the cruelty that humans inflict onto animals. You need to be educated about your health if this is what you choose to do, and remember it is not easy for your Mum to be making separate meals or trying to think of vegetarian recipes. If you are still going to eat eggs and dairy products you don't need to be concerned about protien but Vitamin B12 and iron do need to be considered. Spirulina tablets, capsules or powder are a good supplement for these. Flaxeed oil is helpful fo omega 3. Good luck.
Oh gosh i don't know where to start, first of all thats amazing that you are considering going vegetarian being cruelty-free not only is good for th animals but it feels amazing to live life peacefully without murder or violence in your stomach.
Here are just a few reasons to tell your mom.
Enviroment.
Most people don't think of diet as an environmental issue, but it is! Meat production is incredibly inefficient. By growing grain which is fed to livestock which is fed to humans, you end up with much less food than you would have by feeding grain and other plant products directly to humans. Annually, an acre of land can produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes, 50,000 pounds of tomatoes, or a paltry 250 pounds of beef.
If Americans would reduce meat consumption by just 10%, enough grain would be saved to feed the 60,000,000 people who die of hunger each year. It's a damn shame that people in third-world countries are going hungry while their land is being used to feed meat to rich people in other countries.
Animal suffering
Million of animals die for peoples consumption, leave it at that, is it not disgusting.
Over 7 billion farm animals die or are slaughtered in the U.S. every year for the production of flesh, mostly in highly mechanized factory-like systems using unprecedented, largely unregulated methods of brutality, danger, and cruelty.
And if your mom still doesn't understand, do what you think is right.
I became a vegetarian because meat just completely grosses me out. You could choose to continue to eat seafood as I do, because then I am able to get a lot of protein in all my meals which is so important to me. But i think the main thing for you to do is research how to become a vegetarian in a healthy way. I'm sure her main concern is that you will not be getting the proper nutrition that your growing body needs. So, you should research meal ideas and recipes so that you can make sure you are doing vegetarianism in a healthy way. I think that if you come to your mom having done the research she will realize that you are making an informed decision and will be more likely to support you/. respect your decision. Good luck.
Do your research. "The cute little animals" isn't a valid argument when trying to explain your case to the person who is feeding you.
xxunhear: lacto-ovo vegetarians contribute to plenty of cruelty. You may want to check your facts before trying to say l-o vegetarianism is cruelty free. There's plenty of "murder & violence in your stomach", to use your phrase.
Karen: b12 is found in ALL animal products, that includes eggs and dairy.
im 17 and im a vegan! it was the best desision of my life. trust me, do it. its SO EASY. dont listen to anyone when they say its not. my mind has never opened this much to new tastes.....
eating meat isnt bad but if you want to be vegetarian that a good choice for you...dont ry and say its healthier though cuz she wont beleive you and the reason for this is it doesnt matter wether ur a vege or not you can still get fat if you dont eat properly...i eat meat and have a perfect 6 pack and im very well tonned all over, this is because i go to the gym, if you eat fruits but dont excersie u will get fat..simple as that...instead try saying in general vegetarians are haelthier because the POTENTIAL fats found in meat wont be in your body that way she will beleive you i know both vegetarians and meat eater friends who are overweight..its cuz they all eat too many crisps and chocolate.
You shouldn't though, that's the thing. Btw HEALTHIER?? You just pulled that out your **** right now. The most healthy meal a human can have is BALANCED, which means greens AND meat.
You should be a vegetarian because it is healthy. Meat is unhealthy for you although it had protein and iron. Those things can be found in a lot of different foods other than meat. Also, since I started being a vegetarian I feel better. I feel healthier, other people say the same thing too. Also if it helps, I was 16 when I stopped eating meat, my parents were the same way, but if you just stop eating it (when it is put on your plate just look at it like you are disgusted) and find other things with protein and iron in them that are healthy and start eating them so your mom can see that you are still getting the nutrients you need...that should work. Good luck!
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Actually, if you chose to be a vegetarian, it is hard to get all the vitamins and minerals in your body that you need. You need to talk to a dietitian to have them tell you what you need to eat when, and what kind of supplements you need in order to stay healthy, if you just cut meat out of your diet, you can get very ill and malnourished.
In America, animals are treated fairly humanly, they are killed in a humane way that is not painful, and yes in fact if they are violating procedures about how they treat their animals, they are likely to receive heavy fines which is not good for business, so they get no benefits out of treating their animals cruely.
*chomps down on hamburger*
MMmmmmmmmmmm... beef