Why did YOU choose to be a vegetarian or vegan?!
I'm also concerned with how my family will react to my decision. Almost everyone in my family is overweight (we like to eat!) So I'm afraid they wont take me serious or even discourage me from wanting to make the transition.
How can I stay motivated and build up the courage to tell them how I feel? Please help!
Answers: I'm seriously considering giving up meat. I'm also contemplating whether I want to become the full blown vegan and not eat cheese, eggs or drink milk. I've been on a few websites, and seen a few videos/slideshows about the perks of following this healthy lifestyle, but I'm concerned I won't be getting enough of the essential vitamins and nutrients that I got from meat. I really dont like taking pills, so taking actual vitamins is not an alternative.
I'm also concerned with how my family will react to my decision. Almost everyone in my family is overweight (we like to eat!) So I'm afraid they wont take me serious or even discourage me from wanting to make the transition.
How can I stay motivated and build up the courage to tell them how I feel? Please help!
Like many people, the combination of eating healthier and not contributing directly to the pain, misery and death of hundreds of millions of animals a year seemed to be a more compassionate and moral route for me. I particularly did not like to have the blood on my hands for the hundreds of thousands of animals that would have to die in my lifetime only to clog my arteries and give me heart problems in the future.
Slaughterhouse videos give you a very vivid and gruesome picture of what animals are put through in the process of commercialized slaughter. These videos are very hard to watch for some, and if you don't think you can watch and listen to animals literally being tortured to the point of death, I would recommend reading up on it instead, although the sound and visual delivers a much more powerful experience. In fact, if you watch the video, it is almost guarenteed to keep you encouraged to remain a vegetarian if you choose to be one.
If you chose to be a vegetarian, there will likely be a fair share of half-wits trying to convince you that not eating meat is wrong. I have heard things from "not eating meat will cause you to become sick from lack of protein" to "the Bible says we are supposed to eat meat". The key is to educate yourself. I'm sure most of the guys spewing all this nonsense rarely take the time to conduct the amount of research that vegetarians have gone though to make their decisions. With a little research, you'll see that most of the things these people are claiming are twisted or the exact opposite from the truth.
As for becoming a vegan or a vegetarian, that is entirely up to you. Perhaps you can start off as a vegetarian and transition into a vegan if you choose to later on. I think it would be better than trying to become a vegan first and finding out that it is too hard for you and quitting altogether. Most of your vitamins and protein you will be getting from fruits, nuts, vegetables and grains. Also, vitamins come in several non-pill forms such as chewables and gummy bears! Just make sure the gummy bears are not made with gelatin.
Becoming a vegetarian is your personal decision, and if your family doesn't support you (usually because it becomes an inconvenience if they have to cook for you), try cooking your own food. Don't make it a hassle on them if you don't have to, and they shouldn't mind too much.
search meet your meat on youtube and watch it (if you can handle gory, bloody, disturbing stuff).
or read this book----> diet for a new america by john robbins. it tells you all about getting necessary nutrients. theres a lot of suprising info in there.
im a vegetarian b/c of how animals are treated in the slaughterhouses.
hang in there!!!!! go veg!!!!!
im not, but i uiderstadn because they put the hormones in animals and you get the hromone too. that is why 8 year old girls are getting thier period so early
First it was health and then after research ethics made me stick with it. I could no longer eat animal products without thinking about what the animals went through.
I recommend reading Vegan Freak, Being Vegan in a Non Vegan world. Their podcast is wonderful too. They have a lot of advice on how to handle family and friends.
Most of all make wonderful recipes you can share and stay healthy. For great recipes see link below.
In answer to your actual question, I originally stopped eating meat because I didn't like the look, smell, taste or texture. Now, 17 years on, I would never go back to eating meat, as I now am fully aware of the ins and outs of mass farming etc.
Just a wee word of warning - it is every bit as easy to eat an unhealthy, unbalanced diet as a vegetarian, as it is to eat one containing meat!
i would advice you to:
give up one type of animal, example cow, so stop eating every thing that has beef in it.
then give up chicken,
then pig, etc
gradually get your body to have more and more vegetarian food.
now after being vegetarian about a year or so, then give up cheese and eggs,
Replace your foods with lots of beans, grains and veggies and fruits
ask your parents to help you have more vegetarian foods.
you can get free and easy recipes here:
http://www.vegetariantimes.com
before you talk to your parents do lots of research, and in a calm and nice way show it to them!
good luck! -
why are u all telling her the good points of vegetarianism and then encouraging that she watches a video designed to hate on meat eaters and love veggies isnt that just "propaganda" like u accuse us of...look if you want to be vegetarian or vegan then good for you...but make sure the decision is yours not sum meat hater who wants to convert another person...do your reasearch...weigh up pros and cons on both side....see a nutritionist who will be able to advise you on the best path to follow based on your health...once you have done this...show it all to your parents..i garuntee they wont have a problem if you show you have done your research. good luck...all you meat haters out their..stop trying to force ur ways its up to the person themselves...as im always told its their choice. kiwi no offence dont tell her to try and convert her parents its their choice...i would never suggest a vegetarian try sum meat in the hope they might like it..so i dont think its fair to try it the other way round...we can all be healthy on vegetarian or meat diets so why not let it be....she asked for your help not her parents.
u dont need to be vegtarian to be healthy..im very healthy and have a muscular build and i eat meat...addmitadle its mostly lean whit meats and tuna but its still meat...just cuz u go veggie doesnt mean ul get slim..u can still eat candy and crisps....any diet wether it meat or no meat can be good for you if done right so dont let veggie activist tell u meat is evil veggie is good...heres some food for thought...hitler practised vegetarianism and endorsed it....and he was pure evil..so all those sayin einstein did it and hes smart...just think of the flip side...veggie wont make you smart or evil...its all up to u.....i know all the veggie loving trolls will be all over this with thumbs down and counter arguments and that will just show their level of maturity...good luck anyway.
get information to show your family. Tell them how you feel and why you've made the decision. You could even suggest that they try it for a while too. Who know's, maybe they'll like it just as well!
When i was 6 i decided to become a vegetarian because i moved to my new house and we went to the farm down the road. Apparently i told my mom i couldnt eat meat anymore. No one else in my family is a vegetarian, just me. Eggs and milk doesnt hurt the animal, its a natural thing. So im alright with that.
I'm vegan cuz the animals should not have 2 be killed 4 humans. No creature should. I gave up milk and eggs cuz the animals are still abused, and 2 get milk, they send of baby boy cows 2 be veal cows after they are born.
One day someone asked me if I was. I wasn't, so I said no, but in the back of my mind, I thought "I should be." So now I am.
It's actually pretty easy, but I'm the kind that eats eggs, dairy, and honey. It's really not as hard as you would think. It just seems so normal now, and I've only been doing it for a month. It's just...I don't know. It's just how I am. I don't even have to think about it.
If you don't like taking pills, you could buy the chewable kinds of vitamins. Like Flintstones. If you don't do that either, though, I don't recommend going vegan, especially if you're young. You need the nutrients in dairy products, really. That's just how it is.
Research it and present your family with the facts. Tell them it's important to you, and you'll try not to be a hinderance. They should understand.
And remember, you shouldn't just remove meat from you diet, you should replace it with more fruits and veggies. That way you're actually doing something healthy.
Good luck!
They are vegetarians mostly because they dont like the tast of meat not because they object ot it.
They are vegans because they are too stupid to relise that man has killed animals since the begining of time for food. Wether it is humane or not that is the way it is. Animals kill other animals in alot worse ways then we do. Being a vegan is very dificult because you have to get all of yout neutriants from vegetables. Most vegans fail and have to go on special diets to solve health problems they are having. Seriously both are stupid.
Hey, good on you for thinking about this. But don't feel you have to be responsible for everybody elses' decisions and judgements - you don't. I've been vegan for a long time now, and everybody's entitled to live and eat the way they want - if you want to be veggie or vegan, that should be fine with anybody else, same as you're fine with how other people want to eat.
With your family, they'll come round in time if that's what you're going to do long term. Just explain what you're wanting and trying to do as clearly as you can, and be prepared that people will try and talk you out of it, and criticise you. They might feel a bit threatened at first, but if your diet is well planned and you can show them that this is the case, then there's nothing to worry about in the long run. I remember my mom trying to badger me into eating animal foods again at first, but now, she doesn't anymore - it's just part of who I am, and she's accepted that (as have other people).
And I can safely say there's no "essential nutrients" in meat, same as there are no "essential nutrients" in any one food. We all need to eat a variety of different foods to keep healthy, whatever our diet. As a veggie or vegan, you can easily get all the nutrients you need without animal foods, if planned right. (The only exception is vitamin B12, and that comes from bacteria, not food. This is worth looking up further on the Net, as you need to undertstand it, but it's not a problem on a vegan diet).
Good luck with whatever you decide, and happy eating :)
hey there, first of, congratulations on considering vegetarianism, its a smart decision to make. i became vegetarian about 2 years ago, and i will never go back to meat. the way i did it, is just by giving it all up cold turky, one day i decided ill never eat meat again, and here i am! i am extremley skinny, and recon this is because of vegetarianism, and im managing to stay at a constant weight now, if i became vegan id have nothing to eat and id end up dying! but if you want to, then go for veganism, but id reccomend trying vegetarianism for a while, then if all is going well, give veganism a try, dont jump straight into the deep end.
as for your parents, i would say you just have to tell them straight. its what i did, and because theyre your family i know they will support you. i reccomend meat substitutes such as quorn, some actually taste really convincing, and they are just the same to prepare as regular meat, if not, easier! good luck!
hey it doesn't matter what you family That Thinks it matters what you Think and what you want i my friend gave up meat because of the things they do to animals on those kinda farms its not right and not funny but some people seem to think it is do you????????
Well, as a nurse, I recommend you try vegetarianism first. Most people don't have luck with staying with a drastic change.
So maybe stop eating meat (or eat less, and eat only grassraised, humanely treated meat) or give up beef and pork first. Then chicken, then fish. If that works for you, maybe switch to soy milk. Start eating cage free certified humane eggs. If that works for you, maybe start eating fewer eggs, or experiment with only using eggs where you really need them in cooking.
Little changes, one at a time, are easier to stick with. I'm eating way less meat. We eat fewer eggs and buy the certified humane (very recent change). I switched to soy milk a little while ago. I stopped drinking soda a while ago.
We still buy standard produce, but are eating a LOT more of it.
Don't let the sticker shock stop you. Soymilk is more expensive than standard cow milk. Tofu, beans and rice are cheap, but the tofu dogs and veggie burgers are kinda high. I think they are worth it, frankly. You can make your own veggie burgers, but it takes some practice. Keep trying - I got something edible on my 3rd try. Little changes, one at a time, will be easier in this department too. If you try and do it all at once the 300 dollar grocery bill at Whole Foods will be very discouraging.
Vegetarian times is very inspirational. VegNews is more "in your face" - more for vegans and activists.
With your family - just be tactful. Maybe say you are concerned about your health - or maybe say your doctor has recommended that you drastically reduce your saturated fat intake (mine did - that's my "excuse" for non-veg friendly people). Veggie eating is becoming more mainstream - you may not have the struggle you anticipate. Walmart and Aldi's both sell soy milk now - that should tell you something..........
As or vitamins - if you eat at least 5 servings of produce a day (easier than you think, check out the 5 a day website) and drink at least 2 cups of dairy milk or soymilk a day - you shouldn't be deficient in any of the B vitamins. For iron supplementation - remember that Cream of Wheat is an excellent source of iron. Also some other cold cereals - check the labels, and whichever one you like that has lots of iron in it - buy that, pour on some soymilk or dairy milk and then don't worry about it. They have chewable vegetarian vitamins if you really want to cover your bases. Check the back pages of vegetarian times.
And if you need any motivation - how's about this. I started making changes in my diet around the holiday season - Thanksgiving last year. It's now early March and I've lost 12 lbs. Pretty much with no feelings of deprivation. I also feel a lot better, my skin is better, my hair is better, and I'm having an easier time sleeping.
Good luck and good for you for doing something healthy for yourself.
I've always had family and friends turn vegetarian. One day, I decided it would be for the better. No one was pressuring me to do this. I wanted to test my will power, train it, strengthen it. Besides, I've heard it makes you feel alot more energized and "lighter". Truth be told, it does. It feels good to know that I'm not killing any animals in my eating habits. We here in North America and in the "western" world eat too much anyway... why commit two sins?
Good luck with your decision. Try giving it up moderately. Give up pork, beef, chicken or start doing it by days, Fridays then Saturdays as well. That's how i did it. It really helped. You can eat soy products as well as eat eggs for the necessary proteins. Any beans and chickpeas, peanut buttter all provide protein. With proper veggies, Iron shouldn't be an issue.
Veggie diet obviously ighter than the meat one. You feel better, not bloated, but full and satisfied.
well I didn't my family made me.
At a young age because my senses of taste and smell, are very sensitive.
Just about 4 days ago, I became a vegetarian. Of course, before making a decision, I did TONS of research, so that I actually knew what I was talking about. As for being a vegan, I didn't want to give up all dairy and eggs, because they are very imortant to be healthy. Most grocery stores sell vegetarian cheese and eggs, and you can buy organic milk (it tastes better too!). Of course, as it seems you are concerned about, it was very akward to tell my family my decision, especially with all of them being omnivores. However, I faced my fears and just did it, and it is working out GREAT! I think that if it is something that you believe in, you should go for it! My mom is even considering it now too! Who knows, you could turn out to be an inspiration to your family! Just make sure that you are very knowledgable on the subject, you know how to get your basic nutrition needs, and you know the reason why you want to become a veg(etari)an in the first place! I chose this lifestyle because I HIGHLY oppose to animal cruelty; I couldn't stand it anymore. So, to get you started, here are some awesome tips and links:
1. Phase out meat gradually, first red meat, then chicken, then fish.
2. Make a trip to the grocery store and explore all of the vegetarian options that they have!
3. Make sure you know how to get your nutrition (it is not as hard as you would think!!
Here are some AWESOME links, which helped me get started, and hopefully they will help you too! Good luck, and congrats!!! :)
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/goingveg.html
http://home.netcom.com/~axleplus/stuff/v...
http://www.happycow.net/
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/vegetar...
http://www.youngveggie.org/index.html
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutriti...
http://www.vegsource.com/articles/veg_de...
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/basic-nutriti...
Hope this helps!!!
First, it's not about some **** video of animals being slaughtered. Yes, it's disgusting. Yes, it's inhumane. But I never watched a single one and I've been a vegetarian for over 3 years and a vegan for over 1 year.
There's no need. You must come to terms with the fact that killing animals for food is immoral when it is not necessary (as it is not for a vast majority of the world!). Look up what Leo Tolstoy or Henry David Thoreau said about eating meat if you want to know what I mean as far as a moral reason.
It's not about whether the animals are treated nicely-- it's about the fact that we kill them when we don't need to. If an animal lives a sweet life for 5 years and then you slaughter it, you're still raising it for the sole purpose of slaughter to fill our appetites. Does it sound right? To me, it doesn't. This was a major factor.
Furthermore, I believe that the honoring of animals (we ARE animals, too) is important spiritually. I am a Christian and I think this plays well with what Jesus would say. Some say the Bible says we should eat meat, but it doesn't. It says we have "dominion" over all the animals of the earth. We have "dominion" over our children, but do we eat them? It's all about what you WANT to see in something. If you WANT the Bible to say you can eat meat, then it will.
There are some people who say Constantine required certain things in the Bible to be changed before he approved of it for the Roman Empire, and one of the provisions he changed was that people can't eat meat. Some say (I don't know how valid this is, I'm just throwing this out there) that the Bible originally intended for man to not eat meat, but when it was edited, this was changed. To read more about this, look into a book by G. J. Ouseley called "The Gospel of the Holy Twelve," which according to him, is much closer to the original version of the Bible.
I don't know if this is true or not-- nor do I care. If every verse of the Bible said eat meat, I still think it clashes with Jesus' teachings in peace, reducing suffering, and non-violence. Futhermore, we are created by the same hands of God that other animals are.
If you're more interested in moral reasons outside of spirituality, I suggest a book by philosopher Peter Singer entitled "Animal Liberation." It is very insightful, despite the fact that it is over 30 years old.
Additionally, eating less animal products has been shown to be better for the environment (and global warming) than driving a hybrid car or even riding a bicycle.
Then, of course, is the argument over world hunger. It takes HUGE amounts of food to feed animals for meat-- food that COULD be given to underpriveleged people in our country and abroad-- it takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of edible animal flesh.
More statistics:
One acre of land can produce 20,000 pounds of potatoes.
One acre of land can produce 165 pounds of beef.
It takes 1 pound of grain to make 1 pound of bread.
It takes 20 pounds of grain to make 1 pound of beef.
If Americans reduced their meat consumption by only 10 percent, it would free 12 million tons of grain annually for human consumption. That alone would be enough to adequately feed each of the 60 million people who starve to death each year.
So there's the moral reasons, spirtual reasons for some people, environmental reasons, and social reasons (world hunger). I didn't mention the health reasons of eating a whole-foods vegan diet, either! For more info on that, I'd suggest you check out The China Study: The "China study" referred to in the title is the China Project, a "survey of death rates for twelve different kinds of cancer for more than 2,400 counties and 880 million (96%) of their citizens" conducted jointly by Cornell University, Oxford University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine over the course of twenty years.
Here's the Wikipedia article that summarizes some of the conclusions of The China Study and provides links to more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_China_S...
Veganism is thought-provoking, to say the least. Many people garner ill-will towards vegans for their looking down upon others, their whininess, etc. but this is really quite rare. There are just as many douchebag vegans as there are douchebag meat-eaters-- it has nothing to do with the fact that someone is vegan.
Generally though, I find that most people are genuinely interesting in my veganism and want to know more. And when they see how good the stuff I cook up is, they warm up to it even more!
Best of luck to you. So many people are apathetic about the world or spineless in their values-- it's a good thing to stand up for what you believe in!
Peace,
Cody
P. S. Sorry I wrote an essay. Hopefully other people will find it useful, too. I am just passionate about this subject. Thanks! :)