Help me, I'm really upset about this?!
So I took my meal to my room, I will hide the fish in a bag and bin it later.
How do I explain to my dad that I don't eat fish? Please help, I don't feel great at the moment.
Thanks in advance
Answers: I still live my mum & dad at home. I'm vegetarian, but dad seems to think that fish is vegetarian. I DON'T EAT FISH. He's made dinner today and is expecting me to eat it.
So I took my meal to my room, I will hide the fish in a bag and bin it later.
How do I explain to my dad that I don't eat fish? Please help, I don't feel great at the moment.
Thanks in advance
I sympathise. It's strange how many people think that vegetarians eat fish. (A vegetarian friend of mine was offered tuna sandwiches in hospital by a member of staff who said that fish was not meat and therefore OK!) The point to make (tactfully) is that vegetarians don't eat food that has involved killing a living creature, and a fish is one of those! It's nice of your Dad to cook for you so perhaps you can explain your views after making a really good vegetarian meal for him! Ever seen the recipes that Yotam Ottolenghi contributes to the Guardian? They're excellent.
Good luck.
Just say you don't like fish, or even say you DON'T eat it.
If he's expecting you to eat it, don't. Actually, I was in the same situation as you. My parents repeated to me that fish is not meat. I said nothing to them. They laid the dish on the table and wouldn't let me leave, until I ate it. I sat there for almost an hour, and happily ate what I wanted to-- a caersar salad :) That was like last month :P
I think the best way to deal with it is to talk to him. Be honest in how you feel, and let him know what you have decided to do with your life. It's always best to just talk about it.. I know your probably a teenager and parents are so "un-cool" to talk to. But really if you just talk to us.. we try to understand your point of view.. If your father is supporting you, then i really don't think he would have much trouble in not making you fish for dinner.. If you hide it, he is going to think more is going on.. So yeah.. just sit down and talk to him.. tell him it will save more money because he wont have to cook you any fish.. :o)
TELL HIM THAT YOU KNOW HIS HEART WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE BUT THAT YOU ARE VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT IN YOUR BODY AND FISH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO EAT. HE IS A GROWN MAN HE WILL UNDERSTAND.
You should have told him when he gave it to you in the first place. But now that you have taken it to your room, just eat what you can around the fish and then take it back to the kitchen and stick it in the fridge for you parents to eat later.
Tell your father that you put the fish in the refrigerator and remind him that vegetarian means no animal flesh land/sea/air/etc.
Don't throw it away if you can help it. It's already cooked so you might as well save it for your parents to eat later.
You need to be honest about your beliefs with your dad and tell him you do not think that eating fish is a part of your belief system. Show him articles that support your beliefs from the internet. Eating fish is not part of the vegetarian diet. But there are others that do add fish and chicken in addition to vegetables. They are not called vegetarians. Good luck.
The best is to be honest with your dad. Tell him that you prefer to eat vegetables and if you are sure of your reasons, give it to him. Eating in your room and bagging the fish you are deceiving him. Surely, he knows the difference between a fish and a vegetable…don’t you think so?
If you can, be honest and tell the truth. Failing that, hide it in tissue in your pocket and flush it down the loo, not in the bin in your room - it'll smell!
Yup,
it's an ongoing problem with parents and they're children.
They always seem to know whats best. Not so. I had the same problem with my dad. If he liked something that would mean that the whole world had to like it.
If he's strict( like my dad) theres no other way then to assert yourself.
1st. try reasoning with him. Face up to him( they ususally respect that).
"dad I know you like fish and meat but, sorry, I don't".
Explain to him what you do like.
If it dosent work, then you have to assert yourself.
Plain "NO". It's not my cup of tea.
When all is done and the arguements are over ( and of course you win out) you'll feel alot better and you'll be a much more confident person from the experience.
The world is not ending here. You'll be fine with it.
Take a deep breath and go for it.
Good Luck!
just tell your dad the truth he `s your father he will understand!
I struggle with my Mom, Dad and other family members ,who although they all mean well, would force me to eat seafood since they think that seafood is not necessarily meat and should be part of a vegetarian's diet.
Over our Easter lunch, I came prepared with a small flyer expalianing the realities and benefits of being vegetarian and passed it out to all my family and friends. They asked me qualified questions based on what I had included in my flyer...and they responded positively.
Perhaps...this may be something you would like to do in the future.
i think you need to start cooking your own meals.... if you've told your parents and talked to them about it and they still make the food and expect you to eat it that's not very respectful. start making your own meals and just eat with them but eat what you make.
Explain to your dad that what he's thinking of is a Pescatarian, not a vegetarian. Pescatarians are the ones who will not eat poultry, red meat, pork, etc, but will eat fish. It's a common misconception, because many pescatarians self identify AS vegetarian, when choosing their wording. It sounds like he means well, but is a little misinformed. Just approach him one day and say "Hey Dad, do you know what a pescatarian is?"
If you learn to make a few simple dishes, perhaps you could offer to cook once in a while. Explain to your dad that not only are you still getting adequate protein (you are, aren't you?) but that meatless meals can be quite economical, comparatively. Thank him for trying too, if indeed he is.
My husband thinks that any meal that is labeled "vegetarian" must necessarily include something bland and unpleasant tasting, like tofu. (Ok, I like tofu, but I have to admit that it is definitely an acquired taste.) However, he still gets excited when I make a bean pie that just happens to have no meat in it. (Mashed beans with cumin, cayenne pepper, and garlic, sauteed onions, corn, multicolored bell peppers sliced in rings or diced, halved or quartered cherry tomatoes, and some corn bread batter poured on top, sprinkled with diced chives, and baked as a casserole, with or without cheese, depending on whether I want it ovo-lacto or vegan. Very inexpensive, and easy to make.)
He also doesn't mind when I make stuffed mushrooms, coconut milk soup with curry pumpkin, Savory walnut stuffing, grilled portobello mushrooms, grilled apples with anise... there are many satisfying foods that don't involve meat, and don't require specialty ingredients either.
Check out some websites, like epicurious.com or allrecipes.com, and use their advanced search engines for vegetarian meals.
If your Dad still balks at the idea, try to understand that some people are just set in their ways, and don't blame him for not understanding. Also, I agree with the person who says put it back in the fridge. Don't let any critter die in vain.
Good luck.
I agree with people who said to be honest. It's better to let the extra fish get eaten, then let it's life be wasted in the garbage.
It's life/death truly would be in vain then.
Just say how much you appreciate this, but as a vegetarian you don't eat anything that was alive with eyes....
You are 18 years old living at home. A vegetarian for 10 years yet your father still seems not to know something specific about you. Your problem is you are still living at home at your age and that you have such a serious communication problem that you cannot even tell to your father about something as simple as diet preferences. I'd worry about those two issues first before I'd be over dramatic about "starving" after missing one meal because I don't eat fish.
hi hollywood, speak to your dad and say you really appreciated him making your dinner today and you dont want to seem ungrateful but you want to be and stay a vegetarian and you look at fish as a meat which you dont want as part of your veggie lifestyle.
tell him also that you dont want to waste the food so could you have your meals in future without fish!
hope he understands hollywood! :) x
Simply ask him." What are fish made out of ?
which is meat or flesh.
So the answer speaks for itself.
lol well there are people who do not understand that fish is not vegetarian, because there are many sites out there who are miss-informing people. FISH IS NOT VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN PPL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have to tell him that you are not interested or willing to eat the fish, because if you carry it to your room and hide it, and not be honest with him, there is a possibility that he would make it again and espect you to eat it, and that might be the day that you cannot go to your room to bin it.
When my family prepares meat or fish, I tell them that I am not eating the meat or fish, plain and simple and they eventually repsect my decision. They may hate that I'm veggie, but atleast they are not expecting me to eat meat or fish.
You have to tell your parents what you are willing or not willing to do ! Explain ? Tell him what a vegetarian is ! And if he doesn't get it then, then idk maybe he'll never get it haha I've been telling my family for 2 yrs wow your 10 hmm and they still don't get it TT_TT
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BTW: I see that bunny thing on your profile,-- I tried to IM you but you have it disabbled TT_TT -- what does the bunny represent ?
search online for the true definition of vegetarianism and show it to your dad..
some people are thick headed and think fish are not animals. do they not have flesh? if it's flesh then it's meat and vegetarians don't eat meat.
don't worry, it happened to me before...
no need to fret over it. like I mentioned above you should look online for the definition and show it to your dad. he might understand and he might not. what you gonna do.. some people refuse to understand if they don't agree and don't agree if they don't understand.
Vegitarians are the worlds problem, that is why we have global warming and terrosits!
Well are you vegetarian or vegan? vegans pretty much don't eat anythingn meat or that comes from animals ie no milk or eggs, fish or anything. Vegetarians often consider milk eggs and fish to be okay. could you say you've decided to become vegan?