What can I tell my family about vegetarians that would change their minds?!
Answers: My family always criticises me about not eating meat, but I just don't like meat so much (except for bacon). They think it's stupid and that i'm not eating any protein. They're always being spiteful now and making delicious beef roasts and bacon sandwiches just to annoy me. What can I tell them to make them change their mind about a vegetarian diet?
I totally understand where you're coming from. My family was just the same when I tried to stop eating meat in my teens. It wasn't until now (3 months ago) that I became a vegetarian for good. I don't live with my family anymore, however they tried the same old story over the phone. I usually tell them that I respect and don't criticise what they eat and also try to educate them a bit. I think they are just not aware of some facts.
I know everyone is different, but maybe you find some good stand points from the links below as you try to explain to your family that a well balanced vegetarian diet is actually very healthy. Ask for their acceptance and support or at least respect in your choice of diet.
Good luck!!
they shouldn't be laughing at you. It is your decision and if you don't want to eat meat then that is final.
Explain this to them, its your life at the end of the day.
You cant. People eat meat because they like it. They think its weird that you dont eat meat. They do and they like it. If you dont want to eat meat, dont try to push your beliefs on them.
Im the same Quorn is a great protein subsitute (its a kind of mushroom but it tastes great) as do eggs.
Feel free to mail me if you want a chat with a fellow veggie.
Thats mean. You should find some statistics that say vegetarians live longer or something. My parents are veggie, I'm not. I respect their decision and they respect mine. Your parents need to grow up!
I think you may need convincing yourself.
If you want to become vegetarian, cut out the bacon and then explain how you feel.
I became vegetarian 23 years ago when I was 7 years old. My mother never understood and served me meat which I left on the plate. I won in the end.
Get them to respect your decision whatever the issue, medically direct them to a vegsoc website, diets don't have to have meat in.
Good luck
You cannot change people's minds--you have chosen a way of eating and a lifestyle that you believe in, and not everyone will always agree. That's fine though, you eat the way you feel is right.
My big concern is when you say that you're not eating any protein. You do need protein, so make sure you're eating tofu, beans, nuts, etc everyday to supplement your protein in place of the meat.
I'd leave home as soon as possible and get a divorce from your parents.
They shouldn't mock you for being a vegetarian but at the same time you shouldn't force your beliefs on them. I'm sure you don't like it when they do it to you.
If you still feel the need to, google the health and environmental benefits of vegetarianism and veganism.
are u happy urself bieng a veggie or u have meat cravings??
becos if ure happy..wat they say is nt imp
When we’re children a sort of system evolves; cleaning, shopping, fixing food etc, which when it works, ensures that we are fed and looked after. Basically, your family sees your becoming a vegetarian as an unwelcome change to the system and wants to bring you back into the fold.
Meal times may evolve around this issue for a while. You’ll be told how important it is to conform to the family ‘system’ - someone’s feelings are at stake (“…don’t you care I did all the cooking?”), family tradition is being threatened (“…but it’s Christmas!”), you are rejecting someone or something (“…eat what your grandmother cooked you”).
Just wait it out. It’ll pass. These methods worked once when you were young but your family needs now to understand that you’re mature enough to make your own dietary choices.
In becoming vegetarian, you’ve discovered what’s acceptable to you and what’s not and reached a bottom line. In order to establish a bottom line it’ll be critical to communicate a few things to your family:
* You appreciate efforts to prepare nutritious, tasty meals for you, but…
* You feel strongly about diet and expect your choices to be respected, however much others disagree. You’ll continue to respect their own dietary choices as well.
Intensification is the pressure that’ll be brought against you for this; the enforcement of rules through anger (“How dare you not eat this!”). Just hold your bottom line in place and if a meat-eater continues to be hostile, pick a one-liner and stick to it:
* “This is how it is with me. I am happy”
* “I don’t think animals should have to die to give me life”
* “God, it’s not like I gave up chocolate or anything!”
Ignore whatever else they put forth. You can say, “I have nothing more to say”, and then repeat your one-liner. Don’t sound haughty in repeating it, just make it a statement of fact and don’t get drawn into their drama with meat eating. You don’t have to defend yourself.
If you suspect that anyone may be slipping meat into your meals without telling you, try to become more involved in the family’s food preparation. Minimally, you could just sit in the kitchen and keep the cooking company or, more appropriately, begin looking at recipe books and picking foods you’re interested in preparing. If there’s a way to do it without recycling blame and guilt, you could talk about how important it is to you to feel that you can trust your family while also giving family members the benefit of the doubt
Just gather all appropriate nutritional research that comes with your becoming vegetarian and make it clear to your family that you understand the implications of the choice, am happier this way and don't wish to change. You're old enough to make your own decisions on what to eat and what not to.
You're probably already aware of most meat-free protein sources that are available:
* Tofu
* Dairy products
* Eggs
* Pulses - e.g. baked beans, chickpeas, lentils
* Nuts & seeds
* Peanut butter
* Hummus
* Tahini (sesame paste)
* Wholegrains - e.g. wholemeal bread, porridge oats, brown rice, wild rice, quinoa
ok listen, for protien eat beans. not like taco bell kind.. but the other stuff too.
show them the animal tortue videos..
If you don't like it, you don't like it. If you didn't like oatmeal and stopped eating it, would they ride you about it endlessly? They're being petty and silly. And it they're really worried about protein, they don't know much about nutrition; protein is everywhere and even vegans get plenty without so much as a thought.
Tell them you don't like meat, eat protein from other sources and don't engage them on their level. If they're not getting a reaction out of you, they'll likely let it go.
Do you eat beans,soy milk,yogurt,and cheese? than you probobly are getting enough proteins. Besides. Vegetarians live longer than omnivores and vegans live even longer. But veganism is pretty complicated though.
You can't stop them from making what they want and force your veggie diet on them, just as they can't force their diet on you.
You don't have to change their minds. Your family eats meat- they aren't doing it just to annoy you. And if you like bacon and think the beef roasts are "delicious," why are you a vegetarian?
I think you need to fully understand your own reasons for making a dietary change, before you can expect your family to do so.
So- research, research, research!
Vegetarian Starter Kit, with tons of nutritional info:
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/i...
A vegetarian teen site, with forums for advice and venting:
http://www.vegetarianteen.com
Many experts have forums here:
http://www.vegsource.com
Good luck!
You can get your protein from beans, not necessary to eat meat.
Eating red meat causes a lot of health problems in later life.
I think you are doing the right thing by eating vegeterian food.
You can go for some white meat, like chicken and fish.
They are less problematic than red meat.
Meat is a complete protein and so is an easy but not the vest answer to get the protein that you need. Other protein source can be eaten in combinations that provide the full spectrum of amino acids to assure that you are getting your full protein needs met. I had a Vegetarian friend that years ago taught me a legume and a dairy equals a complete protein. Thee are many other combinations that I don't remember. But research them and be able to by the scientific research and what you are eating demonstrate that you are getting the needs for you growing body met. I greatly respect vegetarians that eat a truly balanced diet - on the other end of the spectrum I have a friend to whom be vegetarians just means not eating any thing from an animal and make no effort to assure a balanced diet. She at times is a "breadatarian". Eating only refined carbs for weeks at a time - but all the time telling me that her many health problems have nothing to do with diet. Her vegetarianism I do not respect.
I can think of more one-liners:
- Life is too precious to take unnecessarily.
- I do what I have to to sleep at night.
- Anything that lived or breathed isn’t my idea of food.
- My vegetarianism is part of the process of being more honest with myself.
- Look, I am not forcing this on you, so there is no reason for disrespect.
- I can’t think of a reason not to.
Be calm and don't rise to the bait. Leapfrog to another subject (like, 'of course some people say that vegetarianism is only part of a larger change. Have you noticed how many organic farmers there are?') or make a joke.
If your goal is to push the confrontation then it might make it worse. It's very difficult for a vegetarian to "win" a conversation when meat is being eaten and will only make the person being scornful towards you even more so.
Meat-eaters may feel miserable, but they are fairly confident that you are MORE miserable and will often try to sabotage your vegetarianism to confirm this - becoming the target of their anger.
People generally want a self-image that tells them they are good, worthy, and moral individuals. I guess as vegetarians we threaten this image. Consider the internal process that may be happening:
- I know about meat eating; I COULD become a vegetarian (awareness & reflection)
- But I can’t because of (X). (inaction)
- So you think vegetarianism is more important than (X)?
- How DARE you say that MY (X) is less important than vegetarianism!
This is their issue, not yours. Our role isn’t to insist “You should become a vegetarian”. Don’t cause or contribute to people’s anxieties about what they’re eating. Avoid statements like “Don’t you even care about your health/the animals/the environment?” and “Even a meat-eater like you should know…” - they won’t help.
Just ignore what they say - they'll soon get bored of the whole thing.
that's very immature of them.... maybe you should either sit down with them or write them a letter expressing how immaturely they are behaving and that a famly should be supportive of you... also give them real research and facts... about how the meat is produced (the animals/ethics side of it) as well of the health benefits of not eating meat... there is ALOT on that out there.... also, make sure they see you eating healthy and eating protein... most people eat too much protein, they dont' even know how much your supposed to get but just assume your not getting enough because you don't eat meat. they should not be putting you through that, it's your body, they can eat what they want and you can eat what you want!
Speaking as an "almost vegetarian" (someone who only eats a small portion of meat like, once a week), I don't think you should be trying to change their minds. It's their choice, just like becoming a vegetarian was yours. How would you like it if they tried to make you eat meat?
hi, its because they care about you but they most probably don't understand that you can get all the vitamins, protein etc from a vegetarian diet.
Use the web and find good vegetarian sites, they have good recipes and information and the health benefits of a vegetarian diet.
print these out if you can and sit down with just your mum and have a chat and show her the information.
My mum does roasts with beef, I just have all the veggies and roast potatoes, on the occasions i go to lunch.
Good luck! :)
I agree with them ....Y do you wanna eat only veggies.you are going to put on alot of weight.trust me but if you wanna go that way.try to make indian veggie stuff.they are really tasty like paneer.
That you can actually eat meat.