I want to become a vegetarian...help me convince my parents!!!?!
So I am a 16 year old girl and I have wanted to become a vegetarian for quite some time now!. A big problem is my parents don't agree with it and I really want to show them my reasoning for wanting this!. I need help! So maybe you could give me some pros and cons on the whole thing and is there any videos or anything online that I could show them!? Thank you to anyone who helps and if you're a vegetarian (or vegan) can you tell me how it has been beneficial to you!? Thanks!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Well i will start with videos!. I signed up for PETA's newsletter and they send alot of videos through email!. I recently (yesterday) got one titled who's skin are you in!?!. It was about the industry that creates animal products from their skin (leather, fur, silk, etc!.)!. I would recommend meet your meat, it made me cry!. The sight for that would be http://www!.goveg!.com/factoryFarming!.asp this one goes over a bit of every animal and i was going to go vegetarian til i saw how the dairy cows and egg laying hens were treated then i went straight up vegan!. If you want more videos you could try youtube or try google!.!.!.
Here are some sights that offer pros and cons:
http://wiki!.answers!.com/Q/What_are_the_p!.!.!.
http://mcr876!.buzznet!.com/user/journal/7!.!.!.
http://www!.doityourself!.com/stry/pros-co!.!.!.
http://thoughts2005!.blogspot!.com/2005/04!.!.!.
Pros:
*you'll be healthier- high fiber, low-fat diets help lower your chances of getting heart disease and certain cancers
*you'll have more energy- if you have a balanced diet with enough vitamins, nutrients, protein, etc!.
*You are at a lower risk of getting foodborne illnesses from improper handling or cooking (meat requires refridgeration and to be cooked to proper temperatures for it to be safe to eat, as well as porper clean-up afterhandling)!. Of course, we had the spinach, green onion and scallion recalls, but that was caused at the grower, not because these items were handled improperly by the distributors!.
* I think that when you become vegetarian, you have to read all the labels of food you eat to be sure there's no meat in it!. You'd be surprised by how many other offensive ingredients you'll notice by reading labels (colorings, preservatives, chemicals I couldn't pronounce)!. It really helped me become more aware of everything I put in my body- whether it was meat or not!. I don't eat as many processed foods because of this!.
* Depending on how you feel about the politics of the meat industry, you may feel better about the fact that no animals were harmed in the making of your meal!.
* Groceries are cheaper, in general!. Unless you buy a lot of specialized, pre-made mixes and meals!. Meat is a more expensive sourceof protein than beans, for example!.
Cons:
*Going out to dinner with friends becomes a little interesting!. Some will support your eating habits, some will still want to go to the steakhouse to eat!.
*When you eat at other people's house you may not have very many options!. Or if there is a vegetarian meal, you may feel like you made more work for the host, or that other people aren't eating what they'd really like to eat
* Grocery shopping takes longer initially because you have to check labels
* Ordering at restaurants will be more difficult- you'll have to see what has meat (ex!. a lot of cream of broccoli soup uses a chicken stock base)!. Sometimes the server will know, sometimes they will have to check with the cook!. And you'll still end up having to send stuff back from time to time!.
*People have a problem with vegetarians for some reason (probably because they don't understand it)!. You'll have a lot of people that think their vegetarian joes are funny, people that want to argue, people that try to get you to eat meat!.!.!.
Benficial:
I have been vegan for a month and i have lost weight, my face has cleared up from pimples and such, i have more energy, and (i know it sounds hippie but it is true) i have a better respect for nature!. Before i would eat anything, plant or animal, but now that i have started this i notice all the little things in nature (ex!. i don't just see a yard with pretty flowers i see the grass, the flowers, i see all the weeds, plants, flowers, etc!. It is wierd but i love it i see stuff i hadn't before or ignored before)!. I am more health conscious because i don't want to lack vitamins and such and run into health problems and i am starting to exercise which i didn't before because i didn't care but now if i don't i will be tired and such!.
Just explain to your parents how serious you are about this and explain that this diet is not expensive!. Beans and rice are cheap, so are fruits and veggies and you could find recipes on the internet to try!. Like the other day i made THE BEST vegan brownies!. If ya want the recipe i can email it to you and sites w/ recipes!. But just explain how you feel about this, my dad is very upset about it for some reason but i refuse to and it got the point across loud and clear when i refused to eat certain meals that had or touched meat, eggs, or dairy or had it in it ( i no it wasn't healthy but it worked)!.
I am a 15 year old girl so i can't go out and buy my own stuff so i get what ya going through!. But my parents get stuff like beans, rice, canned veggies, fruits, etc!. So just stick to your guns explain to them your side, present facts, etc!. Do what ya gotta do and goWww@FoodAQ@Com
Here are some sights that offer pros and cons:
http://wiki!.answers!.com/Q/What_are_the_p!.!.!.
http://mcr876!.buzznet!.com/user/journal/7!.!.!.
http://www!.doityourself!.com/stry/pros-co!.!.!.
http://thoughts2005!.blogspot!.com/2005/04!.!.!.
Pros:
*you'll be healthier- high fiber, low-fat diets help lower your chances of getting heart disease and certain cancers
*you'll have more energy- if you have a balanced diet with enough vitamins, nutrients, protein, etc!.
*You are at a lower risk of getting foodborne illnesses from improper handling or cooking (meat requires refridgeration and to be cooked to proper temperatures for it to be safe to eat, as well as porper clean-up afterhandling)!. Of course, we had the spinach, green onion and scallion recalls, but that was caused at the grower, not because these items were handled improperly by the distributors!.
* I think that when you become vegetarian, you have to read all the labels of food you eat to be sure there's no meat in it!. You'd be surprised by how many other offensive ingredients you'll notice by reading labels (colorings, preservatives, chemicals I couldn't pronounce)!. It really helped me become more aware of everything I put in my body- whether it was meat or not!. I don't eat as many processed foods because of this!.
* Depending on how you feel about the politics of the meat industry, you may feel better about the fact that no animals were harmed in the making of your meal!.
* Groceries are cheaper, in general!. Unless you buy a lot of specialized, pre-made mixes and meals!. Meat is a more expensive sourceof protein than beans, for example!.
Cons:
*Going out to dinner with friends becomes a little interesting!. Some will support your eating habits, some will still want to go to the steakhouse to eat!.
*When you eat at other people's house you may not have very many options!. Or if there is a vegetarian meal, you may feel like you made more work for the host, or that other people aren't eating what they'd really like to eat
* Grocery shopping takes longer initially because you have to check labels
* Ordering at restaurants will be more difficult- you'll have to see what has meat (ex!. a lot of cream of broccoli soup uses a chicken stock base)!. Sometimes the server will know, sometimes they will have to check with the cook!. And you'll still end up having to send stuff back from time to time!.
*People have a problem with vegetarians for some reason (probably because they don't understand it)!. You'll have a lot of people that think their vegetarian joes are funny, people that want to argue, people that try to get you to eat meat!.!.!.
Benficial:
I have been vegan for a month and i have lost weight, my face has cleared up from pimples and such, i have more energy, and (i know it sounds hippie but it is true) i have a better respect for nature!. Before i would eat anything, plant or animal, but now that i have started this i notice all the little things in nature (ex!. i don't just see a yard with pretty flowers i see the grass, the flowers, i see all the weeds, plants, flowers, etc!. It is wierd but i love it i see stuff i hadn't before or ignored before)!. I am more health conscious because i don't want to lack vitamins and such and run into health problems and i am starting to exercise which i didn't before because i didn't care but now if i don't i will be tired and such!.
Just explain to your parents how serious you are about this and explain that this diet is not expensive!. Beans and rice are cheap, so are fruits and veggies and you could find recipes on the internet to try!. Like the other day i made THE BEST vegan brownies!. If ya want the recipe i can email it to you and sites w/ recipes!. But just explain how you feel about this, my dad is very upset about it for some reason but i refuse to and it got the point across loud and clear when i refused to eat certain meals that had or touched meat, eggs, or dairy or had it in it ( i no it wasn't healthy but it worked)!.
I am a 15 year old girl so i can't go out and buy my own stuff so i get what ya going through!. But my parents get stuff like beans, rice, canned veggies, fruits, etc!. So just stick to your guns explain to them your side, present facts, etc!. Do what ya gotta do and goWww@FoodAQ@Com
Invest the time to do your research there are a number of books for beginning vegetarians and teens!. You need to be careful because it is a life change not a diet!. Try starting by telling your parents how serious you are about making this change!. Prove to them that you now what you are talking about!. Do not go after them or show them peta videos!. Personally i don't believe in harming animals for food but pushing those beliefs on other people is just disrespectful!. A good way to show how much you want to make this change is to volunteer to make your own food!. If your mom or dad is making dinner for the whole family they may not want to make another meal so you can take that stress of off them!. Maybe even take over one night a week or a month and prepare a whole meal so the family can see that vegetables can be yummy!. Just dont get discouraged if things dont come out as you hopped the first time!. Every thing new takes practice!.
Good luck Www@FoodAQ@Com
Good luck Www@FoodAQ@Com
sure, there are plenty of COMPLETELY BIASED and STAGED videos you could show them!.
your parents allready work hard enough simply by raising you and paying for everything, maybe you should take it easy for now and reevaluate your vegetarian plans when you are on your own and can afford to make your own decisions regarding what you eat!.
if you want to help the environment, volounteer to pick up trash along the side of the road, recycle, etc, little things like that do much more to help the environment than not eating meat, there will ALWAYS be a huge demand for meat, a few percents of the population not eating is not going to bring about change!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
your parents allready work hard enough simply by raising you and paying for everything, maybe you should take it easy for now and reevaluate your vegetarian plans when you are on your own and can afford to make your own decisions regarding what you eat!.
if you want to help the environment, volounteer to pick up trash along the side of the road, recycle, etc, little things like that do much more to help the environment than not eating meat, there will ALWAYS be a huge demand for meat, a few percents of the population not eating is not going to bring about change!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
I suggest that you purchase a book about vegetarianism, read it, and then show it to your parents!. Get one that is by a nutritionist and includes information regarding your diet, not one focusing solely on the ethical aspects of vegetarianism!. also, if you want to show them a video, go to PETA's website and have them watch 'Meet Your Meat', a short video about animal cruelty in factory farms!. (I know that a lot of people have a problem with PETA!. Although I am vegan, I rarely agree with the things PETA does as far as advertising and protesting, but they really are the only organization of their kind that is widely known, so at least they're bringing attention to the issues!. Too bad they often have to use naked women to get people to hear them!.)
Www@FoodAQ@Com
Www@FoodAQ@Com
I'm a vegan, my kids are vegan!. It's the healthiest diet to be on!. After the initial starting period is over you'll always have energy!. It takes the body and mind time to adjust!.
And think of all the animals lives you'll save!.
100,000 cows die everyday for meat!.
You'll also help save the environment!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
And think of all the animals lives you'll save!.
100,000 cows die everyday for meat!.
You'll also help save the environment!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Think of all the extra poor little plants that will die! They have feelings too you know!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Well, why do you want to become a vegetarian in the first place!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
why do u want to b a vegiatian if u don't even know why!?!? I don't kno why, so therefore I AM NOT a vegitarianWww@FoodAQ@Com
Tell your doctor to tell them that it's healthy!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
YA, I AM AND IT MADE ME HAVE MORE ENERGY AND I DONT SUPPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY! YOU HAVE A LESSER(!?) CHANCE OF GETTING DIABETES, HEART DIESEASE, HIGH CHOLESTROL, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, BREAST CANCER, COLON CANCER, (ALL CANCERS ACTUALLY, LOLZ)AND YOUR SKIN GETS BETTER, AND TONS MORE!. BE AWARE THAT YOU CANT EAT M&M'S OR ANY MARS CANDY BARS LIKE SNICKERS OR TWIX CUZ THEY CONTAIN ANIMAL FATS, HOPE YOU DONT LIKE THOSE! GO TO THE PETA WEBSITE, IT HASLOTS OF VIDEOS AND LISTS OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CANT HAVE!. YOUR PARENTS CANT MAKE YOUEAT MEAT IF YOU DONT WANT TO, ITS YOUR BODY AFTER ALL AND YOU WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUESNCES!. JUST BE SURE TO TAKE IRON AND B12 SUPPLEMENTS!. I JUST TOLD MY MOM I DONT WANNA HURT AN ANIMAL, I WAS A VEGETARIAN SINCE BIRTH BUT WHEN I WAS 4 I REALIZED THAT EATING EGGS AND MILK WAS CRUEL BUT THATS JUST ME!. MY SISTER STILL RAGS ON ME BUT MY MOMS PRETTY SUPPORTIVE CUZ SHE USED TO BE A VEGETARIAN, THEN RAW VEGAN, THEN VEGAN!.!.!.LOLZ! JUST BE TRUE TO YOUR HEART!. AND IT DOESNT STUNT YOUR GROWTH OR ANYTHING, I AM 5'9 AND IM 14 SO YA, IT DOES MAKE YOU LOSE WEIGHT A LITTLE!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I am 15 and I've been a veg for 5 years!. Now, thankfully my parents accepted this ALMOST right off the bat (They were reluctant at first) but you have to not convince them, but make them aware!. Here are some tips:
- Tell them that its your choice and no one is pressuring you to do this
- Tell them that you will make the effort to replace the nutritional value of meat (I eat tofu, veggie burgers, etc!.!.)
- Tell them you will not pressure them or any other family member into stop eating meat, but that they have to respect your choice and you will respect their choice to eat meat
- And finally, tell them that you just want to try it!. Who knows!? You may not like it and go back to eating meat!. But they have to let you try, because it will make you happy!.
Hope this helps!
Elle xo
P!.S!. : I love being a veg! I am so healthy and I feel so good because I'm not eating animals, and I feel that I'm doing my part (though I do many other things to help animals!) for animals!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
- Tell them that its your choice and no one is pressuring you to do this
- Tell them that you will make the effort to replace the nutritional value of meat (I eat tofu, veggie burgers, etc!.!.)
- Tell them you will not pressure them or any other family member into stop eating meat, but that they have to respect your choice and you will respect their choice to eat meat
- And finally, tell them that you just want to try it!. Who knows!? You may not like it and go back to eating meat!. But they have to let you try, because it will make you happy!.
Hope this helps!
Elle xo
P!.S!. : I love being a veg! I am so healthy and I feel so good because I'm not eating animals, and I feel that I'm doing my part (though I do many other things to help animals!) for animals!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Pros: far less likely to be overweight or obese, lower cholesterol, lower chances of getting cancer, lower chance of heart disease, reducing ecological footprint, not killing animals- a healthier and more socially conscious way to live!.
Cons- cooking for yourself, awkwardness at family meals, some difficulty in going out to eat, people who don't understand your motivations!.
Since your parents are unsure about vegetarianism, easing into it is probably a good idea!. You can try giving up first red meat, then poultry, then fish, and however much further you are going to take it!. My parents are both meat eaters, and I have been vegetarian for six months!. I buy my own food, including tofu and other meat substitutes!. If you can cook for yourself, your parents may be more willing to allow it!. Eating out can be a problem, but many restaurants have salads and pasta, veggie burgers are becoming more common, and many restaurants are able to make vegetarian specials if you ask ahead of time!.
My parents were unsure about my choice to be vegetarian, even though they knew I wanted to at least try it!. When I went to college last fall, I had already stopped eating red meat, and over the next few months, stopped eating poultry and fish!. I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian since I have found no good substitute for eggs and cheese!. My college is actually very good about vegetarian food, and when I am home, I buy a lot of my own food!. Most of it only requires a microwave to prepare!.
If your parents absolutely won't budge on the issue, you might want to wait until you go to college, where you have more control over your food choices and won't be home as much!.
I like being vegetarian for many reasons: A good excuse to not eat fast food!. I can't ethically eat meat with the knowledge of the environmental impact of meat production (grain usage, pollution)!. The killing of animals for meat is inhumane: animals have a central nervous system and feel pain, and the living conditions and slaughter methods for animals are horrible!. The health benefits- yes, you can stay healthy: take vitamins and eat a balanced diet!. I just feel better about it!.
Apologies for being long-winded!. Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Cons- cooking for yourself, awkwardness at family meals, some difficulty in going out to eat, people who don't understand your motivations!.
Since your parents are unsure about vegetarianism, easing into it is probably a good idea!. You can try giving up first red meat, then poultry, then fish, and however much further you are going to take it!. My parents are both meat eaters, and I have been vegetarian for six months!. I buy my own food, including tofu and other meat substitutes!. If you can cook for yourself, your parents may be more willing to allow it!. Eating out can be a problem, but many restaurants have salads and pasta, veggie burgers are becoming more common, and many restaurants are able to make vegetarian specials if you ask ahead of time!.
My parents were unsure about my choice to be vegetarian, even though they knew I wanted to at least try it!. When I went to college last fall, I had already stopped eating red meat, and over the next few months, stopped eating poultry and fish!. I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian since I have found no good substitute for eggs and cheese!. My college is actually very good about vegetarian food, and when I am home, I buy a lot of my own food!. Most of it only requires a microwave to prepare!.
If your parents absolutely won't budge on the issue, you might want to wait until you go to college, where you have more control over your food choices and won't be home as much!.
I like being vegetarian for many reasons: A good excuse to not eat fast food!. I can't ethically eat meat with the knowledge of the environmental impact of meat production (grain usage, pollution)!. The killing of animals for meat is inhumane: animals have a central nervous system and feel pain, and the living conditions and slaughter methods for animals are horrible!. The health benefits- yes, you can stay healthy: take vitamins and eat a balanced diet!. I just feel better about it!.
Apologies for being long-winded!. Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
wait until you are at least about 25 to become one!.!.!.meats and protein that come from animals are ESSENTIAL in a young growing person like yourself's diet!.!.!.then, once you are 25 and still feel strongly about becoming a vegetarian and/or vegan become one and still make sure to drink lots of protein shakes, eat beans and nuts (foods that have protein in them) and not under eat!.!.!.if you really care that much about the environment and animals but realize it is unhealthy and rude to defy your parents at such a young age then start supporting another cause until you are 25, like stopping the production of fur products!.!.this will make you feel better about yourself and make your parents happy!.!.its a win-win situation!
good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com