My mom wont let me be vegetarian? PLEASSSEEE HELLP MEE :c?!

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She's the one who buys and cooks the food.

She also wants you to get enough nutrient.

So until you can cook for yourself, you're gonna have to eat what she tells you.

Conner, do you know that more intelligent children are more likely to be vegetarian by age 30? It's a fact. You must be really intelligent, since you want to go veg already!.

"The New Becoming Vegetarian" is the book that explains how to eat a healthy Vegetarian diet (it's written by a famous nutritionist, who's also a mom):

http://www.amazon.com/New-Becoming-Veget…

Make sure you get "The NEW Becoming Vegetarian" which was first published in 2003, not the one from 1995, which is just called Becoming Vegetarian. Scientific research has made many advancements in recent years, which support the wisdom of becoming vegetarian for health. Check the library.

Can you make some vegetarian meals for the family? Bean dishes have lots of protein, such as tacos made with re-fried beans; lentils or black bean soup or hummus. Whole grains like brown rice and are an important part of a healthy diet for anyone. Nuts and seeds add protein. We really don't need so much protein as is in animal products, but we need some, and that's what most moms are concerned about. After using the kitchen, leave it cleaner than you found it. That will give you extra kitchen cred.

Tell your mom that eating meat doesn't guarantee a healthy diet. Most kids on a meat diet have malnutrition. Vegetarian kids are more likely to have adequete nutrition. A vegan diet requires a little bit of supplementation and extra effort (B12), but a vegetarian diet that includes a little dairy and eggs doesn't require anything extra. Tell your mom that it's more important to a healthy diet to get your 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day.

Be nice to your mom and help out. Choose the right time to talk to her about these things, not when she's tired and busy, but when you are working in the yard together or when she is feeling pleased with you. When she is relaxed, ask her kindly when you can talk to her about something that's important to you. If she's not in the mood to talk about it, drop it, don't argue incessantly. Leave relevant books and peta material about. Contact Veg News Magazine and try to get them to send you a free copy. email: vegnews at pcspublink.com Give your mom time to get used to the idea. Gentle imaginative persistence is key.

Another book that might help your mom understand that meat isn't necessary to health is "The Blue Zones." It's about the healthiest and longest-lived populations in the world. Get her to read about the longest lived population in the US, the vegans in Loma Linda California.

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Zones-Lessons…

Try not to get into bitter arguments about it. Remember: "Someone convinced against their will, is of the same opinions still." Say, "To each his own," and shrug, change the subject, make them laugh, or leave. The thing that convinces most people is delicious vegetarian food, only then will their minds open to discussions of dietary science and nutrition, and the treatment of animals.

The best way is to approach those most sympathetic and try to convince them first. Maybe sister will get interested if she knew that vegetarians tend to be slimmer. Maybe grandma might get interested if she knew that vegans almost never get arthritis. Plant a seed (of a thought) and let it grow.

It may help to find authoritative documentation for your main points (check out Dr. Michael Gregor's site:

http://www.drgreger.org/DVDs/

If you email and ask, they may send you these DVDs for free. Because Dr. G doesn't do this for money; all the money he makes with his books, dvds and lectures he donates to charity. (If you want, I will send them to you). Dr. Gregor is a real medical doctor, the Director of Public Health for the humane society and a world famous nutritional expert. He puts out a new DVD every year, called The Latest in Clinical Nutrition. He's lectured before the US Congress, and teaches nutrition at Cornell University. one of the best universities in the whole world. If your mom listened to these dvds she would open up to vegetarianism

I suggest that you drop one sentence at a time, to mom or family, and if they jump all over you, say: "sheesh, Can't I say one sentence about what I think without everyone freaking out?" or if they get mad, say: "Gosh, did you think I said I wanted to join a gang? I said I want to eat more vegetables!" Remember that anyone who attacks vegetarianism as unhealthy doesn't know anything about it, so you will probably hear a lot of nonsense in return. So don't believe it. If someone you are talking to is saying foolish untrue things, and they aren't being sincere, don't waste your breath. Just drop the subject and move on to someone more receptive. Or pick up the subject at another time, from another angle.

Until you are old enough to purchase and cook your own food, respect your parents.

Despite what other posters say, she can force you to eat whatever she makes you.

However, you can make a case for reducing your meat consumption. Instead of asking your parents to completly eliminate it from your diet, ask if they can include meat less often, or ask your parents to include more nutritious meals during the week.

Tough situation. Just keep at it, but in small doses so you don't get in trouble. If your mom makes you eat meat, then try and eat as little as possible. Either she will eventually except you lifestyle choice, or you will move out when you grow up and live how you choose. Either way in the end, your a vegetarian because you want to be. Good luck.

peanut butter beans and eggs are good substitutes for meat. (so lack of nutrition is not an excuse) all i can say is that you should try showing her studies on the subject (dos she believe in wikipeidia?) or keep pushing away the meat no matter how inconvenient it is, unless you think it's not worth it.

tell her to buy tofu instead

SHe can't force feed you meat.
As long as your diet is full of nutirents- salads and fresh stuff, cheese, whatever, then she has no right to not let you.

How can she not "let" you? She has no right. Mae sure you are well informed about nutirtion and tell her you are able to be healthy on vegetarian food. Tell her it's cheaper ( beans, lentils are cheaper than meat).

Make sure YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK. GEt a list online of nutrients in a good diet ( and make sure its full of cheap foods so she sees the sense)
and post it on the wall.

It is hard to treat your truth alone, but you have to stick with it, keep to your own truth and let her know by DOING what you need to do. IF she asks you to eat meat, say "no thank you".
SHe will get used to it.

Tell her that meat makes you feel sick and she cant force feed it to you because you will be sick and it's against your human rights. Probably shouldnt be telling you to do all this stuff as you're only 12 but if it was me I would kick up such a fuss until I got my own way and they just gave in. (On this issue, not on most other things as I don't always have to get my own way :D)

Honestly it's your choice, you are old enough to make your own decisions now and if you don't want to eat meat she can't force it down your throat. Just tell her you'll make your own dinners from now on that don't include meat. If she insists on cooking for you tell her that you wont eat the meat she puts on your plate and it will go to waste and that will just be stupid.

She probably thinks that it's just a phase you're going through at the moment and that's why she doesn't want to listen to you but keep insisting that this is the choice you have made and she will come around eventually. Well done for making a great decision.

This is a difficult situation, as it sounds like your family have fixed ideas about food, and at age 12 it could be tough to change your whole family attitude.

Firstly, I suggest you carry on investigating the community of vegetarians, and becoming more and more well informed about both the reasons behind this way of eating, and also the lovely and perfectly healthy food you can eat. You can do this for yourself as you still have your laptop.Get even more well-informed! In time, you will get older and be able to have more control over your food choices in any case.

Secondly, start cooking for your family. At 12, you are old enough to be able to do this if you have watched your family cooking, you read up on recipes and methods and start out with something easy.It can be difficult to persuade family that you can have a go at cooking, but keep trying and they will be proud that you want to do it.

Right now , you're in a difficult position, as you do need to eat but your family don't trust your ideas and they have the control over meals.Try the young veggie link to see if there are ideas there you could discuss with your family, try to compromise in small ways for the moment until they get used to it, and be determined!

http://www.food.com/recipe/vegetarian-ta…

http://www.youngveggie.org/

The first thing you do is educate yourself. Know the answer to every question she might have, and have a response to every argument.
A good place to start is with The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's Vegetarian Starter Kit.
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/
Secondly, you're going to have to learn to cook. There are thousands of recipes online- find some that you want to try, and make a grocery list. Politely ask your mother to pick up a few things.
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes
Third, remember that outside of an institution, no one can MAKE you eat anything. Just say "No, thank you."
Fourth, parents are more likely to accept that you can make your own decisions if you behave responsibly. Clean your room.

Your mom is acting like a toddler. I would honestly just educate yourself about this and go for it. She can ground you all she wants, but this is your decision; not hers. After a while she'll get over it.
I went vegetarian when I was 12, but my parents weren't as dramatic as yours. My mom just thought it was a phase. She wasn't yelling at me to eat meat, but she wasn't supporting me either.
I would just educate yourself about vegetarianism and do it, and stick with it. Don't give in just because your mom has a different opinion. You ate entitled to your own opinion no matter how old you are. I'm 15 now and vegan, with literally no support. But doing it on my own really gave me a lot of self control when it comes to food and a big boost in confidence because I had the will power to do it myself.
When your ready, have a serious talk with your mom. I'd recommend trying it on your own for a little while before confronting her. Be prepared to defend yourself. One big discussion is better than a 12 second argument every other day.
Good luck and congrats on going veg!

What I would do in your case is this:

1. Do your research about healthy vegetarian eating - meal ideas, ways to get protein and nutrients on a regular basis, etc. Find respectable websites as sources. Possibly see your doctor and talk with him or her about it, and write down the advice.

2. Sit down with your mom and show her these websites. Tell her that you will be very careful to eat well. Draw up a meal plan for yourself, get her approval and promise to follow it. Then actually follow it.

3. Offer to help with the shopping and cooking so you won't be putting her to extra trouble. Follow through on this as well.

I can't promise these things will change her mind. Some people have already made their decisions and aren't open to logic. However, I think this is the most mature approach and that you stand a pretty good chance of getting her to accept your decision this way.

If it doesn't work, and you're sure you want to do this, I would say to give up meat regardless of what she thinks. I hope she doesn't punish you for it, but hold your ground if she does. You have a right to make your own decisions about this and even if she makes it difficult for you, she will get used to it in time. If it does go this way, *still make sure you're eating a healthy, balanced diet.* You've got to take care of yourself.

Good luck.

If you were trying to eat just the taco shell and meat for dinner, then she is right that you dont know how to have a healthy vegetarian diet. But you could learn!

One thing though, and im sorry to say this, but i if moms not on board (which you cant make her be) then you will have to wait until you are a bit older. You need to be able to buy some of your own food and cook.

Dont just try to eat what they are eating without the meat (like the shell and cheese) because this is not a proper diet.

For now, because of your age, just start cutting back on meat when possible. Order vegetrarian when you go out to eat or have the choice. ack a lunch of PBandJ, instead of meat sandwitch.
:)

Look, she has a point. You are 12 and in development. It's not whether you like meat or not: You NEED it. On the other hand, she shouldn't prohibit you to be a vegan just because.

My suggestion is to get to a middle point: She let's you eat a vegan-style meal, but you compromise to eat some meat during these. Do some reasearch, inform yourself and, for God's sake, don't act like the tween you are (e.g. Jeez, mom, I HATE YOU!) but more seriously. Give her good reasons to take you seriously about this.