Stop being a vegetarian?!

It's totally up to you what you do, but in terms of nowhere catering for vegetarians I have to say I haven't experienced that.
The vast majority of places have vegetarian options, and if they don't most cafes or restaurants would be happy to make you something. I was vegetarian for 3 years, and have been vegan for a year now and I have always been able to eat something when I've gone out - sometimes it means checking what ingredients are included or asking them to leave something off, but there has always been something which I could have and which I've enjoyed - I've just had to learn to ask.

After 4 years of me not eating meat (and now excluding all food from animals), my mother still thinks its a phase. But she has now realised that I am more healthy than I was before and I am sensible and know where I'm getting my nutrients from. The one big reason parents become more supportive is by you showing them that you know what you're doing and that you have kept healthy.

If you feel your diet is limited, have you searched online for veggie recipes, or got a veggie recipe book, or tried any different foods that you haven't tried before? Or just thrown together some food you have in the house and made a veggie curry or something as an experiment? Through experimenting you might find a lot of food that you never even thought you would like - probably the weirdest thing I eat is seaweed. It sounds odd, but I think its nice. Since being vegan, I've discovered houmous which I adore. I eat a lot more veg as I've discovered how good it can be. I eat a lot more variety of food than I ever did when I ate meat. If you try something different once a week, you'll eventually have a load of exciting meals to choose from.

Health-wise, I don't see any health issues that a vegetarian could have that a meat eater couldn't. As long as you eat a healthy sensible balanced diet you'll be fine. Any meat eater, vegetarian or vegan could get unhealthy if they lived off rubbish and didn't get enough fruit, veg etc in their diet.

Depending on where you live there are plenty of options to vary your diet. I take it from the nature of your question you aren't strictly vegan, so adding milk and eggs is a good way to get almost all of the amino acids and proteins you need. Legumes are a good source for proteins as well.

It's not terribly unhealthy - I was raised that way, and several decades later no real nutrition related illnesses. It's pretty healthy to be primarily vegetarian and add meat in small portions - you will have distinctly reduced risk of cholesterol problems later in life for a start.

As for finding places to be able to eat vegetarian - eh... skip it when you go out with friends and family. Most restaurants have at least *some* vegetarian friendly things. Again, depending on where you live if its all steakhouses or fish shacks... then I guess you are SOL. :)

If you feel your diet is limited or unhealthy, you should really do some more research before making a switch. Do you cook? If so, try the Happy Herbivore website and cookbook - yummy comfort food, quick and easy recipes, and loaded with good nutrition. The worst mistake we make as vegetarians/vegans is caving to social pressures before learning about nutrition and how to eat well...do a little home cooking, you'll be glad you did!

I'm guessing you don't live in a major city -- it's hard to find places that cater to vegetarians if you don't live in a place like NYC, Chicago, Denver, or LA / San Fran. I'm in the same boat as you, but fortunately, there are endless vegetarian possibilities in large supermarkets -- and it's more affordable to cook your own food than it is to eat at restaurants! :) Any diet can be unhealthy if you don't consume a good balance of nutrients, including a diet that includes chicken. You might consider incorporating some chicken into your diet if the lack of support from your parents is the biggest issue -- I'm guessing you live at home. It might be easier to take up the vegetarian lifestyle again when you get your own place. My two cents! :)

listen now, don't let anyone manipulate have control, or even influence on you decisions your culture and YOUR happiness!!! You can have a completely healthy diet without meat, just think, for protein you can eat, nuts, potatoes, for carbohydrates pasta, bread, for fiber - rice, and so many things for fat! think of the giraffe for example, it is a huge animal, and yet it does not eat meat, how is this possible? Well the leaves the giraffe eats have all the nutrients he needs. Do not let inconvenient and none understanding beings influence on your life and your decisions it is YOUR life, live it however it makes you happy! Please!

I'm not going to tell you what to do or what not to do, but just remember than chickens have the worst living conditions and live in cages filled with feces and loads of disease and germs. Do you really want to eat that?

http://www.maniacworld.com/vegan-vs-carn…