How to get started with Vegetarianism?!

Don't go in so suddenly. Here was what I did

What I did was only eat meat every other day, then every two days, all while giving up one animal at a time, from October to November in 2005. My plan was to have turkey one last time for Thanksgiving, so that was gonna be my last source of meat

My plan was beef, then pork, then chicken, then turkey (I didn't count things like lamb, because I didn't eat that regularly enough, so that was just out entirely)

HOWEVER, by late October, while doing this, I just said "you know what, I'm done with meat", and I never looked back. I didn't even have Thanksgiving turkey, and I was more than fine with it

So I'd say ween into it, but when you're ready, you'll know, and just end it all



In regards to your family, they will eventually come around, as long as you stick to your convictions.

My dad's side is a meat & potatoes Chicago family, and my mom's side is a meat & potatoes rural Wisconsin family, so being vegetarian made me the black sheep. I was vegetarian for a month and on Thanksgiving my aunt goes "So are you 'still' a vegetarian?" The best thing to do is just to let it go, they will eventually accept it. If they criticize, you'll see why and it'll may even make you laugh a bit. My uncle just ripped on me THIS Christmas like "haha more meat for me. blah blah" and my other aunt, his wife, says "Well I'm glad YOU'RE making the healthy choice in the family"... all I did was look at my dad, smirk, and think to myself "my uncle is very overweight and my aunt (who isn't family by blood) is a chain smoker... I win"

You'll be amazed how much of your family comes around. On my mom's side of the family, every Christmas and Thanksgiving, we make a vegetarian option, and my own aunt even proposed a vegetarian Christmas. My mom, TWO WEEKS AGO, finally said "You know, you're really going to benefit from the lifestyle choice you made"

Just keep at it, and people will come around.

HAPPY VEGGING

Vegan for 5 years

Okay, so start out by writing down on a paper why you want to be a vegetarian. Memorize the paper, don't hold it when you talk to your parents. Explain all the reasons why being a vegetarian is better for your body and for the earth and animals. If your parents aren't convinced, show them the video about slaughterhouses. If they still don't take you seriously, take matters into your own hands! If you are too young for a job, go along with your mom to the grocery store and get veggies and try maybe vegetarian chcken nuggets. They aren't bad.

If you try taking things into your own hands, your parents will think you are very responsible and mature.

Good luck! (try maybe signing up for PETA? )

Start of being lacto-ovo vegetarian, so eat cheese and eggs. Eat the trimmings and not what ever they are having with meat. Just say no. And then leave it on your plate if they force it on you. It's your mouth and you can decide what goes down it.

You need to learn how to cook asap, and then you can cook your own food. You need to get plenty of protein. You can get a very balanced diet with vegetarian food, but you can't just eat chips and cheese sandwiches.

You will have to learn how to cook.

You make your own food- get legumes, lentils, beans, rice and vegetables from the fridge, and you make your own food.

After a few days your family will take you seriously. Ignore that for now.
Make your own food- it's very easy to boil noodles and rice. Anf very easy to saute some vegetables and cook beans- just put food in a pan of boiling water if you are unsure, and cook it for 20 minutes ( for veg), 40 minutes ( for potatos, rice and legmues) and 30 minutes ( for rice).

Don't just eat salad- eat hearty food, Lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beansk baked beans.
Nuts almonds, walnuts peanuts peanut butter, cashews, brazil nuts.
Add these to a rice salad, add soysauce and some chopped veg.

Try vegan instead (just google the Peta videos)
But, I'm very happy you're going to make the switch! (:
Well, get some books or read online! Read about veganism, know your facts, and stick to your guns. Your parents will respect and take your decision seriously if you know what you're talking about! (Mine did!)
Know that veg is more than a diet. It's a lifestyle! It's also ethical, and healthful! Tell them you're less likely to get heart disease and cancer. Tell them about how tortured the animals slaughtered for our food really are, tell them that it's morally wrong for you to continue to consume them. Stick to your facts, be adult, and don't say anything that'll make them get defensive. Just be mature about it and know your facts.

You're still growing - the vegetarian diet doesn't offer you all that you need to grow properly.
It sounds like you've made up your mind, but listen to your family's reasoning, because they do have your best interests at heart.
Maybe just cut down on meat instead of stopping completely.

http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetaria…

Meat replacements:
http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-li…
http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questio…