Parents won't let me become a vegetarian!?!

Parents won't let me become a vegetarian!?

Well, my parents have always been quite adamant about me eating properly, and they are really worry warts, seriously; they always have had a very difficult time allowing me to be independent. Even now, when I'm 20 years old and just three months from graduating college, they still think it's ridiculous that I am even considering becoming a vegetarian. Their response was, that since I am already skinny, I don't need to become a vegetarian. This is possibly the poorest justification I have ever heard. I told them I've already done the research, know about alternate sources of protein, iron, etc., but I can't convince them, even though I have reasons for wanting to go vegetarian (health purposes primarily, plus a growing distaste for meat). At my age do I even need to convince them? It feels ridiculous that I can't even make this decision for myself at this age. I don't live with them anymore either; I'm 1700+ miles away! What else can I do to persuade them that I've thought this through?

3 days ago
Oh, and my dad said that vegetarians are very foolish people who lack common sense. I stopped trying to convince him at that point, because I got too frustrated.

3 days ago
I know I can, but obviously they are a very big part of my life, and I don't want to completely shun their advice, so it is a bit hard for me.

Likely, you will not convince them. If you feel you've given it adequate consideration and it is the best for you, then you should act upon your feelings. You do not seem to have been rash in coming to your decision. Then, I would simply not bring it up around your folks. Food is food and it shouldn't come between you and your family. When you do visit, be polite at the table, eat what you want and don't eat want you don't and let them bring it up if they find issue with your diet. Remind them that you are a grown up and you have to make your own decisions, now. Unless you are under their roof and they are buying and cooking all of your food, you don't really have to justify it to them. But as far away as you are, "out of sight, out of mind" seems to be a reasonable policy.