Teen Veg*ns: How did you tell your parents?

For about 6 months, I have been thinking about going vegetarian. I have learned about different ways to get protein; I watched Meet your Meat, and it literally made me sick. I hate how animals are treated.

 My problem: I don't know how to tell my parents. I want to explain it to them effectively so they will take me seriously.

How did YOU tell your parents that you wanted to make a switch to a veg*n lifestyle?

If your parents aren't the most accepting type, I would suggest doing it gradually. For example, maybe say "Hey, mom/dad, I think I might stop eating red meat for a while, because I've heard lots of stuff on the news about all the unhealthy things associated with it." And then just move on from there. Parents tend to be much more accepting if you bring up the health issues rather than the environmental and humane aspects of vegetarianism. 

Good luck! And I hope you enjoy this healthier and more humane style of living. =3

I'm vegetarian for strict ethical reasons, and so, therefore, my dad is not exactly accepting. He basically has the exact oppisote ethical beliefs as me - he's super conservative, he's a country-boy type who loves hunting and believes that it's okay to hunt... even for fun, he believes that animals were put on earth just to be eaten and used by humans, he has no respect for wild animals AT ALL (he's trying to shoot a raccoon in our backyard, but hey - it's not hurting us, and it was here before we were!), and he hates the idea of being a vegan. I told my mom myself, and she was quite accepting (I had already been using meat substitutes and experimenting with vegetarian recipes in the past to "try it out") but my dad found out by finding my "Being Vegetarian for Dummies" book laying on our coffee table. xO

Then, of course, he continued to tell me that we NEED meat to survive and stay healthy, and that there's no way to raise children vegan. He also sent me this hilarious (and very poorly written) article called "Death by Veganism". Oooo... yes, veganism - cutting out saturated fats, cholestorol, and hormones sounds awfully dangerous!

JonasFreek, if you're considering vegetarianism, you just have to know your parents. You could go with the gradual approach, or go cold-turkey - either way, it's YOUR decision. No one should stop you from choosing to eat meat or not. It's a very personal thing, and just because your parents believe a certain set of ideas or customs doesn't mean YOU have to. I'm completely against the norm in my house, but being in the minority is not so bad once you get used to it. You just have to have confidence, determination, and by all means - be stubborn! You have to be the one to stand up for yourself and your beliefs, especially if you don't exactly have a group of supportive friends.

I believe in you though girl, and I encourage you to take the challenge! You could start by taking the 30 Day Veg Pledge and trying out veganism for a while. Or you could just gradually start to replace your meat items with substitutes and drink soy or rice milk instead of dairy. Eventually though, you'll probobly want to start getting a little more creative with your meals and begin to use more natural products such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, beans, lentils, and nuts or seeds instead of pre-packaged meat subs. Those are great for beginners, don't get me wrong, but veganism is much more interesting when you create your own meals. Here are some cookbooks I suggest:

• Veganomican
• Vegan With a Vengeance
• How It All Vegan
• Eat, Drink, & Be Vegan!
• Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World (for your sweet tooth)
• Vive' Le Vegan
• Refresh

There is a great line of vegetarian frozen meals called Amy's.

http://www.amys.com/

I have no idea if my parents would accept it or not. I have been eating tofu, Amy's meals, and meatless things for some time, but my parents have been concerned that I don't get enough protein. Isn't 15% ideal? They seem to think not.

I would love, someday, to raise my children vegetarian. I think it would be a great lifestyle. Also, these days, tofu and other soy products are much cheaper than meat. Just Sunday I bought some locally made, Organic tofu, and it was only a dollar fifty a pound!

I have already checked out the 30 day Veg Pledge (I saw it on the site where I watched Meet your Meat) and I have already been experimenting with creative meals. Last night i made Vegetarian three-Bean chili, home-made whole-grain cornbread, and a spinach salad with 4 other veggies- tomato, corn, bell pepper, and carrot.

The one thing I am concerned about is camp. I am going to a 10-day overnight camp this summer, and I am almost positive that they don't serve vegetarian food. I don't want to live on salad for a week and a half. Any suggestions?

And, really, "fake meat" stuff like Boca burgers don't appeal to me. I never really liked the taste or texture of meat, so something fake that tastes lkke meat doesn't sound good.

 

 

15% protein is fine - that's what I get, and I can still build muscle on that! As for camp, ask your councilors if you can bring your own food. It may seem like a task, packing and all, but it's worth it. All you get at camp is beef stews, corn dogs and tater tots, and lunch meat sandwiches. Not to mention the biscuts and gravy or Froot Loops for breakfast. I'm being forced into camp this year too, and I'm making sure to bring my own things. Here's a sample of what a daily packable menu might be for you to take.

• A packet of plain, instant (organic) oatmeal, with flaxseed, wheat germ, and bran added in before hand (put the contents in a baggie), and pack some fresh fruit and a individual carton of soymilk (Edensoy is super high protein and has single-serve boxes).
• Lara Bars, bananas, one ounce servings of nuts, apples, AB or PB sandwiches, raisins, trail mix (obviously), granola, bagels, and other non-perishable items to pack for snacks.
• For lunch, pre-made chickpea or tofu salad on wheat bread, or frozen burritos (Amy's are good), along with the camp's salad bar and maybe some veggies packed from home.
• For dinner, a homemade, pre-frozen meal (like lasanga or lentil loaf) or a vegan frozen meal, along with some veggies and beans of your choice.

That's what I'm packing. I asked for the camp's menu and it was terrible - no nutrition whatsoever, especially not for vegetarians.

jonasfreak- I am not a teen, but I recently went veg*n and thought I might weigh in. My suggestion is to really do your homework, particularly on the health reasons for going veg*n (I would recommend the book "The China Study"). I think the above posters were right that your parents are much more likely to be responsive to the health concerns, but being knowledgable about all aspects of veg*nisn will let them know you're taking this seriously, and aren't "going through a phase". I would also let them know that you are willing to go the extra mile to cook for yourself, and maybe even suggest making the family some veg*n meals, as well. But whatever you do- try not to preach. As much as you may hate seeing your family eat things you find repulsive/inhumane/unhealthy, most people will get very defensive about their own eatings habits. I find that the quieter I am about my own food choices, the more my family is ok with this new lifestyle.

Good luck!

Thanks, zebulancherry and jsdamdam! I am currently making a word document of sources of protein, prices (WAY CHEAPER) and protein that I need daily. As long as I get 65-70 grams, I am fine. Yesterday I ate completely vegetarian, and I plan on it today, too. I will probably drop it on my parents in 2 weeks from today. I am going on vacation tomorrow, coming back Sunday, then leaving Sunday for another trip. I won't be back until the next Tuesday, and thats when I'll voice my decision.

Also, how do you keep the Amy's stuff frozen? In a cooler? My camp is about 3 hours away so I would have to figure it out. But I'm not going for about 2 months; I have time.

Thanks for the great suggestions! I hope they will help!

 [Edit]

Oh yes- I just checked the website and this is what it said:

Campers eat meals with their cabin mates and share in the clean-up duties. Nutritious meals with vegetarian options are served by a professional food staff. Also available to campers is a salad bar containing fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, and an assortment of salads and breads.

 That exites me!

 

Our daughter decided to become vegetarian at one point.  It's something her friends were doing, a mid-high school thing.  I don't remember being all that angry about it, other than it makes things more complicated for parents to have to stock parallel foods.  She tried some cooking experiments that were pretty appalling, so I took her to an Indian restaurant.  One good thing that came out of that was that she enjoys a much wider range of foods now. 

As a parent, I'd suggest that you make a special effort not to be disruptive and rude.  If it's what you believe then live it, but don't spend a lot of time being rebellious and preachy about it.  Point out the savings and leave it at that.

My change to a vegetarian lifestyle was a transition.  I had already been cutting down on meat for a few months so it was easier to tell my mom I decided to become a full-on vegetarian.  I just told her straight out.  She's accepting and supports all my decisions so it was pretty easy.  The rest of my family is a whole other story.  I have not yet told my dad or my relatives or anything.  I'm going to be moving out in a couple months so I think it'll be easier when I'm away.

my change was pretty acceptable.
since i was 2 i didnt like how meat tasted anyway, and i've been a vegetarian since then.

since last year i've been a vegan. i'm 15 now.

basically, I wasn't going to take no for an answer. if someoen cooked meat, i simply wouldnt eat it.

my dad was extremely southern, a big hunter.

but not only did my vegetarianism help to change his mind about it, but he started to appreciate life when he became ill with cancer, and instead of taking it from the beautiful bucks, he would whip out his binoculars and go deer-watching near our house.
:)


if they say you can't, say you can.

don't conform.

simple as that

Original Post by zebulancherry:

I'm vegetarian for strict ethical reasons, and so, therefore, my dad is not exactly accepting. He basically has the exact oppisote ethical beliefs as me - he's super conservative, he's a country-boy type who loves hunting and believes that it's okay to hunt... even for fun, he believes that animals were put on earth just to be eaten and used by humans, he has no respect for wild animals AT ALL (he's trying to shoot a raccoon in our backyard, but hey - it's not hurting us, and it was here before we were!), and he hates the idea of being a vegan. I told my mom myself, and she was quite accepting (I had already been using meat substitutes and experimenting with vegetarian recipes in the past to "try it out") but my dad found out by finding my "Being Vegetarian for Dummies" book laying on our coffee table. xO

Then, of course, he continued to tell me that we NEED meat to survive and stay healthy, and that there's no way to raise children vegan. He also sent me this hilarious (and very poorly written) article called "Death by Veganism". Oooo... yes, veganism - cutting out saturated fats, cholestorol, and hormones sounds awfully dangerous!

JonasFreek, if you're considering vegetarianism, you just have to know your parents. You could go with the gradual approach, or go cold-turkey - either way, it's YOUR decision. No one should stop you from choosing to eat meat or not. It's a very personal thing, and just because your parents believe a certain set of ideas or customs doesn't mean YOU have to. I'm completely against the norm in my house, but being in the minority is not so bad once you get used to it. You just have to have confidence, determination, and by all means - be stubborn! You have to be the one to stand up for yourself and your beliefs, especially if you don't exactly have a group of supportive friends.

I believe in you though girl, and I encourage you to take the challenge! You could start by taking the 30 Day Veg Pledge and trying out veganism for a while. Or you could just gradually start to replace your meat items with substitutes and drink soy or rice milk instead of dairy. Eventually though, you'll probobly want to start getting a little more creative with your meals and begin to use more natural products such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, beans, lentils, and nuts or seeds instead of pre-packaged meat subs. Those are great for beginners, don't get me wrong, but veganism is much more interesting when you create your own meals. Here are some cookbooks I suggest:

• Veganomican
• Vegan With a Vengeance
• How It All Vegan
• Eat, Drink, & Be Vegan!
• Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World (for your sweet tooth)
• Vive' Le Vegan
• Refresh

 That's fine you're vegetarian but just because you don't agree with people who ARE meat eaters-- doesnt mean they're wrong. I don't like the light you are putting other people in. You are extremely one sided in this and you are failing to even accept that other people have opinions...they're just automatically wrong. Who sets the bar in where things are right and wrong? And no, the answer is not a 15 year old vegetarian.

If you are annoyed your dad is a hunter, etc.. then he should have every right to be annoyed that you're a vegetarian. I understand that you're 15, but common sense usually comes before that age. Try seeing it from his point of view.

Kit, if you're not responding to the poster, then don't respond. This isin't the board to talk about anything else other than the question she asked.

And I've been seeing it "his way" for thirteen years. Now I'm fed up and I'm not going to live in his shadow anymore. I have the right to my own opinions, and I can be my own person. No one can bother me and bagder me enough to make me change. I'm not saying they're wrong, I'm just saying that that's not the way of thinking that I believe in, and I don't want to be forced into it - which is the way it seems, in my house. I'm not trying to set right and wrong. That's just what I believe.

Now stay out of it. Do you even know me? No. XP

I never liked meat, junkfood, dairy..



My mom just thinks im retarded.

I didn't tell my parents. I stopped eating meat, and then just pretended I wasn't hungry for a few days and skipped the meat at lunch. I thought it was a pretty good ruse (hey, I was 12!)... though I planned to tell them eventually. Then I had to go to a dinner for an organization I was in and I quietly asked the server for no gravy or meat, hoping somehow my parents wouldn't notice.

The man seated next to me questions loudly and quite obnoxiously 'whaddaya mean "no meat"!?'. My mom calmly looked at the rude man and politely said 'I believe she is a vegetarian so she doesn't eat meat". Dad (who hadn't caught on before) looks at her and says "since when!?", she answers "about a week now, I think". Dad was against it at first but I explained I was being careful to eat well and mom supplied some info about the health benefits and all was well.

Even now 8 years later they still argue with me a bit that I should incorporate some meat into my diet. Mom more so than dad... She thought it was only going to be a phase, ha!

If it was me, I'd make sure you can make some meals for yourself, and be prepared to do it. Your parents might not mind but you could be making a lot of extra work for them if they always cook your dinner and suddenly they have to cook one thing for themselves and one for you. Likewise going to buy food with them/on your own will minimise the effort they have to put in. 

When I became a teen vegetarian, years ago, my mom was kind of annoyed, although she could see it coming. Good thing she was open minded. The thing is parents don't want to have to make two meals, and they are concerned about their kids having a balanced diet. I think the best way to get around this is to try to make your family dinner or at least your own dinner as much as possible. You just need to prove that you're mature enough to monitor your diet (don't become a carb-junkie vegetarian, or a junk food vegetarian) and you're not selfishly expecting someone else to go out of their way to make you a special dinner. It ended up being a great experience for my mom and I because we got to learn how to cook vegetarian together. She actually ended up going vegetarian a couple of years after I did for her cancer treatment. Try to talk to your parents about all the health benefits too: lower cancer rate in vegetarians, fewer heart problems, vegetarians are more likely to be in a healthy weight range, plus its great for the environment

About protein: 

Most Americans get WAY too much!

How much protein you need per day depends on how much you weigh.

You only need 0.36 g of protein per every pound you weigh. This is the standard recommended daily value supplied by the US government.

I got that from this site:

http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Nutrition/ Archive/Dietary/Q146825.html

People don't realize that there is protein in everything! It is nearly impossible to not get enough protein. I only need 44 grams of it a day. My oatmeal has 5 grams, one slice of my whole wheat bread gives me 5 grams, a tablespoon of peanut butter gives me 4 grams, a cup of broccoli has 4 g, a cup of skim or soy milk has around 8 grams, cereal can have up to 10 or so grams, eggs have a ton of protein (if you still eat them), even a carrot has a gram of protein.

In fact, excess protein leeches calcium from your bones, and it is not healthy. It also hurts your kidneys.

About animal protein and calcium:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0815/i s_n10_v22/ai_19989437

You can share this with your parents to reassure them that you're definitely getting enough protein. Hope that helps!

i didint tell my parents at all. i just stopped eating animal products. if they havent figured it out by now...then they r super slow.

Original Post by snotbubblez:

I never liked meat, junkfood, dairy..



My mom just thinks im retarded.

pretty much.

 

Out of the blue, I randomly said to my mom, "Mom, I'm gonna stop eating meat now. Try to cook at least one dish of non-meat." (By the way, I should just throw this out that I'm Chinese and at the dinner table, there are various dishes that have meat in them including veggies, which is why I told her to cook at least one dish without meat.) She wasn't against my choice, which made me feel better. I've actually never worried about telling my mom that I'm going to turn vegetarian. It sort of came out all of a sudden. My mom believes that I can live a healthy life style, ever since I told her that I wanted to live a better and healthier life. She's very supportive, almost too supportive that she doesn't even care, but I know that's not true. :) She still offers me food with meat in them (like pork buns) and I would just remind her again.

I think your parents will let you become veg*n. If not, you can tell them that there is NOTHING wrong with just eating veggies other non-meat foods. And really, that is nothing wrong with that. Try to start slow, (not like what I did by just yelling across the room) and explain to them the advantages of becoming a veg*n (i.e. saving animals and other stuff that you know that I won't go into). Maybe they won't care (which my mom probably didn't) and just tell them straightforward. 

It may be hard for you to tell your parents (for some reasons I don't know why), but if your parents really care about you, then they will accept your life choices.

I wish you best of luck! Let me know the results when you do happen to tell your parents.

ALSO, I know what I typed may be super long, but just read it if you're looking for advice.