I'm a vegitarian but my family isnt.. they don't agree.. what do i do?

Question

The other day my dad said he was just fine with me being vegitarian because it's what I want to do, but today he made soup with meat in it, and made me a seperate one without meat, and I started eating it, then he said that the broth was made with chicken in it.. and I find it so wrong that he knew there was animal produce in there and didnt tell me.. what can I do to get people to stop this and to respect my choice? I feel so depressed now because I had some of that broth and I didnt know!!! =( what do I do. please someone help me

Answer 1

Sounds like you are still living at home. Do what they say until you can take care of yourself. Then your silliness will not be visited on everyone else.

Answer 2

Well, the fact that your dad made you a separate dish with out meat shows that he wants to support your choice! It is hard at the beginning to not to slip up and use things like chicken broth. When non-vegetarians don't see meat they don't always think that an ingredient might be meat based. For example very few people would think of jello as being meat based, but it is made from bones and hooves.

You and your family will probably go through some learning curves in adjusting to your diet, they are trying to understand you and it is your part to be patient and understand them. Try cooking some vegetarian dishes that everyone will like, they can be added to the usual family fare.

Ignore the people who become antagonistic about your choice; there are always controlling people around who want to make your choices for you. Thank goodness your family does not sound like them!

Answer 3

I doubt he did it on purpose. He probably though "if I don't put the meat in it, it will be vegetarian". People who eat meat don't think about stuff like that.

I would just explain to him that you don't want to eat anything that caused the death of an animal (that's the simplest way to put it). They can't get "chicken broth" or "chicken fat" without killing the chicken... so it's off limits. But you might have to spell it out for him. :(

Sorry that happened to you. Soup is a tough one as a vegetarian. I feel like I'm bugging the waitstaff everytime I ask them if the soup is meat-based or vegetable based... then I also have to wonder if they actually KNOW or are just telling me what I want to hear.

Answer 4

I'm a vegitarian to. first, broth just has the flavor of chicken.2, being a veg does make u lose wait. just tell them how much more healthy it is. if they don't respect that, then just ignore them.everyone has there own opinion.they have to respect that. and before u can earn respect from others, u have to repspect ur self.


P.S. i have been a vegitarian since first grade, it works.

Answer 5

I have two daughters (now grown) who became vegitarians at the age of 12 and 14. They are now 27 and 24 and still vegitarians. I am not a vegetarian but I respected their opinion and choice. We did everything possible to support them. In my opinion we have the responsibility to raise our children to make their own life decisions.

Answer 6

I just researched
Vegetarian diets can be very healthy, but eating a balanced diet when you are vegetarian usually requires a little extra attention. Because vegetarians eliminate certain foods from their diets, they often need to work to add foods into their diet that will provide the nutrients found in meat products. By eating a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you can get the vitamins and nutrients you need from non-meat sources. By eating legumes, soy foods, nuts, and eggs, you can get the protein that you need to grow. Other nutrients to be concerned with are the minerals iron and calcium and the vitamins D and B12, which are especially important for vegans.
How can I convince my parents that being a vegetarian is healthy and right for me?

Your parents may be worried that you are choosing to follow a vegetarian diet without knowing how to do it in a healthy way. If you can explain your plans to stay healthy, your ideas about vegetarianism, and your reasons for wanting to become a vegetarian, your parents may be more likely to understand. Carefully explaining your ideas will help with this, but you still might need to give them time to accept your new diet. Read vegetarian cookbooks or nutritional information with your parents and offer to help with the shopping and cooking.

Answer 7

Obviously your father doesn't understand that you want NO MEAT PRODUCTS. He probably sees this as a phase where you just don't want to gnaw on a chunk of flesh. However, the fact that he made the separate soup for you shows he cares about your choices.
Gently explain to the family about your food rules and then cook for yourself to be assured that you eat only animal-free recipes.

Answer 8

It was wrong of him to make food for you and not tell you that there was meat in it. However, you need to respect his choice to keep eating meat as well. He should not have to change his ways just because you have chosen not to eat meat. I would suggest trying to make dinner once in a while and create meals that are vegetarian that he would like as well. However, when it's pork chop night, you'll just have to decline and make yourself a Boca burger.

Answer 9

You should stand up for what you believe in. Tell your dad that he had many decisions to make when they were younger and that being a vegitarian is your decision and he cant change your mind about it. Also, i am not sure if this would be helpful, but try showing him how healthy your life can be.

Answer 10

From the other side..it does take a little getting used to for us omnivores. When my son decided to go vegan it was not unusual for me to make mistakes. I did not do this intentionally, I just wouldn't be thinking about what was in the dish (an I definitely made the same mistake your Dad did). Just be patient, remind your parents of your preferences and they'll adapt. I wouldn't make a big scene about it, but do keep some tofu and soy products handy that you can prepare a quick meal for yourself when it happens again. Another thought, it really helped me to go shopping with my son. When I was involved in what he was selecting it helped me to remember what he liked. He's been vegetarian/vegan for close to six years now - it's all worked out.

Answer 11

i suggest learning to cook your own dishes or do your own grocery shopping. When my brother decided to become a vegetarian i knew my parents wouldn't bend for him, so i learned some dishes and researched about what a good vegetarian diet would be. my parents gave me the money and i go out and buy whatever i need. soon enough i started eating less and less meat. my parents sure dont know a lot about being a vegetarian so i try to educate them during dinner time while my bro and i are eating our own dishes.