My dad is old-fashioned and won't let me eat what I want. How do I convince him?

Question

I was born a vegetarian and have never liked meat. (I even used to spit the meat chunks out of my baby food!)
Now I want to be strictly vegetarian, but my dad won't let me because of his old-fashioned ideas. He is very ridiculous and stubborn and thinks that if I eat what I want and be vegetarian I will be considered 'eccentric'.

Any suggestions? One idea that I had is to offer to cook all of my own meals.

Has anyone else had a similar situation? What did you do?

To answer your question, bldskd9, the baby food thing is kind of like a family story. My mother told me about it because I was only a baby at the time.

Answer 1

Like other people said, do some research and GO TO YOUR DOCTOR!! That is important! There are vitamins you will most likely have to take, like someone else mentioned B vitamins like B12. Just go to a Dr. Do some research and cook your own food! cooking can be a really great experience, it is super fun! especially learning to make certain dishes vegetarian, you can show your dad how your not "eccentric" by making Vegetarian meals that look exactly like meals he would eat. there are great products on the market to help you out.

Answer 2

It is not being old fashioned but a firm belief that he knows more than you do. And he probably does. Depending on your age, you have the burden of proving that you have the scientific knowledge, the maturity of making this decision of foregoing meat completely from your diet.
Talk to you doctor. Some doctors are vegetarians themselves.
There are some nutrients that you need to put into your body if your are still growing up. Get your doctor to suggest a begetarian diet that satisfies this requirement.
That should also fix the problem.

Answer 3

I had the same problem for years with my parents. They're big on healthy eating and that and so disagree with my own choice. Anyway one day I just came home from school and said straight out that I just wasn't going to eat meat and they couldn't make me. childish I know but they did pay attention. This was about 3 months before my GCSE's started and my mum told me that right before exams would be the worst time to change my diet and promised that when I'd finished my last exam I could do what I want. She was hoping I'd forgot but I didn't and the day of my last exam she reluctantly kept her word. Try just straight out refusing, he may cave before you do, I mean what's he gonna do, force the meat down your throat? Good luck

Answer 4

I've got one of those dads too. Eccentric would be a compliment compared to some of....nevermind. You are doing the right thing by sticking to your principles. You probably have all the information as to why you are an herbavoire, you just need to explain it in a way he will understand. No, I don't mean you have to simplify it, you know him best. Appeal to his nature and let it go. At least your arent one of the millions who scarfnblo or refuse to eat at all.

Answer 5

I was in your situation...a meat hater/animal lover in a very steak and potato house.
Your dad can't force you to eat. it's that simple. it took YEAR literally about 14, but today my parents accept my choice and seem to even be proud on some level.

you have to explain your decision to him. peta has some great reasons to go veggie. tell him it's a life choice, not an eccentricity.

Answer 6

understand your dad's point of view. he is used in eating meat..and he can see what nutrients he gets from it. meat are considered the best proteins.
if your a vegetarian...and he isn't he would probably think that it's his fault bec. you didn't turn out like him.parents are like that sometimes.
...just be nice and try to win him over to show that your healthy.

Answer 7

Try and get some papers over the Internet and maybe a book or two about vegetarian at the library you farther would not mined reading.It might convenes him.

Answer 8

well if he buys the food cooks it and provides a roof over ur head u will have to do as he likes until this is no longer the situation or untill u change his mind. Or don't eat at home go out or buy and make your own food

Answer 9

Easy, The Simpsons.

Season 7, episode 5.

Answer 10

Telling your father he's ridiculous and needs to be enlightened (by his own daughter!), and lectured and given books to read is NOT.. repeat, NOT... going to advance your case.

What WILL help is following his rules (it's his house, you know) until you can make your own (when you move out on your own, that is).

If he sees by your actions that you are willing to compromise, perhaps he will, too.