My family doesn't support me being a vegetarian... what to do?

Question

My family doesn't support nor want me to be a vegetarian. It's not that they don't give me choices to do things like that, but they think it is too complicated.
I was a vegetarian before (about a year or two ago) but I didn't really know why I was. It was more of a fad than anything the, but my family got tired of it then.
Now I know why I want to be a vegetarian and it literally makes me sick thinking of eating meat. How can I, not convert, but show my family why I want to be a vegetarian and to have them support me in it?

Answer 1

You will have better luck presenting your case logically with out mentioning “animal rights”. Your parents will not jeopardize your health for meat purchased clinically at a grocery store. You will also need to assure them you don’t have an eating disorder (anorexia).

The case for a vegetarian diet being healthier should be easy to make. During the Viet Nam war, autopsies performed on American soldiers showed that many suffered from clogged arteries and heart disease in their teens and 20’s. The young are not immune from the ill effects of meat. Studies just published in the British Medical Journal documents vegetarians have a higher I.Q!

Offer reasonable substitutions for meat that will not inconvenience them. Vegidogs and Vegiburgers are inexpensive and easily cooked.

You may enjoy many meals eating just the side dishes. Never, ever make an issue at family gathering of your vegetarian diet. If you embarrass your parents, they will make it difficult for you to continue.

Once you reach the age of majority recommend continuing the practice of tactfully avoiding meat. I can go into any restaurant and order off the menu. It is nobodies business what I choose to eat and would not want my diet to be a detriment to my career.

If asked why I’m so healthy – then proudly state I’m a vegetarian. (THEY ASKED!)

Strongly suggest you begin by removing just red meat from your diet. After about a month take away chicken. You will notice an improvement in your skin, along with unexpected improvements.

Don’t be surprised if your family enjoys meatless meals after being exposed to the benefits of a vegetarian diet.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

Offer to help prepare meals and do some research on vegetarian meals that your whole family would like. I think your family is saw that you got tired of being a vegetarian in the past and wonder if you'll do the same. Show them you are serious about this.

If they don't support you after giving them an explanation, then there is nothing you can do. Just stick to it and maybe they'll come around in the future.

Answer 3

Best way is to educate them. There are 5 types of vegetarians you know. One will allow to to eat dairy, another one will allow you to eat fish etc: once you figure out where you fall in, then it will be a slow process but you need to educate them. Most people are not familiar with the vegetarians like most restaurants and that is why they offer you pasta or a salad. There are lots of great books out there on recipes for the vegetarians. Go to Barnes and noble and review them. I go there a lot and will spend 5-6 hours going thru all the cookbook (research) and write down any recipes i like and it does not cost you a thing. If you cannot still change your folks, then just di it for yourself.People that try a vegetarian food for the first time will either make or break them. If it tastes good, they go on but if it is not good, they will never trt again and will be against that type of food foreever

Answer 4

Do a lot of research about vegetarianism (diet, types of vegetarians, pros and cons, etc.), and then put on a presentation for your family about vegetarianism. Use charts and / or Power Point slides, and make if fun but informative.

This will help you to learn more about vegetarianism, and it will also show your family that you are serious.

You could also prepare a delicious vegetarian meal for them, and serve it to them at the end of your presentation. Make it fun.

Ultimately, you need to live your life the way you want, whether your family supports you or not.

Answer 5

Congratulations for making this life-changing choice! Way to go!

I am also the lone vegetarian in a family of carnivores, and though I was already 37 y.o. the time I decided to be vegetarian, and see my family only on weekends, my mom still tells me I drive her crazy thinking of what to feed me. She's only now beginning to get the hang of it by always having tofu in her fridge. To show her I am serious about my choice, I began cooking my own food when I come visit them.

It's your choice, and you don't have to eat what your family eats. Firmly but diplomatically insist on a meat-free diet, and your mom, at least, will start stocking your fridge with food you can eat. It's all about respecting each other's lifestyle choices. There is a series on vegetarian diplomacy on VegDining.com, you might want to read it.

Answer 6

You're just going to have to deal with unsupportive, closed minded people. You can't make them be supportive. My dad's side of the family thinks I'm crazy. After a while they'll relize this time it's not a fad and they'll deal with it.

My suggestions-

Don't make a big deal out of it or everyone will get sick of you going "I can't eat anything in this house" or "Enjoy your dead animal".

Prepare your own meals. Make a few over the weekend, freeze them or put them in the fridge. That makes it easier on the chef of the family and on you.

Explain to them very calm and detailed why you are converting. You may want to write a letter to organize your thoughts. Ask them to let you try it for a month or so to see how it works out.

Good luck! Just remember, it's for the good of the world!

Answer 7

No. My immediate family as well as my extended family tends to look at me like a weirdo. My parents (for some reason) think this is just a phase even though I've been a vegetarian for quite some time now. They still offer meat to me when I am over at their house. At first we actually fought about it, but since I've done my research and found great food that is actually healthier for me than meat and meat by-products, they tend to not be as critical about the nutrition part of things. (Though my mother does like to pick the occasional fight with me about the dairy industry and how "they just take the milk from the cow". {grimace} And I must then defend my choice to abstain from milk, eggs, cheese, etc.). Holidays are hell. Maybe we should all "adopt" one another and be the understanding family that everyone needs. :-) lol

Answer 8

Direct them to the Vegetarian Society website for pages and pages of explanations about vegetarianism, along with helpful info on recipes etc.
As far as explaining to them why you want to be vegetarian, sit them down and tell them exactly why. If you're not sure if it'll come out right, try putting a post on here, to us telling us exactly why you want to be vegetarian - be totally honest, be as passionate and angry as you want - then print it out and show it to your family.
The thing they need to understand is that if something is this important to you then they should do their best to help you out. I think it's actually a good thing that you did this once before, gave it up but now want to go back and try again. It shows a certain maturity and proves that you are not prepared to be put off by other people's feelings on the matter.
Go for it. Stick to it. Enjoy.

Answer 9

They think you will be missing out on many good foods and lack nutrition likely. Surprise them with a feast of great veggie dishes (Lasagne with lots of portabello mushrooms, eggplant, spinach, cheese - if you eat cheese) to show them that veggie cuisine is
1) Good
2) Good for you
3) More common place that the think

They likely don't mean to be insensitive but just wan the best for you. Show them this is the best for you!

Answer 10

why dont you plan some meals and prepare them for your family to show them that it can taste good. Pasta is a good choice or pizza and salad, or make some side dishes that you could eat as a meal and just dont eat the meat