How to become Vegetarian?

Question

I have been trying to cut down on my meat intake lately because for some reason I just can't stand eating it anymore. I'm only 15 and my parents both eat meat in every meal, how can I tell them to never make me meat again? Also what's some good meals I can eat to replace the food I eat (I eat basically what every other teen male in America does, junk food, burgers, ect..)?

I don't eat eggs or drink milk either, I have never liked either...so yeah.

Answer 1

The actual food of human beings is vegetarian food. Our intestines as well as our digestive system are designed to easily assimilate only veg food. Meat is designated only for carnivorous animals. Human beings are herbivores. Then why people eat meat? For its taste and for the belief that meat-eaters are stronger than vegetarians. The taste for meat comes from the spices applied to it while cooking. and not from the meat itself. If we prepare the vegetarian food with the taste equivalent to that of meat, everybody certainly prefers vegetarian food. And about strength: Vegetarians are equally strong and in fact they are less vulnerable to certain fatal diseases such as heart attacks, cancers and many other diseases.
Then what's a vegetarian diet? It includes cereals, pulses, vegetable oils, vegetables, fruits and nuts. It excludes all types of meat, eggs, and dairy products. Milk is also not a vegetarian food. For example, a cow produces milk intended to be consumed only by its calf, not for human beings. If a cow is grown in its natural environment and feeds on natural food, it produces exactly the amount of milk required by its calf. Not a single drop in excess is produced. Men through artificial means are influencing the cow to produce milk in excess to gain profit.
So you eat whatever vegetarian food you like. Don't always count your calories, vitamins or fats. Man is created with a natural instinct to select the type and quantity of food he/she needs. Due to the undue influence of parents, man forgot this instinct as he/she grows. We, of course, can recover this instinct back thru a little practice. Start by eating the food you like according to your mood and see if it causes you any discomfort to your stomach or ailment. If not, proceed. Otherwise don't eat it next time. When you feel your stomach is full while eating, then stop eating further even if the taste lures you to eat further. Your stomach knows it all very well. Listen to it. If you practice this, you will achieve self-control. Then it all becomes natural for you.
One last suggestion! Do meditation everyday for 15 munitues at least. It will have a tremendous effect on you.
Good luck my friend!

Answer 2

First of all, no worries, you can still eat the potatoe chips... :-) and veggie burgers are actually pretty tastey. Anyway, you can't really tell your parents not to cook meat. They've been eating meat all of their lives and don't intend to stop to meet your needs. However, you can cut out meat from your own meals by simply not eating it, and substituting with other foods that will still give you the proper nutrition such as tofu products, dark leafy vegatables (spinach, broccoli), nuts(peanut butter) and some varieties of beans. I also would recommend taking a daily multivitamin as you are young and still growing your body and brain depend on certain vitamins and minerals to keep things running smoothly. As for your parents, let them know that you have chosen the vegetarian path, and have a plan as to support your nutritional needs. I hope that they will be supportive of your choice, however there are no guarantees.

Answer 3

Alright, well why do you want to be vegetarian?
I think the transformation may be difficult (I recently tried being vegan for a week and It was hard), but it really teaches you self control. Do not feel like there is nothing to eat because this is very far from the truth. Alternatives to meat include tofu, and there are many alternatives (try Morningstar products available at Safeway, and tofurkey italian sausages also at safeway are REALLY good, also veggie hot dogs are good too). Eat lots of veggies, and carbohydrates, and nuts and eggs for protein.
Pasta is really easy to make yourself and i love it. Go to the grocery store and just shop around for stuff that looks good. Try hummus and pita, and at trader joes they have these really good mini-pizzas that come in bags. But basically, just be creative and eat what you enjoy but make sure that your dietary needs are being filled.
I would lastly recommend buying a cookbook (if you feel like you can't cook buy a kids cookbook, the recipes are much easier and they still taste good!). Because with a cookbook if you just follow the instructions you can really eat whatever you want.
-oh and just be straight with your parents, and be prepared to "fend for yourself" in terms of starting out as a vegetarian
Good Luck!

Answer 4

First,have a sit down talk with your folks and explain how you feel.
Assure them that you will research the types of foods you will need to eat to ensure adequate nutrition and ask for their help to incorporate these foods into the family meals. There are many wonderful websites devoted to a vegetarian diet, some developed especially for teens.
Some of my favorite veggie meals include beans and cornbread, red beans and rice, black bean burritos, tofu stir fry, cheese enchiladas and Boca burger vegetarian burgers (made with soy).
You don't say if you plan to continue eating dairy and eggs-some do,some don't. They are good sources of protein as well as soy,beans,nuts,seeds,and many other foods.
One resource I particularly recommend is "Diet For a Small Planet" by Frances Lappe. It explains in detail the concept of complementary proteins (combining foods to provide complete nutrition) and has lots of delicious and easy recipes.
Who knows-maybe your parents will cut down their meat consumption and eat healthier too! Best of luck.

Answer 5

Kudos to you! I became vegetarian six months ago and love it! After showing my husband the PETA website, he became vegetarian, too. Show your parents why you are making this decision and ways it will improve your life. They might think its some kind of phase, but they might go along with it anyway.

Try cooking your own meals. It's really fun, especially if you do it with people you love. You can find great recipes at www.allrecipes.com or any other recipe website and search under "vegetarian".

Some simple things you might try:

Quesadillas - sprinkle cheese on a tortilla and microwave for 20 or 30 seconds. Also try putting some beans on there, too, like black beans or kidney beans. Salsa is good, too.

Bruschetta - In a bowl mix up fresh diced tomatoes, basil, garlic, salt, and olive oil. Put on top of sliced french bread. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Toast in toaster oven or under broiler.

Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein, too. Make yourself and peanut butter sandwich.

Good luck!

Answer 6

It is very important at your age to eat a balanced diet in order for your body to develop normally. This can set the stage for the rest of your life. Read up on nutrition and make sure that you are getting you daily allowances of protein, carbs, dairy, vitamins and minerals. Soy or tofu can be a source of protein for vegetarians as well as beans. Egg whites are a pure source of protein without fat and cholesterol if you have not opted to be a vegan.

Answer 7

Good for you. There are many substitutes for meat out there. Obviously, you should take enough vegetables to keep you healthy. Tofu is also pretty good and has a lot of protein. Make sure you get a complete multivitamin tablet so you do not get any form of vitamin deficiency by virtue of your diet.

Answer 8

Tofu, spinach, green beans, peas, anything that`s GREEN, NO MEAT,etc. If you think that you can`t take it, then try other things to eat that you`ve never eaten before.

Answer 9

Tofu, well, that itself actually has very little taste. You need to flavor it for better results. That depends on what you like to eat.

Answer 10

Eat a vegetarian