How do you survive in a meat eating family?

Question

I'm 18 and thus I still live with my father at home. Although he doesn't eat red meat, he still finds making dinners for a week to be easier if we include some chicken and seafood, which is making it really hard for me to go completely vegetarian. Has anyone been in this situation and have any advice?

The latest answer has been most helpful. I'm changing due to health reasons, because my body has trouble digesting meat product. I'm not expecting my father to change with me, I'm only trying to find an easier way to eat dinner with him without complicating life.

Answer 1

Seize your paleolithic roots and go Neanderthal with him. just kidding.
First - most people are basically lazy when they can get away with it - appeal to his weaknesses, for example. Suggest easy dinner suggestions such as soup, salad and some crusty french bread or make dinner for everyone yourself. You can put as much or as little into it as you would like if you are doing it yourself.
Second - One thing that really turns me off whether a person is a carnivore or vegetarian, people who become militant about there personal preferences. If there happens to be meat on the table just graciously omit having any. If asked just say you would not care for any. (Actions speak louder than words)
If you make a big issue out of it you may be creating a controversial issue that might not have been.
Third - sincerely thank him for when he helps you achieve your goals, tell him how good the food was or how you feel so much better when you eat healthy.
The point I am trying to make is, you are in a family. Try doing things that are in general positive and uplifting for the way people feel as well as the way they eat. This does not work overnight but in the long run it is the most effective way of altering a persons habits I know of.

Answer 2

1. Do you have a crockpot at home?
You can make massive amounts of beans and soups and freeze them.
2. Store some vegetarian pasta and you can quickly make a tossed pasta salad whenever the rest of the family is eating meat.
3. Keep raw vegeatables on hand and snack when the rest of the family is eating and you can make yourself something else when they are clear of the kitchen.


There are dozens of other foods you can have on hand and ready, but focus on one other aspect of your vegetarianism. You have chosen to be a Vegetarian, which is a noble or healthy choice for reasons you have probably researched or embraced, but this is not necessarily a natural or even common choice for the rest of your family. Humans have evolved to be omnivorous, so expecting your family's eating habits to change to suit you would be as negative as them forcing you to eat meat.

Good luck with your adapting circumstances.

Answer 3

Okay here we go.

I became a vegetarian at 12 and my mother father, sister, and two brothers are all meat eaters. My brothers are both younger than me so they would do stupid little kid things like shove their trukey in my face at Thanksgiving or go "yummm this meat is so good" just to annoy me. All I could really do for that was ignore them and eventually they stopped.

I would make my own dinners and occasionally my whole family would just eat what I made. For example: one night my mom was just to tired to cook so I made tofu stirfy for the whole family and while I was the only one who liked the tofu, everyone like the rest of it (the rice and veggeis). Then once my mom made a dinner for the rest of the family and I made vegetarian tacos for me with Morningstar fake meat. Even though the liked my moms dinner everyone ended up eating my dinner because they liked it so much!

Really all you can do is get you family to test some of the food your eating and you'll have to cook for yourself. Your always going to face unsopportive people, even in your family, but you'll make it. Maybe your dad will change his mind and decide to become vegetarian because of you!

Answer 4

I had the same problem with my family. My family is in love with meat and we have it everyday. My dad finaly found out that I wanted to be vegetarian and he said that I would have to make my own meals. Thats what I recommend doing. Or you can try to compromise with your dad. Maybe he can make meals some nights and you can make them other nights. And have him include vegetarian items at the dinner table, such as corn or salad.

Answer 5

The best thing you can do is fix your own meals. You do not say to what degree you are vegetarian. Ovo-lacto? There are plenty of meals you can fix ahead of time and you might even suggest to your pa that you cook for him once in a while. That way he gets time off from cooking. You could also join him in the kitchen and make it a family affair.

Answer 6

When i chose to become vegetarian 17 years ago, i discussed my choice with my mother (who i was living with at the time). We made a plan, ie what food we would buy, cook etc. I became vegetarian and she didn't. It worked very well indeed. You just need an understanding parent.

Answer 7

I know what you mean. I live with my entire family, known of whom leave any meat out of their diets. The only way I can stick to being veggie is by having the same as my family but substituting something instead of meat myself. My parents disagree with my choice and tell me that they're fine with it providing that they don't have to change the way they cook, anything they make i have to help so i can make sure mine is veggie. It does work

Answer 8

Well, you could re-evaluate your option of going vegetarian.

Think about it this way: You stop eating animals because they were once living and you don't want them to be killed.

What about plants? You're taking their life by wanting to eat them too! They're living things too.

Now, if we go by this logic, we either starve, or eat whatever everything.

However, if you really want to go vegetarian, you have to respect the fact that others around you may not wish to join you. Some people enjoy their meat too much, and it's perfectly normal.

You either have to start cooking your own meals, or if you're not that fussy, take the chicken/shrimp out of the meal.

Also, you could just get your dad to make the same thing, but tell him to take out a portion before adding the chicken/ shrimp.

Hope I helped. Cheers

Answer 9

maybe ask you dad if he (or you) could cook something for a change like some indian food (which is mostly vegetarian) or some other vegetarian foods that he AND you can enjoy

Answer 10

why do you want to go completely vegetarian? i've been eating meat all my life and i'm ok. vegtables are good but you don't have to be completely vegetarian. besides, chicken and seafood are not as bad as red meat. all my family eat meat and our average lifespan is about 83.