How can I convince my mom to let me be a vegitarian?

Question

My mom thinks that being a vegitarian won't give me enough iron or protein. She doesn't want me to take vitamin supplements, either. I am kind of picky, but then she won't let me try a lot of vegitarian things (like tofu recipes).

Answer 1

I can see where your mom is coming from. As a vegetarian, it's hard getting enough protein. So, you need to make a list of all the things that you can get it from without eating meat. A few are hummus, peanut butter, beans, pistachios, falefel...and they're all delicious!
If she doesn't agree to that, you should do what that other girl recommended, and show your mom what happens to animals on factory farms. She will probably understand your reasons for becoming a vegetarian then.
Recommend to whoever cooks in your household that the family have "vegetarian day" every week, and eat a vegetarian meal along with you. They might find it tastier than meat and convert themselves!
If your mom says that she doesn't want to cook two separate meals, tell her to have some frozen veggie-dinners in the freezer for when the dinner has meat. Or, you could always have some cooked vegetables in your fridge to replace meat in dishes like shepherds pie and lasagna. They can be cooked in a small pan big enough for you.
You might be tempted to go vegan, but don't yet. Eggs and dairy are a really good source of protein, and you will need it growing up. Just be sure to buy free-range or organic products.
Good luck!

Answer 2

Get a vegeatrian cookbook and a vegetarian nutrition book from the library. A good book will have an explanation of "proteins" and iron, calcium etc issues. Eating a bean/legume with a rice for example, give you a great protein! Protein can be found in other foods besides meat.... Because you become vegetarian doesn't mean that you suddenly need to eat 5 times the amount of foods in vegetables either... your mom cares, and is worried, so now you need to have a talk using the books, she can also read the books, and you can design meals together that are "balanced". Again, balance is not in one day, balance is say over a week....

Answer 3

My suggestion would be to take your time....maybe start off by talking to your doctor, They can offer a safe way to become a vegetarian and still get all the things you need everyday. Take your mother to the appointment and let her hear it all first hand. It is alot of work in the beginning until it becomes second nature. I would also do some of your own research, if you are in school ask your counselor if there is a nutritionist employed by the school. And in the mean time maybe you can just cut out red meat and eat more fish and chicken. And please make sure you take a vitamin supplement.

Answer 4

hay u can do it very easily. do any one of these:
1. say, scinece has proved it that vegitarian is far better then non veg. it prevants many desieses. by this one can live longer compared to a person of non veg.
2. u can say, cancer, heart problem and these type of dangerous problem occour due to non veg food. it has been proved by science too.
3. many and many of the person are running for being veg. why???? b'cause it is really good..
4. you can say: suppose there is a gaint( dangerous and big animal or creature) and now it wants to eat us,,,,then how will we feel. we shouldnot kill anyone. if we can't give life to anyone we dont have right to kill anyone.
5. last but not least.. as we say Nature is the best medicine for each and every desiese....if it is so then it is also truth that veg food that mean \nature is the best nutrine for us..


I wish u may able to be veg..
if this doesn't work tell me ..i have soo many ideas.
Bikash Jain ([e-mail])

Answer 5

How sad! I turned vegetarian when I was in high school (I'm now 35) and I guess I didn't realize how open-minded my parents were compared to others. I hope you have the opportunity to leave home when you turn 18.

As for your question, you can find all of your necessary nutrients in vegetables and egg and dairy products. Nuts are a great source of protein, and leafy greens are great for iron. If your mother won't cook tofu, buy it and cook it yourself. I personally eat it raw, but not many like it that way, it seems.

Answer 6

umm there are "cliff bars" they have alot of protien in them. and you dont have to have vegitarian recipes just eat
and forget the meat. lol yeah that was cheesy.
my mom was the same way. my dad is alway worried about me not getting enough protien too.

Answer 7

Do research and find specific examples of why vegetarian diets are better. Like how tofu and beans/legumes and other things have protein in them and stuff.

Answer 8

actualy vegitarian are good then other,if you taken vegie,then you must taken the food balance,no like just only taken fried food lolz,you tell your mom,now days the animal all got sick lol,.,.is better then no.

Answer 9

Your mother is right. You need everything in your diet from vegetables to meat. Vegetarians need protein supplements, simply because they do not eat meat which has a lot of proteins that vegetables don't.
I am not against vegetarians, I just think that their way is wrong. As a species, we are omnivorous, and our bodies have adjusted to that. Which means that a person needs to eat a bit of everything: meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, etc.

Answer 10

i had the same problem! what i did was show her a video from PETA.com or any other website...the video shows how ppl kill the animals and or take the skin off while they are still alive crying and suffering! she actually cried and SHE was the one researching for other foods that are healthy but not animals