How to tell my parents ive decided to become vegetarian??? help me pleaseee?

Question

im posting this again to see if i could get more answers.

how can i tell them? recently (like 5 days ago), i have decided to become lacto-ovo vegetarian, for my health, the environment, and the animals. i went like 4 days w/out eating meat/animal by-products or anything coming from dead animals, and no one noticed. but my mom noticed today that i was not eating meat, and started yelling at me and said if i became vegetarian id be in HUGE trouble, and how vegetarians eat fish (which,they dont,she doesnt know what shes talking about), and how i was gonna die if i ate that way and how it was unhealthy and whatever. ive done tons of research on it beforehand, and im pretty positive that i can survive this way. i just cant eat meat anymore. it disgusts me. and its cruel, in my opinion. i know i have to let them know eventually, but how do i do it? can they make me eat meat? i wont do it. im 13 by the way... please, serious answers only, i really need help....thanks to all who answer. (:

thanks everyone whos answering! youve helped a lot. by the way, im not going to become vegan because i am scared of not getting enough of what i need. thanks!

Answer 1

Tell them the truth. If you show respect to them they will understand that you need respect as well. They love you and care about your future so, of course, this choice of yours will cause them anxiety.
Tell them you are choosing this for serious reasons. But be sure you have ALL the facts first. Show them that your decision is based on more than just your disgust about eating meat. Show them that you are making a mature decision based on real facts, not just feelings.
But before you tell them make sure you know what being a vegetarian entails. You must learn how to mix foods in order to get enough protein. You also will have to take B vitamins and some other supplements mainly because you are not fully grown, both inside and out, but also
because a vegetarian diet is deficient in B vitamins. You do not want to compromise your current health or your future health. If you have chosen to be a vegan (no dairy) your bones will have trouble in developing properly.This is crucial. You don't want to be a weak, under-developed woman when you grow up.
Consider being a vegetarian but not a vegan. Cheese, yogurt, milk, eggs are not too cruel to animals although the cows for milk are always lactating, which is cruel. Dairy products and eggs do not come from dead animals. Milk, eggs, yogurt and cheese are not really harming the environment in any meaningful way. There are far more effective things to do to save the environment and you should learn about that, too. Stupid plastic bags last a thousand years and are made from petroleum which is
oil. And you know where the oil comes from, don't you?
You can always become a vegan when you have grown up.
Calcium is fairly hard to get enough of without dairy. You have to know a lot and work at it a lot. Being 13 is hard too. Not a child but not yet an adult. So, making decisions that will affect your entire life need to be considered very, very carefully. Especially if you are not completely informed of the effects of such a decision.
You should become something of a expert, even though you are very young, about nutrition. If you ever plan to have children, not to know what your body needs now, will impact your pregnancies later. Your body also needs iron and that's not so easy to get either. Folic acid, fortunately, is well distributed in grains such as cereals.
You will not die if you become a vegetarian. But you can't afford to be dumb. There are millions of people in the world who are vegetarians: Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, and so on. They are not dying because of it. But if you examine the food they eat you will learn something. Rice and beans or peas together make a complete protein. Soy protein is available in many forms.
You also need many trace minerals in your diet.
If you can make a commitment to becoming a nutritional wizard you can demonstrate to your parents that your decision is not silly but based on true knowledge.
My husband has been a vegetarian all his life. He is a PhD. and a fantastic squash player. But it was difficult for him in his childhood to have much social contacts for meals. In these days, that is no longer true.
Red meat is really not good for anyone, though I like it.
But look up what the cattle who become hamburger in the US eat, and you will have information to support your cause. Bacon and hot dogs are legal poison. That's because they have something called nitrites in them and they are BAD. Maybe you will be able to persuade your parents to cut back on the meat, too.
I wish you good luck but I hope you do not choose to be a vegan. It's much too hard and you are very, very young. And when you get older, which I'm sure you believe as all kids do, will never happen to you, you do not want to be some curled up spine, weak-boned old lady. Old before your time. Just be careful what you do. What goes around, comes around.

Answer 2

Parents never cease to amaze me. When they have this type of reaction, it's usually because A) They were brought up in a culture that ingrained meat eating in them and shunned anything different, usually these types are white, Baptist and midwestern/southern or B) They just have control issues and can't stand that their children are making their own decisions. They feel like they know best even if they don't and just want you to do what you're told without question.

I can certainly understand your feelings on this matter. I was raised vegetarian and when I first learned that some people ate animals I was apalled and I couldn't quite grasp the concept for awhile. The only thing I can tell you is to explain to your parents, calmly, rationally and in an adult manner, why you feel this way...but only if they ask. Don't spend 24/7 lecturing to them and don't try to convert them. It isn't hard to just not eat meat, they can't force a feeding tube down you. It may be difficult to listen to their comments at times, but just stand firm and try not to make too big of a deal out of it. Come to meal times and eat the things that aren't meat and pretend like it's nothing new. Best of luck to you.

Answer 3

Lacto-ovo means that you WILL eat dairy (yogurt/cheese) and eggs. If you want to avoid all animal products - then you wan to be vegan. Your mom is right about that it can be dangerous if you are not getting the right balance of food in your diet. This means eating cheese, eggs, tofu, soybeans, nuts or a combo of beans and a whole grain like brown rice at each meal. So if you are planning on a vegan diet - you need to eat the tofu, nuts or a bean/rice combo at each meal. This diet can be expensive and you are asking your parents to fund and prepare a different diet. Are you prepared to pay for the special food and start preparing all your own meals? Your mom is only looking out for your best interests. At 13, if you are not eating the proper diet - it can have long term effects on your health. I know - I have issues from a poor diet and it is not fun. Buy a vegan/vegetarian cookbook and really study what you need to eat. Also - look in the grocery store for soy based meat substitutes. MorningStar Farms is one brand that makes a good product. I use their soy crumbles in place of ground beef. Instead of battling your mom, maybe you can compromise - but be prepared to bear the burden of some of the costs and work for your new lifestyle. It isn't fair to ask mom to cook one meal for you and one for the rest of your family. If you step up and take the adult and mature route on this - you might get mom to agree to it more. Good Luck!

Answer 4

First of all: NO they cannot force you to eat meat or anything else you don't want to eat. Why? Well, how would they go about it? They can't stuff it down your throat... they can't chew it or digest it for you so that leaves only your approach.

You have to come up with a reasonable approach that works for everyone. You need to be understanding of your parents feelings while telling them what you want to do. You've done research? Show it. You've been eating that way and feel fine? Show them. Think of this like delivering and education to your parents, much the way your teachers deliver and education to you. Be open and honest and most of all CALM. Show them your intelligence on the matter and come to a compromise of letting you give it a good try to learn for yourself. That's the very best advice I can give you on the matter, best of luck to you.

Answer 5

1. Tell them you've made your decision.
2. Show them some research showing you will not die if you don't eat meat.
3. Volunteer to cook your own meals so it won't be hassle for your mom.
4. Give it up for now and become a vegetarian when you're in your own place, earning your own money, providing your own meals.

Answer 6

Start trying to get your parents to buy FAKE meat! It has the same amount of protein and everything! Also have alot of peanut! And if they let you becaome vegetarian Get your mom or dad to go to the health store with you and buy protein powder and blend it in a shake!!!! I'm 12 and vegetarian and i'm FINE! Im also lacto ove vegetarian!

Answer 7

just tell them that you decided to be come a veg. i'm sure they won't flip about it.
it's not like you are telling them you are joining a cult and shaving a carrot in to the back of your hair lol
explain about the benifits too, how you can still be healthy and how you plan to fit protien in your diet by eating.... this and that

and you might grow out of it. at 13 most choices you make are based on the here and now and don't really become life choices

Answer 8

You are definitely in a tough situation. Be sure that you are as CALM AS POSSIBLE when you talk to your parents about it, even if they are completely crazy or hysterical. Let them know that you are firm in your decision but make it clear that you acknowledge your dependence on them at this stage in life.

Tell them that you want them to be involved in your healthy eating decisions that your success and your happiness depend on their support. Any other tactics in communicating with them will just lead to a stronger contempt for the idea.

If they are totally lacking in support or understanding, just pretend that nothing is even different. As long as you are aren't eating junk food everyday, you should get enough of everything you need if you eat bread, pasta, rice, cereal, beans, peas, lentil and split pea soup, fruits, vegetables, etc.

Answer 9

Ask your mom if you can try it for a while and promise that you will quit if it seems to be hurting you. She will save money on meat and you may change your mind. Clean your bedroom and help more with chores. You can't prove you are able to make a life change like that if you can't take on more responsibilities.

Answer 10

oh . I'm like u . i'm 14 and i love to be vegetarian cause i like animals and i don't like to eat they're meat. but my doctor said now u can not be vegetarian.just +18 . so i think its better .hmm?