Not allowed to be vegan?

Question

I am a vegetarian, but I would really like to stop drinking milk because I have read that it is unhealthy. The problem is my mother. She does not agree with my choice to be vegetarian and says she is 'putting her foot down' and not letting me be a vegan. She also says she read an article about how bad soy milk is for people.

My mother is not a very open-minded person and refuses to listen to anything that she does not already agree with. I have tried to tell her all the nutrients found in milk, like calcium and protein, can also be found in soy milk. She refuses to think soy protein, or any plant protein for that matter, is as good or better than milk and seems to think I am lacking protein... I actually counted up my protein one day just to see, and I ate a little over 50 grams without even trying. I tried to show her this...

How bad is milk, and how can I convince her to let me drink soy milk?

Oh, and for some reason, I cannot buy the soy milk myself.

Sugar Pie- What gave you the idea I think giving up milk is all there is to being vegan?

Answer 1

You are fighting culture - a very difficult thing to defeat.
Your mother has been taught since she was very young that milk is needed for strong bones.

During the Revolutionary War soldiers were rationed a pint of milk a day, they also received two pints of beer every day. Back then we thought beer was more important and healthier then milk.

But due to the marketing of dairy since the late 19th century, our culture has embraced dairy products. In Asia there is little concern for osteoporosis, and they drink very little milk. In actuallity osteoporosis occurs more frequently in countries that drink the most milk, so obviously the answer isn't in milk.

Research has found that physical excercise is more important than diet in the buiding of strong bones. Do a search on any of these tidbits of information I have given you, and you will find enough to give your mother.

Answer 2

wow, i had a similar problem like this. My mom didnt want me to become a vegetarian. Milk is not healthy. No where near healthy. It is full of fat, pus, scabs, and blood. I know that its said to be clean BUT is it possible to clean it all out? no it isnt. Its like saying ima spray my room with germ free spray and then it wont have any germs...that just isnt true. Soy milk is much healthier. It has less fat, and no cholestrol.

I wont say that meat protein and plant protein are the same but they are both protein. To me, the most important thing is that you get enough protein (from what you are saying, you're fine) it shouldnt matter where its coming from. There is no such thing as one that is better.

I dont think your mom is going to change her opinion unless she can see for yourself that soy milk is healthier than milk. So i suggest buying some soymilk and compare the nutrition label to the one of the milk. Show her the difference. Make sure to show her all the fat and cholestrol.

Answer 3

You are vegetarian but she won't let you be vegan??
Very odd.

About milk, I just answered this same sort of question:
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnAME2164ZeeeRbqMlgdli_AFQx.?qid=20070716082030AAeHjAr&show=7#profile-info-94d38466ef8105417169d1c1af15567caa

Basically, once a mammal (humans included) are beyond the breastfeeding stage, there is no need for milk. Especially the milk of another animal -- that's really weird and kinky if you think about it (from the point of view of someone who comes from a culture where they do not consume the milk of other creatures). I mean, would humans adults drink the milk of other human women if all the women got together and started a business of selling WomenMilk? No, I think they would be disgusted at the idea, but milk from a completely different species is A-Okay. Very weird. And these animals are not generally healthy, but generally sickly. They give them hormones to fool the body into thinking that they are continuously pregnant and milk them for all they are worth until they are worn out. Anyway, it's obvious that we shouldn't be consuming milk, that's a very easy answer I think.

Answer 4

i don't know if this helps, but you can make soy milk at home in your own pace for fraction of the cost, see store brought soy milk is full of cr ap and addictives, and cost $5 a gallon

homemade soy milk cost er, 15 cent per gallon,
just buy soy beans from store, 50cent a lb,
measure 2 cups of soy beans and soak over night
next day grind up soy bean in food proccer or blender
and dump grinded up soy into a muslin bag (er you have to buy muslin cloth and make it or buy the bag from beer making supplyers)
bring 1 gallon of water to boil and throw in muslin bag
cook for 10 mins and remove bag, try to squeeze the bag
wait until soy milk cools down, then filter it, and you can drink it

i have a machine that does this for me, goggle it
soy milk maker
and how to make soy milk at home

Answer 5

your mom is right, milk is good for you and has lots of vitamins that growing teens need also soy milk in to large of amounts is very bad for you, even some of the vegans on here say they quit drinking it because of the health risks. Just listen to your mom grow up to be healthy, then if you want to take chances with your diet later after you move out of her house go for it

Answer 6

hey, love, just so you know, there are other types of 'milks' out there. there is oat, rice, almond and coconut. i personally love almond breeze by blue diamond.

im giving you a link to a question about whether soy is good or bad. the ba went to vegan&proud who always does great research. read it, show it to your mom, go out and get some non dairy milk :) your on your way to being vegan!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At0oXoa0H7Ea7fFzCuaraS3sy6IX?qid=20070713150101AAtCPwh&show=7#profile-info-s891p9t0aa

Answer 7

www.nomilk.com
www.notmilk.com
Point out that kids in Japan and China aren't raised on cow's milk. You still need calcium, either fortified orange juice or tons of tofu and broccoli are in order. Mind your vitamin D intake- you can't use calcium without vitamin D.
www.veganoutreach.org for sound nutritional information

Answer 8

There's a lot more to being vegan than giving up milk/dairy products.

I dont' know where you read cow milk was unhealthy (PETA site, maybe?!), but that's not true. It's very healthy for you, esp as a growing teen.

Just comply until you're on your own, buying your own food and supporting yourself. By then, vegan may be all you can afford anyway.