my mother won't let me be a vegetarian?

Question

well, she does to some extent...but she believes that i NEED meat for the protein/iron whatever, even though i tell her you can get these from other foods..
she also says that i have to get permission from a doctor before i can be a vegetarian. (i'm 14 and ive been veg for two months, since i've learned of how the animals are treated and that i dont even need to eat animal products)
i know she's just worried about me but do you think this is fair? i know that anyone any age can be a perfectly healthy vegetarian, but she and my dad and her friends all seem to be so old fashioned and close minded to the idea of vegetarianism. it seems it will always be a problem with them and they'll never accept it. what do you think of this?
i've also been told that i'll 'go anorexic' if i don't eat meat. (?)

and please, no answers saying 'dont be vegetarian', 'i like meat' etc....they are just annoying and useless.

also, my mum told me that when she went to the doctor and asked him about me being a vegetarian the first thing he said was 'is she depressed?'
can you believe how ignorant some people can be?

linsey, i'd appreciate if you wouldn't make assumptions and judge me when you don't even know me.
you have no way of knowing where i get my information from or if i have a job or not. so please.

barrowman, you are very stupid

if we have a choice between torturing, brutally killing chopping up, cooking and eating another living creature with a mind and a personality and a chance to enjoy a fulfilling life OR chopping and cooking vegetables, do you really think meat is the healthier and more humane choice?

Answer 1

I have been vegetarian since I was 7 years old (I'm 22 now). My parent's didn't like it at the time, but I was 7 and put my foot down.

I am a well-developed and very healthy person, and I am very glad that I became vegetarian when I did. Apart from the ethical issues, it is a very healthy diet for you and, perhaps more importantly, if we are to survive as a species in the long term, everyone will have to become vegetarian - meat is way too big a strain on the environment.

Anyways, there are tons of alternative sources of vegetarian protein, like soy (milk, beans, nuts, tofu etc), eggs, cow's milk, cheese, beans, nuts etc etc. Check this out:

http://www.vegparadise.com/protein.html

Better sources of iron than red meat can be found in spinach, broccoli and so on.

Vegetarianism can be a very healthy lifestyle if you are determined to make it so. Don't resort to junk food and watch what you eat, but you will find doing so very rewarding.

Tell your parents that you don't want to run the risk of:
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Heart attack
Stroke
Bowel cancer

and so will just be going veggie...

PS - *cough* Lynsey = patronising b1tch *cough*

Answer 2

I was lucky when I decided to become veggie, because all my family all ready are.
Also just read the end of you thing "i've also been told that i'll 'go anorexic' if i don't eat meat. (?)" wth ? lol I can safely tell you that I've been a veggie for 11 years and in no way am I anywhere near anorexic.
Why don't you sit down with your mum, or if there is a veggie restaurant near you take her to that, and have a serious discussion with her that while you respect that she's caring for you, that you have made the decision to be veggie, and you hope she will respect that, tell her the reasons why you want to be veggie, also if she's worried about the lack of variety you'll get in your diet, why not go on the internet and look for receipes, or buy a veggie cookbook to show her the options so she knows you wont just be living on rice :p. Go on the Quorn site as well, Not all people like it but I absolutely love Quorn and helps you get some of the things that your missing by not eating meat.
I started being a veggie when I was about 8 and I've never took supplements, but maybe thats a route you could go down you could offer to take iron or protein tablets to make sure your not missing out.
Is it possible to goto a different doctor a one that might be more understanding and formulate a diet sheet with them?
The main thing to remember is that your mum only has your best interests at heart, but if you show her that this is what you want, and its not just a fad or a whim, by showing her receipes, examples of veggies etc, then hopefully she'll let you. Hope that was helpful :)

Answer 3

Well your mother does have a right to be concerned for your health and wellbeing. Maybe its difficult for her to think about cooking veg meals alongside what she normally would. I do think at 14 you are exploring what your personal choices could be.
Why dont you do some good homework and find out what you could have instead alongside what ever mum is cooking instead of the meat eg. pasta meat sauce, have the pasta with spinach and cheese. Get hold of a veg healthy balanced meals book and show mum how you could eat nearly the same meals but substitute the meat. Get a book that shows the iron, protein content of the meals. Or print off the web. You should also offer to go shopping with her and help with cooking.

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

If you are really determined, do some research on nutrition, print it off and give it to you parents. Lentils are particularly high in protein. Learn to cook some Indian food, that will impress your parents.

I love meat because it tastes good (assuming you get it from a local butcher!) and we are at the top of the food chain so it's natural and part of a healthy diet, but being vegetarian is entirely your choice, it is a personal choice, and nobody should try to stop you. You are right that all the nutrition in meat can be found elsewhere. Lentils and pulses.

Answer 5

I'm sorry to hear you're in such a position at such a young age but I suppose it's preparing you for the future... a lot of people have problems with us vegs due to sheer ignorance. People think that it's just common sense to eat meat when they actually know little about it.

If I were you I would do a lot of research on the net... gather credible articles from doctors and nutritionalists and information from veg families. There is so much info on the net about how meat is very bad for you... in fact, a lot of health insurance companies are now offering discounts to vegans and vegetarians because they tend to be healthier and live longer!

Get all the information in a file and have a serious word with your mum and I mean serious... tell her how upset her unwillingness to even learn about a veg diet is upsetting and that at the least, she should read through your folder to make an informed decision because what she is basing her decision on is just gossip and assumptions.

I really think there should be a video to do all this so I will look on the net and get back to you if I find one. I'm sure there are loads of animal rights videos but none that actually promote how healthy a vegan diet is... i'll check though.

For now, don't annoy her and moan because you will seem childish. Just ask her to read more about it. Adults think they know what's best but they are often stuck in their own frame of mind... try and get her to open her mind a bit. Good luck!

Answer 6

A vegetarian diet at your age is very challenging to make healthy. You still need large quantities of protein for your growing body. And meat, or meat products are still the most accessible source of protein. You mother has said you need a doctor's permission, so get that. She's not saying you can't no matter what, she just wants to make sure it's healthy.

And don't assume that a highly educated doctor is ignorant just because he asks a question you don't like. Sudden major behaviour changes are cause for concern to medical professionals. So go talk to the doctor and tell him you want to find out how to become a healthy vegetarian. Do the research into what you're actually going to need to eat. Then go to your mom with all the information to show her you're serious and that you're looking out for yourself.

Answer 7

Oh, I'm going through the same thing, only I'm vegan. I'm 15 and I've been doing it for over half a year. My parents hate it but they can't stop me.

Show your mom you're serious about this ****. If they refuse to let you eat anything other than meat, then you bloody well starve. That's what I told my parents--and if they tried to force their food on me, I would, too, better to starve that slaughter and torture the innocent.

Besides, you're vegetarian. Tell her you can get your protein from eggs and milk and things, and protein and iron from beans, wheat, and green leaf veggies. If she's still worried, you could start taking vitamins (Mmm, Flintstones! Make sure they're vegetarian, some people put fish oils or cow stomach enzymes in their vitamins, even gelatin.)

I think she'll definitely feel better once you do. And if you're worried about your own health; don't be. Being vegan/vegetarian is extremely healthy, it's a diet that makes you feel morally and physically good. They'll get over it soon, anyway.

Answer 8

Well first off, as a resonable vegetarian, I think it IS fair enough that your mom wants you to consult a doctor. Like you said, she's just worried. Find a good doctor that is open-minded to vegetarianism and has the latest nutrition information. He'll convince your mom that you can get all the proper nutrients from a vegetarian diet.

Actually, a DIETICIAN is better than a DOCTOR. Just tell your mom that a normal doctor doesn't specialize in nutrition, but a dietician does.

You will not become anorexic from being vegetarian. That is a load of balogna. Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness that can be brought on/fueled by excess DIETING and low calorie consumption, but it has no connection to eating a vegetarian diet. That's just stupid.

Answer 9

Hi there I read your message and I find it an interesting question. look I have been to culinary class and classes and am open to more learning in the future. Plan to take some cooking classes in your future. You may want to try a few culinary classes when you goto college you'll learn alot. In the mean time just study thats all I reccommend. Watch the food network. Read at the Library or at a Barnes and Noble. Vegetarian meals can and are some of the best Cuisine. Alot of people are in fact eating vegetarian and just dont realize it. Vegetarian can also be very filling and good all around. If youre 14 I reccommend also that you start right now thinking about sports. Living a active lifestyle and take a good multi vitamin in the morning after eating something solid like solid food. I reccommend GNC brand multi vitamin. It's the best trust me and you will be needing this also to be all around healthy, energized etc. Keep learning and always be willing to learn it will take you far.

Answer 10

Eating meat doesn't make you healthier, infact totally removing it from the diet is the best thing you can do for your body. My mother didnt' want me to become one either and it wasn't till I was 15 that she excepted it. As she tells her friends "she never liked meat as a child, so I'm not supprised now". She thinks it's utter stupidness, yet she claims that she's tried to be one for 4 months...plz
Anyway I've been meat free for a year. But leaving meat out of the diet is a risk, as you miss out on a lot of vitamins. You need to eat a lot of legumes and veggies and take some vitamins suppliments. If you visit my website you can see a description of how to become a vegeterian and a recepie book http://www.freewebs.com/dezed/goodhomecooking.htm

Answer 11

Let's start from an assumption that the diet that your mother would like you to continue with is balanced (that is, that it contains all the energy, vitamins and minerals you need, and is not too rich in sugars and fats). If you remove meat from this diet, this will remove some protein and fat, and also some vitamins and minerals. What you therefore need to do is rebalance your diet by adding other foods which replace these missing ingredients. In some cases it may be easier to replace them with food additives. However if you eat dairy and eggs then it is likely that simply a balanced diet with sufficient calorific content will provide sufficient quantities of most nutrients.

Incidentally I am not a vegetarian. I agree with the previous posters who have advised you to see a nutritionist with your mother, and you should also consider that there may be a practical issue of not wanting to have to make you special meals (or have to separately monitor that your diet is balanced). One girl I knew became a vegetarian but didn't really like vegetables very much so ended up eating far too much cheese.

Edit after seeing your additions:
Although I eat meat, I do not approve of treating animals inhumanely - raising animals for meat does not have to involve mistreating them or torturing them (obviously it does involve killing them, and I do understand that this in itself is objectionable to some people).