Need help convincing mom?

Question

I told her the health risks of meat and dairy.
But her reply was "No, you can cook the germs and bacteria out of the meat. And the dairy is pasteurized, so theres nothing harmful in it."

I'm trying my best to be vegan.
So far I don't touch anything outside of the house that isn't vegan.
What can I tell her to let her know that its bad?
(p.s. she doesn't care about how the animals are treated either.)

I'm convincing my mom to let me be a vegetarian.
I'm not convincing her to become one.
lol.

Answer 1

Meat, dairy, and eggs are loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol. Many chickens have campylobacter and salmonella. You can't just cook the germs and bacteria out. And you can't pasteurize the pus, hormones, and antibiotics out of milk either.

Ever read "Fast Food Nation"? There's a chilling line where Schlosser puts it bluntly: There is sh*t in the meat.

Check out Howard Lyman's "Mad Cowboy" and "No More Bull" for health and environmental reasons to go vegan. Lyman is a former cattle rancher turned vegan activist. He glosses over the animal rights issues, which will be perfect for persuading your mom.

And yes, you will get plenty of protein on a vegan diet!

Answer 2

Whatever you tell her she will most likely not believe or have something to say back about it. I really wouldn't try to tell her anything to be honest. Just know that you are right. K No matter what you say it is not going to convince her of much if anything. She was raised as many that dairy and meat are good for you. That has been drilled into her head for many many years. Your just not going to convince her that you are right no matter what you say.

Congratulations on becoming a vegan.

You cannot simply cook out the growth hormones and pus just like you cannot cook boculism out of spinich and green beans and canned chilly. It's engrained in it every ounce of it. And no matter how you cook it it is not okay to eat. You will get sick as you will get sick later on from the meat.

Here's a good one. Why are babies in the US born now with a full head of hair. About 50 to a 100 year ago a full head of hair was rare. GROWTH HORMONES.

I'm warning you though you won't change her thinking. 9 times out of 10 this will only start an ugly argument.

Answer 3

First off, try noting to her that animals feel pain (although it sounds like that's not going to work). Many animals (if not all) that are raised for slaughter often eat food full of steriods and anti-biotics that will transmit into the humans that eat them; boiling/cooking doesn't help (just google it; you'll find a ton of studies). As well, remind her what every single mamal (including humans) make milk for: their babies. Baby cows are pulled away ASAP so we can collect the milk. Females are raised to produce more milk, but most males are sent directly to slaughter to make veal. Chickens who lay eggs are stuffed 4 to a tiny cage, and that's the least harmful part. Also (may be a bit extreme) go onto youtube, and seacrh up the user "VeganBryan". On his account, there are at least 2 videos showing how animals are treated and slaugthered, fully showing all the blood, pigs getting their throats slit while squriming and in obvious pain, piglets being left to die after falling into tanks full of crap underneath their enclosures, dolphins getting sliced open...it's pretty graphic, and you need an 18+ account to watch it, but as a sort of last-ditch, ask her to watch it. Once again, it's pretty grusome stuff, but I'm pretty sure it'll leave a lasting impression on anyone.

But, try not using the word "bad". Being vegan/vegetarian are personal choices, as well as choosing to eat animal products, and making her feel offended may be 1 reason she won't let you. Instead, try saying that it's just a choice that you want to make for yourself, and that she doesn't need to follow suit and become a vegan too. It's something that you want to do for yourself. As well, remind her she's saving more money, because 1 pound of vegetables tends to cost less than 1 pound of meat. If she's worried about "no protein", note to her beans/soy products are loaded with it, and promise her you'll eat some everyday. Also, try convincing her a little everyday, instead of having "the big talk". That's pretty much all I got, and if it sounds like crap... Remember I only just started highschool =)

Answer 4

I have to say that I think the health risks of meat and dairy are negligible. Having said that, my daughter (12) feels better when she doesn't eat meat. I think it's part health; part ethics. At any rate, because she's flexible about it, I also try to accommodate her to some extent. If I'm making pasta, I set aside some of the sauce without meat for hers, etc. I try to keep on hand some of her favorite soups, e.g., Progresso Macaroni and Bean or Minestrone, for when we are having something that can't be altered for her.

I want to make sure she gets protein (beans, nuts, dairy) and plenty of fruit and veggies - which she is good about. She doesn't like eggs, so we have to look elsewhere. I have to admit, I don't mind her skipping meat at this age, but might not be happy if she went vegan -- she still has a lot of growing to do, and so do you.

Answer 5

If the is plenty of food in your house without meat and/or dairy in it just start cooking for your self.
If there isn't enough non-animal food in your home for you to maintain a balanced diet, try telling her that you'll eat meat and dairy, but you'd also like to eat more fruits, veggies, pastas, ect... Get her to start buying it for you and then just don't eat any of the other stuff.


Thats the best I got.
-Randy

Answer 6

try talking to her about it with a nutritionist or your family doctor who can better educate both of you on the decision your'e making. You may also have to commit to buying your own meat substitutes (soy, tofu, tempeh, etc) and cook them into meals for yourself to show that this is somethign you're commited to. At the very least try getting her to allow you one vegetarian/vegan meal a week. Many parents don't want their children going vegetarian because they're afraid that they will not eat properly. If you can show her responsibility in any way possible, it could strengthen your argument. On that line, find out why she doesn't want you going vegan.

Answer 7

Your decision to go Vegan is your own. If you can't find a way to make it work within your mom's household, you'll either have to wait to move out or start cooking all your own food.

You're not going to convince your mom that it's bad, she's obviously not going to agree with you. So the only thing you can do is control your own actions.

Answer 8

It's not your place to tell her how you feel it's bad for her, but you can tell her how you feel it affects you. My daughter and I are both vegetarians and I am constantly reminding her to keep her opinion to herself around her friends just because it's not her place.

Vegetarianism is like religion. Just because you have your beliefs about it, you should not try to force others to do the same.

My daughter and I do not discuss with others about the abuse of animals or the puss that is in pasteurized cow milk UNLESS they ask.

Answer 9

Tell her that animal fats are bad for you, being vegetarian or vegan is actually pretty healthy.
Perhaps you could compromise and be a vegetarian instead of a vegan. Then, slowly become a vegan. (Over the course of a year.)

Answer 10

She's right. You need a full variety of foods since you are still growing - both for your brain and body.
You can become a veg when you are older and out on your own.