How do you tell your parents that you're a vegetarian?

Question

As some of you know yesterday was my first day of being a vegetarian and I have been doing good. My Parents (no one for that matter) knows that I am a vegetarian and since I don't eat meat anymore I am going to have to tell them real soon since the majority of the meals my family eats consist of meat. How do I tell them without causing problems? Me and my mom are already on bad terms since we don't share the same religious beliefs.

Answer 1

You just have to come out and say it. Don't be confrontational though. I went through that when I was younger as well. My dad used to cook most of the food and when I started to cook my own food he stopped putting effort into his cooking. In the end he blamed me for them not eating well.

Be aware that these sort of things do happen. If its what you want to do, stick to it. You should also get used to cooking for yourself. Don't expect everyone around you to change because you did.

Answer 2

Sometime when you're NOT eating, say something like: Mom, Dad, I've decided to become a vegetarian. List all the reasons you have. If they're worried about protein, you know that most people get too much anyway, that it's a myth you need massive amounts of protein. Tell them vegetarian diets are perfectly healthy as long as you eat a balanced diet.

Tell them if they make the side dishes vegetarian, you can cook your analogue and eat almost everything your family does. Better yet, offer to help cook dinner and make a fabulous vegetarian meal.

If your mom makes a meaty casserole, maybe she could split it in half or 3/4 and 1/4 and you could put veggie crumbles or chunks in your portion and cook it in the same oven.

Make sure you have small amounts of leftovers so if she makes a meal that can't be veganized, you can have leftovers.

If you can assure them that you won't be greatly inconveniencing them, I'm sure they'll accept your vegetarianism.

Answer 3

I had a huge row with my mum about 20 odd years ago telling her I wanted to be vegetarian, she thought I would probably die from malnutrition. I can only guess that this would be your mum's gripe as surely to goodness there is no other reason to be upset that someone is choosing not to eat meat, so on that basis I would go to the library today and pick up some books on vegetarianism (the more mainstream and unkooky the better) Show her you have done your research, this will make her happier and maybe even encourage her to think about cooking some vegetarian meals once in a while for the whole family. It shows that you have made your decision based on not only moral but also health issues as well. Please don't expect her to have to cook you seperate meals from your family, this is a nightmare for a busy mum. If you also bring some vegetarian cook books home you could think about knocking up some meals for yourself. No sure why having different religious beleifs could cause 'bad terms'. I'm sure whatever religious beliefs you both have the crux of them both will be love, understanding and care. (obviously unless one of you is a Satanist then hey, you're gonna find it hard to get around that in a happy way :)) Good luck with the veg, eat lots of pulses they'll more than make up for the good stuff we can gain from eating meat. xx

Answer 4

You could always kind of transition into it. Say something like "I haven't really had a taste for meat lately" or "the meat in my dorms is so bad that I just lost desire to eat any meat anymore."

If you think the source of the problem is going to be because of the religious/ethical differences between you and your family, you could start out by saying you're doing it for the environment. Then later start slipping in some of your main reasons for doing it.

I do think it is important to be honest about why you're doing it, but you also want to make sure your family is comfortable with it and hardly anyone would react kindly to a big announcement where you tell them that you think they're wrong for eating meat. So just try and downplay it at first, get them used to your not eating meat, then you can reveal all the wonderful reasons to be veg over time!

Answer 5

sit them down and talk to them (do not start out on the defensive and arguing).
Outline the reasons why you want to be a vegetarian.
(Make sure no reason is because someone else you know is doing it)
Express that this is something you are committed to
and that this will become a lifestyle for you.
I would also have a meal plan ready that you can show them
so they can see that you are eating balanced meals and they may even be interested in preparing some of these.
Good Luck.

Answer 6

If your mom won't buy you the foods you want/need unless you eat meat, be prepared to buy them for yourself. Get a job, whatever. You should just be able to say to your parents that you don't want to eat meat anymore and that you researched how you are going to supplement your diet, etc. If you don't know how to supplement, then you should not be a vegeterian until you do. If they see you have researched everything and have made a conscious decision, they might stand by you. They'll be skeptical at first, seeing whether or not you'll stick with it, but stick to your guns and you'll do great!

Answer 7

If the ask you what you want to eat for dinner name something without meat and if they ask if you want something and it's meat say no or say no and offer something else. If they give you meat and you don't wanna eat it just don't eat it and say you didn't want it, but I know soon or later they're going to be on your case and wonder why you don't eat meat and brag you, but if they ask if you area veggetarian just say "ok, fine yes, I am a vegetarian".

If you wanna tell them, maybe not tell your mom first if she's hard to deal with on stuff like that. You can probley just say "Hey, can I tell you something?" "Please don't yell at me or give me any troubles when they I say this, but.... I'm a vegetarian now" or "I don't how to say this with out you yelling, but please don't yell at me when I say this, but I'm now a vegetarian" or something like that. If you wanna not eat meat because you wanna save the animals then just tell them because of that or tell them what the reason is if you want to or if they ask you to.

Hope I helped you some!!
Bye bye!! =).

Answer 8

Why should you care? So you want to be a vegetarian. You have to fight for your beliefs. If your parents don't like it, tough for them. Move out on your own. You are a vegetarian, you can live off the land---nuts, berries, edible weeds; make shelter from branches, go native if you have to. Don't be a wusssie.

Answer 9

Do you live with them? Just tell them. And tell them that it's not up for debate. If they don't want to cook special meals for you, then tell them that you'll take care of your own meals.

If you live on your own, there's no need to make some grand statement about it.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 10

i think you should stick to your decision so they know you are serious. just come out and tell them, and be respectful. don't put them down for eating meat, and don't be smug about your decision. the sooner you tell them, the sooner they will get used to it.