What's wrong with being vegetarian?

Question

I have been a vegetarian all my life and have recently felt forced into eating meat, by constant pressure from my friends and some family members. Everyone seems to see vegetarianism in a negative light, why? What's wrong with not eating meat? My dad keeps saying that I don't get a balanced diet, because I don't eat red meat which contains iron. What should I do, I'm confused?

My mum is a vegetarian and so is my brother (my dad isn't)

Answer 1

The toughest part of being a vegetarian in a family that is not vegetarian is cooking. I do eat meat but will frequently eat vegetarian meals so can and will eat pretty much anything that is prepared by myself or any family member. My sister is a vegetarian and cannot/will not eat some of the things that I prepare so she has to cook for herself sometimes.
The other issue is the cost of preparing two meals. Vegetarian food is not expensive, but it frequently becomes necessary to prepare two meals to accommodate both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian family members.

Answer 2

There isn't anything wrong and you can try telling your father that you actually do have a balanced diet and it is a choice that you have whether you eat only vegetables or a mix of vegetables of meat it is your choice and you have been one for years. And you can also say that you like being this way but you can choose to say what you need to say because he is your father. If you want to try eating meat then you can but it isn't a very good idea if you are being pressured and you can get a lot of iron and folic acid from greens and spinach. There is nothing wrong with not eating meat as long as you yourself aren't pressuring others by saying meat is bad and we weren't ever mean't to eat meat because that isn't true at all and we have evlolved over time. I don't see anything wrong it's just a little different from some other things depending on how strict you are.

Answer 3

You can get all the iron you need from vegetarian sources - you don't need to eat meat. Sure you can get iron and protein from meat but you'll also get lots of saturated fats and other chemicals. Just eat lots of green veg, pulses, eggs (if you're not vegan), breakfast cereals (pref with bran), dried fruit and baked beans. There are a number of other sources listed on the website below. Drinking a glass of fruit juice will help as vitamin C will help you to absorb the iron.

There is nothing wrong with being vegetarian, you'll be healthier and less prone to some of the really nasty diseases which plague the meat eating population (cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure etc).

Do some research so you know about nutrition and then when someone says you need to eat meat you can set them straight about the issue. Being veggie is a really positive step for you and animals. Be proud, you are not repsonsible for animals suffering unnecessarily.

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/iron.html#diet

Answer 4

Little known fact: It goes against the Sunnah and was traditionally considered Makruh to eat too much meat. The Prophet [saas] rarely ate meat.. During the Khalifa of Umar ibn Khattab, -raa- he actually forbade people from eating meat two days in a row, considering it extravagance. So this is a neglected Sunnah, to refrain from excessive meat consumption. It's better to eat vegetables and fruits and grains, only having meat occasionally. Now if someone wants to be a strict vegetarian, this is allowed according to scholars on the following two conditions: 1. They they don't consider it a part of the Islamic religion but rather something they are doing for themselves [for health reasons, or other personal reasons] 2. They don't believe in their hearts that it is mandatory for all Muslims or all people, as there is no precedent in this religion for absolute vegetarianism, and to say otherwise is bid'ah. As long as a person is a vegetarian with the above two principals in mind, it is allowed. And Allah knows best. Salaam/Peace

Answer 5

There's nothing wrong with being vegetarian except that you still eat dairy and eggs.

Seriously though, most people get too much protein, even vegans. Unless you're eating too little food or you're eating mostly junk food, it's impossible to be protein deficient. When you eat vegetarian sources of iron, make sure you have something rich in vitamin C to go along with it.

I've been veg for almost six years (vegan most of that time), and I'm in pretty good shape. People will bash your food choices because your vegetarianism makes them examine their own food choices. Check out Carol J. Adams "Living Among Meat Eaters" to get more perspective on how to deal with the saboteurs in your life.

The friends who would pressure you into eating meat are not true friends at all, by the way.

Answer 6

Why did you give into pressure? I would NEVER eat meat even if everyone in the world told me that I should eat meat. There's absolutely nothing wrong with vegetarianism.

Answer 7

Dont let people intemidate you into doing something that your not compfortable with. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a vegetarian. If your Dad is concerned that you are not getting enough iron, have your DR. check it. There are many supplements you can take instead of eating meat, besides to much red meat is very bad for you. My best advice is to talk to your physician, he can let you know if your body is lacking anything it needs. My guess would be that you are far more healthy than the average meat eater.

Answer 8

There isn't anything wrong with being a vegetarian. I'm not a vegetarian, but I love vegetables, but I also love meat. You can get iron from peanut butter, nuts, whole wheat bread, beans and legumes. If being a veg. would work for me, then I would be one, because I'm sure I'd be alot more healthier, and probably lose some weight!

Answer 9

Well if you ask me i think that your dad wants to keep at least one of his family members like him, a meat eater. So he probably feels left out or maybe that you wont love him.

Talk to him and let him know that you love, also work out yours and his problems. I am a vegetarian and will tell you that being a vegetarian makes you feel better and more energetic.

Answer 10

Those kind of people just feel threatened... they believe their diet is the right one and can't consider the fact that a vegetarian diet is healthy because it may make them feel guilty for eating meat. So they put this wall up and believe that eating meat is healthy and not eating it will cause them health problems. If you've told him that you can get iron from other sources and he still gets on your case then if I were you I'd just laugh at him, call him naive and tell him to shut up... may be childish but if he doesn't treat you with respect then he doesn't deserve any from you either.