How can I tell my mom that I want to be a vegan?

Question

I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for a year. My mom used to worry about it, but shes ok now.

I decieded that I want to slowly become a vegan. I know that it's going to be hard, that's why I am slowly easing int it. I plan on drinking soy milk and not drinking milk anymore. Then not eating eggs by themsleves anymore (I'll still eat them if they're baked into things like bread for a while). Later I would give up other dairy products like ice cream, cream cheese and yogurt. Eventually I would give up cheese and then I would give up things that have milk and eggs cooked into them (bread, cake, things like that).

Today I told my mom that I wanted to try soymilk, but she immediatly refused without much thought. I was too nervous to explain my plan. She said that I tried soymilk when I was younger and I didn't like it so I wouldn't like it now. Before she has said stuff about how vegans are too extreme.

How can I tell her?

I already cook for myself, so my mom wouldn't have to worry about making food for me.

Answer 1

I'm guessing that if you told her, she wouldn't allow you to be vegan because of the nutritional issues involved?

Being vegan limits your potential sources of protein and other essential nutrients, but doing some research will make all the difference to your mom.

Do lots of research-find out other foods which can supplement an animal-by-product-free diet, and find out nutritional risks involved in not eating a proper vegan diet, full of all the nutrients your body needs. Present all the info to your mom, in a calm, thoughtful manner and let her know this is important to you. If you present it like a kid-whining and moaning, she'll treat you like one. Ask that she hear you out and consider what you say. This should help convince your mom that you are willing to commit to being a vegan, the health way.

Answer 2

You could find some positive things about being a vegan and just say you want to try it out first and ask her and then maybe if you can you can try to tell her how much you have changed over the years. Tell her that is alright and as long as you take the right vitamins and other things needed for a healthy life you will be fine. Or you could tell her how you would like to feel what it is like to be a vegan and that vegans aren't really extreme. Just make sure to try not to say that humans weren't mean't to eat meat at all because that kind of ruins it.

Answer 3

Well, you could tell her you think your tastebuds have changed since you first tried soymilk. You could try another brand. You can tell her you're worried about the hormones and antibiotics in cows' milk. You can start by baking foods using soymilk instead of cows' milk and using soy milk in your cereal.

It sounds as if you're wisely taking a measured approach to this. And veganism isn't extreme. Having bypass surgery is what's extreme.

Try to meet each of your mother's concerns with reasoned solutions. And try Silk soymilk--it's the best for drinking.

Answer 4

The answer saying that you need to calmly give your mom information and your commitment to be vigilant about your nutrition was excellent! Speaking as a mother, I know I would worry about my child getting enough nutrition -- particularly protein, but also certain minerals that animal products are rich in. I mean, I know that this is the same kid who leaves her clarinet at school, forgets to feed the dog, loses her calculator... and I think your mother might need to know how serious you are about taking responsibility for your own nutrition. Could you prepare a journal to keep track of what you eat and show it to her?

A few other issues that would occur to me as a mother: a) how expensive is this likely to be? Soy milk is a bit more expensive than regular milk, which is getting to be expensive enough lately! And what other exotic, expensive foods are you going to need for proper nutrition? and b) *#&)%, now I have to change the way I cook! Hard to enough to get dinner on the table quick, cheap and easy... NOW what?

Would you be willing to donate some babysitting money or extra help in the kitchen to ease some of her load? If so, I'd mention that too. If you're pretty young, you may need to wait on totally switching over until you are at college/out of the house. It IS your body, and your conscience... but I'll bet Mom is still footing most of the bill, and you need to remember that, too. I wish you luck.

Answer 5

Don't tell her -- the end.
She sounds like she's at her limits anyway.
One more step and she just might go nuts.

"...that I tried soymilk when I was younger and I didn't like it so I wouldn't like it now." Wow... no offence, but what a dumb thing to say. Aren't you a teenager? I see teens and kids all the time at the store buying pop, candy, slurpees, and all kids of crap. Go buy some soymilk by yourself. No money? Just say, "hey, mom, my friends are going to the store to buy chips and pop, can I have some money?" and she'll almost cry because they is thinking, "Thank god, she's acting NORMAL." and she'll say, "Okay, here $20, buy 5 bags chips and two bottles of pop for yourself."

Answer 6

I can't add too much to what's already been said. I hope you are taking lots of supplements. Make sure you are not allergic to peanuts before switching to soy milk. Soy and peanuts are related and could cause potentially life threatening reactions.

Answer 7

just explain to her about your reasons about why you want to be a vegan. Just talk to her straight out, but dont be too hard out about it it - dont start screaming and arguing and stuff

Answer 8

Why do you want to be a vegan? They're self-righteous snobs.

Answer 9

like this: Mom i want to be a vegan.

Answer 10

tell her you feel bad for animals donating their meat to your plate.