How should i go about becoming a vegetarian?

Question

i am 14. My family eats quit a lot of meat. i would really like to stop. i don't know how i could tell them that i wanna stop eating it. i don't want my family to get mad at me or anything. and one of my former class mates ALWAYS use to get teased for being one. please help me.

Answer 1

Well, you must have your reasons to becoming a vegetarian so just explain those reasons to your parents and just stand up for your beliefs and opinions. Kids always tease other kids for anything different, it's just a phase.

Answer 2

Get a good vegetarian cookbook, and offer to help cook some meals for the family. Study up on how to make a healthy vegetarian diet (balanced proteins, good veggies). Then show your parents that you know what you are doing. You can probably get issues of the Vegetarian Times at the library, and also borrow cookbooks there.

About the teasing -- don't worry about it. You can tease 'em right back about eating dead cows, if you like. Or you can simply ask them, "Why do you care if I eat this, as long as it's healthy for me?"

It will be tough for the cook of the family to be making two meals, so it's really important that you help out -- maybe by making your own PBJ, and maybe by cooking for the whole family once a week. Try and sell it as an "adventure" and a new way of eating.

You are 14, though, and it's good you want to experiment with food instead of drugs, alcohol and sex! Just make sure you do it in a healthy way, and you respect the work the other people in your family do to keep you healthy.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Stop eating meat.
Get books on vegetarianism from the library, as there are various types of vegetarians. Read about what you'll need in your diet to replace meat as a protein source. You'll need vitamins to replace the ones you would get from meat, they are available from any health food store.

If your family gets mad, they'll get over it. Explain to your parents that you've decided to take responsibility for your own health and well being and you would like to give this a try for a few weeks. They'll think it's a phase, and won't bother you as much. Then after a few weeks, if you're still into it, they will be used to it by then.

Also point out that it's much cheaper to feed a vegetarian teen than a meat eating teen, so everyone benefits!!

Just don't get preachy, respect their choice to eat meat as much as you want them to respect yours not to. And expect to have cramping and crankiness as your body adjusts to your new meat free diet.

Good luck!!!

Answer 4

If you are very serious about this, you should sit down with your family and tell them your reasons for wanting to become a vegetarian. Try to discuss meat alternatives and how they could be incorporated into meals. Also, discuss the finances of these products as they are generally a little more expensive. If you are very serious, I would suggest you see a nutritionist or a homeopathic doctor to get a diet and meal plan so you make sure that you are getting enough of the right vitamins and nutrients. I would suggest taking a multivitamin, also. And as far as your classmates are involved, one, they don't need to know that you have decided to quit eating meat if you don't want them to, and two, even if they do know, who cares? This is your decision, not theirs.

Answer 5

Hi Just me

I went through the same thing when I was young and didn't really give up meat until my 20's, more because there were 5 children in our family and I felt I had to eat the same way.

I have now been a vegetarian for about 20 years - haven't yet succumbed to cancer or lost any internal organs which so many other people of my age group has, so I think there are many health benefits of being vegetarian.

Your family (particularly mother) may be worried about you getting enough nutrition but there is so much you can eat to get protein and iron, such as lentils, tofu, spinach, kidney beans, chick peas (hummus and falafels) and many vegetarian substitute products around such as vege mince, bacon and sausages. Often they are worried be cause they don't know much about vegetarianism, particularly if they are big meat eaters, as your family are. You should try and have more natural foods (the sausages will probably be very processed) but some of the pretend meats can be helpful for social occasions.

I often attend lunches/picnics with my large extended family (none of whom are vegetarian) but we will often have lots of different types of salads on the table (rice, bean salads, vege salads) and meat dishes for them, and some vege dish/ dishes for me so it is quite social. Yesterday I was at a lunch and one of my sisters made a yummy spinach and cheese pie for me (and them or course) but they also had other meat dishes.

On the teasing side - my dad teased me for years, especially at barbecues, he was always asking me if I wanted a sausage, and he thought it was very funny. Well, if they get some fun out of it that's great, it is just a lack of understanding on their part. I wasn't offended by my dad, as he had a silly sense of humour. I was happy he got such fun out my chosen dietary needs, and thought he was quite funny myself - how could he never get sick of teasing me in the same way? You will have to be prepared for questioning from other people.

It's sad that your former class mate got teased for not eating dead animals when your other class mates were (maybe they just felt guilty that animals get killed for them). Try not to let it worry you as it is their problem, and be proud about your decision that has arised from really good reasons. If you have any good friends they should understand and support you, especially if you have done a bit of research and can give them explanations if they need it. I suppose the main worry is they will feel sort of threatened when they eat meat in front of you, so you may want to discuss this sort of thing with your close friends.

If you are really worried about the teasing issue from the school bullies, just don't make a big issue about being vegetarian and they may not notice. But really they shouldn't even be a consideration into what you decide to eat.

The best advice is to do as much research as you can so you can answer people's questions and know that you are doing the right thing.

My 11 year old niece has a friend at school who is vegetarian, so I know it is more common for younger people these days, there is also a lot of information available on the www and in books.

Go to http://www.vegeweb.com - click the links button to find links to vegetarian societies, vegetarian starter packs and recipes.

I hope this helps, good luck.

Answer 6

its hard because of teasing. I have two reasons for being a veg: cause I saw what are animals going through before they are killed, and meat makes me to vomit, in the kindergarden I vomited when I tried to swallow that fat steak.

if the reason for being a vegeterian is anything else except caring for animals, then people will look on you differently. I just say that I cant stand meat in my mouth, cause it makes me to vomit and not even my brother is teasing me. you can say that too. well it works for me.

Answer 7

it depends on your race partially.if your family is non veg,then it would be harder to quit as it is kinda in your genes to be a meat eater.however, if u are a vegetarian since childhood,then its easier to eat meat.

so back to the point,if ur entire family eats meat,try to lessen its intake.by a year u could have almost completely cut out ur meat intake.i advise u not to stop eating egg products because it will then become ur main protein source after u become veg.

and about ur classmates.......dont care a DAMN.my classmates horrify us(im a vegetarian)by holding meat in front
of us.................but it doesnt matter............

hope i helped!!!!!

Answer 8

If you're so concerned about your family being "mad" at you, or ignorant school children being obnoxious because you'd be different, you wouldn't have lasted long as a vegetarian, anyway.

Answer 9

i was in the same position as u and i just kept leaving it and if they tried to make me eat it i would tell them icky facts and they didnt want my little brother to hear them so after three years they gave in and i went cold turkey. i didnt have meat, fish or any other hidden animal products

Answer 10

i'm the same age.
& personally, i think the taste meat is gross.
i told my mom i want to be a vegetarian.
she said when i'm 18. haha.
& she also said that it's good to eat it cause it helps your brain or something...idk.

i say... just tell your family. they might respect your opinion.