Hi! I really, really want to be a vegetarian but my mom won't let me. She's afraid I'll get sick. I love animals and I don't want them to get killed and the thought of eating something that used to breathe and eat and move kind of grosses me out. But it's mostly for the animals. How did you convince your parents to let you be a vegetarian? What should I do? Thanks!
The answer to that is, basically, education and communication--for you as well as your mom.
How well prepared are you to be a vegetarian? Not liking the idea of meat is a start, but by itself, not enough to carry it. People who've eaten meat all their lives usually don't have an easy time just dropping it. If you try to do it that way, you run the risk of eating a meat and potatoes diet without the meat (which would make you sick in the long run)--not a true vegetarian diet.
Advice I give anyone who wants to be vegetarian is to focus on what you do eat, not on what you don't. And it helps to start with vegetarian versions of meals you're used to. If you like, say, spaghetti or lasagna or chili, those lend themselves well to meatless versions. The secret is to pile on the vegetables and season it well. (And I have a wonderful vegetarian spaghetti sauce recipe, if you're interested!) If you already eat tacos or burritos, just make them with beans, and cheese if you want it, but leave out the meat.
Eat whole grains. Really, that's good advice for everyone, not just vegetarians. Replace bread and crackers with whole grain versions--if you (or whoever does your grocery shopping) don't already check labels carefully and buy only the true whole grain versions, I guarantee what you're eating is made with white flour. Even so called "wheat" bread is mostly white flour, with just a token amount of whole wheat. Enriched or unbleached flour is white flour. The trouble with it is that it's been so heavily processed that all the nutrients are removed, leaving only starch. Personally, I found that when I switched to whole grains only, I would feel full on less food and stay full a lot longer--a wonderful feeling! Also, replace white rice in your diet with brown rice, and if you've never had whole grain pasta, you have a wonderful voyage of discovery ahead of you!
Perhaps you could cut meat gradually. First give up red meat, but still eat poultry and fish--also, that would be a good compromise between you and your mom. If you're still willing to eat some meat, she'll probably worry less; cutting red meat would make you feel you're getting a start on being vegetarian, and while you're doing that, it gives you time to phase in vegetarian meals. Later, when you're more familiar with vegetarian cooking (and your mom has had time to get used to it) and you feel ready, give up poultry. If you're going to give up fish, leave it for last. Supposedly, if you eat only one kind of meat, fish is easiest on your stomach.
And get books! There are some excellent vegetarian cookbooks out there, which also have large sections about nutrition, and why and how you can get everything you need on a vegetarian diet. I highly recommend Laurel's Kitchen, which I believe is in its third edition now. The diet they recommend--which is not only vegetarian, but whole foods--is what I'm doing my best to follow.
There's another book called, I believe, Becoming Vegetarian, which is mostly explanations with a few recipes. (It belonged to a former roommate of mine; I no longer remember the exact title).
If you read those books, and can persuade your mom to read them--especially the sections on nutrition--it should prepare you well and ease her mind.
Do you already cook dinner for your family? If not, this would be a good time to start. You could serve vegetarian meals when it's your turn to cook.
I stopped eating meat for the same reasons you want to - it just grosses me out. I was already out of my parents' house when I did it, so I didn't face the problems you do.
Manzanita said it all - communication is the key. I think if your parents understand how passionate you feel about it, they might come around. I think the cooking idea is great because you will be able to show your parents that you are serious and that a vegetarian lifestyle is possible.
Another great book is The Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook. There are two editions: one published in '95, the other in '05. Both are great: they have a ton of info in the front, followed by gazillions of (very good) recipes.
Vegetarian Times (or VT, which is also a magazine) has other cookbooks as well: the one on Mediterranean cuisines has an addictive recipe for lasagna (ricotta and nutmeg and Kalamata olives--oh, my!).
You know there are even a couple of "For Dummies" books on going veg??
It's been a few months since the last post here, so I don't know how the situation with your mom is--maybe you should get two copies: one for you and one for her. You could also prepare a meal from one or other of the books and share it with her ...and afterwards tell her that the food that she just enjoyed was one hundred per cent vegetarian (and healthy)! Surprise!
Let me know how things are going, and if you want more info, just ask.
Read some books by physicians who recognize the health benefits of a vegetarian diet. Neal Barnard has some books out, and so does Michael Klaper. Your mom's concern about health is groundless; it's true that a foolish diet can lead to malnutrition, but that can happen whether the diet contains meat or not. The fact is that vegetarians are, on average, healthier than meat-eaters. Dr. Klaper recommends a strict vegetarian diet for children. Does it work? Is it safe? Our son was raised as a vegan from birth; he is now 22, and quite healthy (though for the past few years he has been consuming some milk products in the form of various Starbucks concoctions).
I prayed for deliverance from the hard world of facts and logic to the happy land where fantasies and prejudices reign. But God spake unto me, saying, "No, keep telling the truth," and to that end afflicted me with severe Trenchant Mouth. So I'm sorry for making cutting remarks, but it's the will of God.
here are soem great ideas all in one place you can explore the info, soem of the books are ones you can buy - i'm afraid this is the US site and i'm not that familiar with how it works or where to find stuff so this is the best i've got here but i'll also post the UK site links which includes tonnes of free nutrition info about going veggie.
the above link has details of those great nutritonists heretic and others mentioned. :)
the following are all UK links, most of the info is generic if they do mention brand products though i'm sure your local health food shop will know of an alternative available to the US.
