Against Vegetarianism???

Question

I'm 15 years old and im a vegetarian. I was wondering why some parents are against their children becoming a vegetarian. When i first decided to become one my mom kept telling me that is isen't healthy and tried to convince me to eat meat. I know as long as you eat healthy it is actually healtheier for you. So i was wondering if any of you knew why many people are against this???

thanksss

Answer 1

First, your mother was raised on the same propaganda as the rest of the Western hemisphere: animal flesh is necessary for human health.  It's likely she believes that vegetarianism means risking your health, thereby making you ill and making her an irresponsible parent.

Second, your mother likely does all the shopping and cooking in your home, and unless you're willing to be 100% responsible for preparing your own meals and nutrition, cooking vegetarian for you means more work for her.

Third, she might see vegetarianism as a means of dissent and rebellion on your part.  Parents raise children in accordance with their own values and what they deem as "right," and your deviation from those values is a threat to them.

I don't justify any of these reasons.  I share them and suggest that you appreciate them as possible reasons for you mother's disapproval so that you can understand your family better and live peacefully among the meat-eaters in your life.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

Most are uneducated about nutrition and grew up thinking you must eat meat and drink milk to be healthy.  Sadly, they fail to educate themselves.

Answer 3

Parents are against it because there are certain nutrients and things really good for you in meats. You might have to take some pill to get that exact nutrient. Others will say God put cows and things on this earth to be eaten.. not stared at.

Answer 4

They probably just don't know any better.

Answer 5

I'm not a vegetarian, but I think the main concern from your mom might be that she's worried you may not be getting enough of the proper nutrients that often found in meat. I'm not against someone becoming a vegetarian because that's their own choice, but I do get concerned about the amount of nutrition that they're really getting, especially if the people are REALLY thin.

So, what you'll really need to do is to do your research about being vegetarian.  My one question would be how you can replace the proteins and other nutrients that are found in meat with other products.  Like, is the protein that's found in the meat the same type of protein that's found in tofu or certain types of nuts?  Our bodies have different needs, including different types of needed nutrition.  If you can find that your body responds better without the meat, then that's great.  If not, then you may want to consider eating SOME meat now and then, just so that you don't deprive your body the nutrients it needs.

Answer 6

It is possible for a vegetarian to be just as healthy as a meat eater if they eat a varied diet.  

In order to do this you need to eat a greater variety of fruit and vegetables in addition to legumes (beans e.g. kidney, soya) seeds, nuts etc. in order to get enough protein in the diet.

When a child wants to be a vegetarian this can place a lot more work on the parents, they have to cook an alternative meal, many vegetarian recipe's take more preparation and to have to do this just to please one member of the family can be difficult especially if the parents work.  In addition to the extra work the parent has to educate themselves as to how to provide a healthy balanced diet. It is much easier to prepare the food they are used to. Then there is the added cost of buying special food for the vegetarian.

Although I think you should be allowed to choose to become a vegetarian it is not unreasonable that you be expected to help with the extra preparation and time needed to produce your meals.

Answer 7

I would say, it is very possible your mother does not know a lot about vegetarianism and she is worried that you may not be getting enough nutrition. If you do choose that path, read carefully on vegetarianism, understand what nutrients your body needs and how to get them, and please be VERY careful of already prepared vegetarian foods, processed vegetarian foods, and mock meats (i.e. concentrated gluten).

On a personal level, I am against total vegetarianism. My own belief is that people should be eating basic, unprocessed food and vegetarian meals most of the time, with animal products a part of meals only once in a while, and in small portions. I don't care if other people choose a totally vegetarian lifestyle as it is their choice, but I would strongly advise any of my close family and friends against it.

Most of my meals these days are vegetarian. I am NOT a vegetarian (anymore), however. I eat eggs and certain types of fish. Everything I eat is very basic and made from scratch. No sugars, no refined carbohydrates, nothing instant or pre-prepared.

Answer 8

For your mother it is confusing. she doesn't know what to buy and prepare for you to eat. Is this going to add to storage and food costs in a manner that she hasn't yet figured out? Will she need to make two separate meals, one for you and the rest for the family? So, you may need to take charge of preparing your own meals which puts you underfoot in the kitchen. This is going against her nurturing nature.

She worries that during this stage when you are still growing and developing that you are not getting the protein needed for healthy growth. Oddly enough, some vegans become very skinny while others gain a lot of weight if they eat a lot of starch and carbohydrates.

As man has evolved over the years we developed canine teeth due to our carnivorous ways. So folks think vegetarianism is unnatural. To them it would be like choosing to walk backwards all the time.

I hope you have looked at the nutrition values of what you are eating to get enough fats (olive oil for example) and proteins (combine rice with a green vegetable to make that).