I want to be a vegetarian but my mom won't let me! HELP!?

Question

i really want to be a vegetarian, but my mom says im stupid and i will lose weight. im kinda skinny (not really tho,) so shes all like "you need to gain weight not lose it blah blah blah" heh heh her definition of healthy is my 106 pound 4'9" 9 year old sister. and i will NEVER look like her. but how do i convince my mom to let me do it? i already found some vegatarian products at the store, but my mom says they taste like rubber and i cant buy them cuz SHE doesnt like it. i have tasted these products and i like them.

Answer 1

Just talk to her, sit down and talk to her and tell her how you feel. You should be able to make your own decisions. If she wont buy the products for you then you might have to buy them for yourself but after a while your mum should come around and see how much you want it.  

Answer 2

Well, it can be a really tough thing to convince parents of just about anything.  If they think you would be better suited to gymnastics but you would prefer to do piano lessons... it's the same sort of battle.  The best thing to do it so stick-to-your-guns.  That means, never give up, and keep fighting.  Your parents have power in that they make the rules, buy the food, put a roof over your head, and look out for your best interests as they see it, etc.

So, what battle tools do you have?  First of all, never argue or wine or etc. with your parents, that's not a good idea, that just makes them angry and even more determined.  What you want to do is what they don't expect.  Agree with them!  Think like a salesman:  never let them say "no".  Always ask them questions and say things that will make them say "yes".

If you know other vegetarian kids at school:

"There are other vegetarian kids at school, correct mom?"

She might say, "I don't know", then you say, "Yes there are."

"These vegetarian kids at school, are they skinny and sick and dying and starving (add anything that your mom normally says)?"

You can answer for her, "No, they aren't.  They are just strong healthy and just like all the other kids."

"There are people all over the world that are vegetarian from birth to old age."

Also, forget about all of those "special" vegetarian products. Parents love to say, "They are too expensive." And they are, and they really aren't very healthy for you.  Focus on real food.  Rice, potatoes, beans, legumes, leafy green veggies, carroty, root veggies, sea weed, nutritional yeast, flax oil, pasta, ... whatever."

Go to the library, take out every single book about vegetarianism, and read them.  Really.  Cookbooks, nutrition books, history, whatever.... you need to arm yourself with information.

Start taking an interest in learning to cook and cooking your own food -- that's where the real power is.

Your parents cannot force you to eat what you don't want to eat.  Just imagine, you are starving, and at school you say, "My parents are trying to make me eat things I don't want to eat, so I'm SO hungry (i.e. it's their fault, not your fault for your crazy strange vegetarian ideas)."

Join a club that has lots of vegetarians there, if there is one around.  Such as EarthSave.  Go to their potluck dinners etc.  Make friends with others at school who are vegetarian, or at least talk to them to get ideas.  Talk to some teachers at school, such as the librarian and ask about books on vegetarianism.  You want everyone to know you are very serious about this and that you are making up your own mind, not because it's a trend, but because you are educated and informed.

Kids at school have all sorts of weird diets anyway... such as allergies to peanuts, shellfish, fish, tomatoes, bananas, wheat... the list goes on and on and on.  Others cannot take dairy products because they are lactose intolerant (all mammals including humans are *supposed* to be like this, it's natural), so... one more person who wants to be vegetarian is no big deal at all [good idea: if you have problems with others giving you food you don't want to eat, say "I'm allergic" instead of "I'm vegetarian/vegan", so much easier.  I never do that, but I know many that do, just because it's so much easier and faster to get what they want without having to explain themselves and argue etc.]

My kids have both been vegan since birth.  I've been vegan since a teenager.  We're doing very well.  One of my daughters is quite advanced in gymnastics and the others in her level are at least one or two years older.  So, obviously being vegan is not hindering her at all.  We just focus on real foods.  Stay away from processed foods.  Make as much as we can from scratch.  Started a garden and get lots of food from there, you should too!  Then you won't have to beg your mother for food or hear about her complaining about prices... you can eat $20 worth or veggies for about 10-cents from your garden!  Just start asking around saying that you would like to get some seeds and people will give them to you for free and tell you how to grow them etc.  Join the local vegetable gardening club or talk to other veggie gardeners in the neighbourhood that you see... lots of things you can do to help yourself become vegetarian.

Okay, I threw out lots of ideas there, hope that helps.

Answer 3

I think it's up to you to show your mom you can become a vegetarian and be healthy.

First, educate yourself. Learn what every vegetarian should know about nutrition; read websites or even better pick up a good book like Becoming Vegetarian at your library or bookstore.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Becoming-Veget...

Next, learn to cook for yourself. It won't go over well if you expect your mom to cook meat meals for the family, and another meal for you. Try some basic recipes and make sure you're eating a balanced diet.

Then talk to her. Don't whine or get pushy, that just makes adults pissed off. Explain you know what you're doing, it's perfectly easy to be a healthy vegetarian and not lose weight if you're too skinny, and you're prepared to do your own cooking and whatever it takes. Offer to help her with the shopping so you can pick out some veggies, grains, tofu, mock-meats and other things you want.

You do have rights as a child, but they're limited. Your parents can't force feed you, but they don't necessarily have to provide you  with the kind of meals you want. It's up to you to convince them that you've thought about this seriously, and they don't need to worry about your health. You can consult with a nutritionist too for extra guidance.

Answer 4

tell her to look at P!nk , Pamela Anderson and Alicia Silverstone (from Clueless) ask her if they are 2 skinny, she will be forced to say no, then she will have no point and she will have to let you get your way

Answer 5

What you need to do is let another adult speak to her... do your research as far as recipes  and learn to prepare the dish of your desire ....YOU SAVE and purchase what you want to try and YOU experience with.them for flavor and taste ....and down the line be able to create a vegetarian meal for the entire family that over exceed the daily meal... remember Rome was noL built in a daily...IT TAKES A LiTTLE TIME AND PATIENCE

Answer 6

My parents were informed that unless I started to eat meat ,I would die.

That was over 60 years ago.

I was born a vegetarian.

Ask her if she ever watched the Price is Right--At least one of Barker's Beauty's was a vegetarian. She did not look too skinny to me.

Answer 7

Define for yourself what you mean when you say "vegetarian".  After that, convey to your Mom the reason why you want to be a vegetarian.  Your Mom has very good reason to worry about this.  If you really are wanting to be a vegetarian just to lose weight then your Mom may be right.  If you have a different reason(s) then get your thoughts together and talk to your Mom.

If she is still against it on the grounds of worrying that you will become thin to the point of being unhealthy, you may always opt for a weekly "weigh in".

In the current social climate that may be a good idea for you anyway.  There really is such a thing as a healthy weight.

Answer 8

Ok, first off, sit her down and tell her you want to tell her the choice you've made, why you made that choice, and then that she can't change that choice as our choices define who we are. Anyway, to start off with though vegetarians are typically a healthy weight, your ultimate weight isn't completely the result of whether you eat meat or don't. I probably weigh only 110 pounds even though I'm a 5'0, 13 year old boy. I'm reasonably skinny. I'm not a vegetarian (yet, but thinking about it), but I'm sure there are vegetarians out there that are my age and height but weigh more than me (I get on Y! Answers alot).

And, you can offer to buy your own products that you need if your mother isn't going to support your decision (you only have to buy the meatless alternatives to things you won't eat, not every single thing like bread). And, since she hasn't tasted them and you have, I don't think it is fair for her to make that decision on what they taste like and why you can't have them, but I don't know your mother so I'm going to try not to criticize her.

Oh, and if she claims a vegetarian lifestyle isn't healthy, then just show her the facts: http://www.goveg.com/healthConcerns.asp . A vegetarian lifestyle is healthier...what more is there to say?

Hope I helped.

Answer 9

Vegetarian products don't make a Vegetarian. Yes you can become one without your mothers help, though I warn you it will be difficult. Simply don't eat meat, dairy, eggs, or poultry. What can she do??????? Make sure you have at least 1 tablespoon of oil a day though or you'll start to become sick from lack of oil and fat.

Simply putting it eat all the healthy foods you have at home and ignore all the animal products. If your mom still wants to eat slaughtered animal c**p (meat contains salmonella) let her be then. She can't technically control what you eat.

Answer 10

are you paying for the food?  is it your house?  no?  wait until you move out, then you can buy all the stuff you want.

Answer 11

Well... my suggestion would be to respect her wishes and try to go as veggie as you can.  Take this time to research and figure things out.  The best way to go veggie, as long as long-term goes, is to cut out one source of meat at a time.  Chicken one year.  Pig another year.  Beef another year.  

I would NOT suggest eating soy in your teen years.  It's too easy to overdose on the stuff.  

But most parents can tolerate you cutting one source of meat out in a year.  You can, of course, avoid eating meat whenever you can.  But if you push it faster than your mom is willing to allow you, then there will be problems.  Most parents I know don't have a problem with their kids being an ovi-lacto vegetarian (eating eggs and milk but avoiding meats).  Make your lunch and breakfast and you can guarantee those two meals are vegetarian friendly.  Cook dinner once a week at least and make that meal veggie friendly.  

But work with the rules your mom is setting down.  Fair or not, until you move out it's not worth the fighting, and you'll win your mom over further if you do it little by little.

Answer 12

I'd say just do what she says until you live on your own. Whenever you have the chance just avoid eating meat whenever you can.  Whenever you pay for your food, getting something without meat. But as stated before, your mother, however wrong she is to control your eating preferences, is paying for you to live and eat and all that.  Just keep on truckin until you are free.  

I mean she isn't wrong to say that you could lose weight but it's not like you'd lose 20 pounds from being vegetarian.  

Answer 13

Well do some more research and state your reason. Here's a website of a raw vegan family. http://www.thegardendiet.com/ Show your mom it and see what she says. Good luck!

Answer 14

Have the read The China Study, watch Earthlings, research on vegetarianism/veganism's benefits and nutrition and foods and tell them it is the best thing to do for your health. Tell her it would also be cheaper, and if you eat correctly you will not loose weight.

Answer 15

become 1 behind her back!!!! she cant control the way u eat :]