Im a vegetarian and i live in a house full of meat lovers what should i do?

Question

im 15 and a vegetarian and my fam. loves meat they eat it 24/7 i need help

Answer 1

the next time your mom goes to the grocery store ask to come with her.you can pick out your stuff that you want and she can pic hers. when there eating the meat, eat what you picked out.

Answer 2

Just do what you do & let them do what they do.

What difference does it make if your family likes meat?  As long as they are not criticizing you for your choice not to & you are not criticizing them for choosing to eat meat.

Answer 3

i've been the same way since i was 9. you can still eat healthy at the same time. try vegetarian meals, veggie burgers are good, etc.

Answer 4

I know what its like, and I hate it. If your family has a difficult time supporting you and respecting your views just let them know that no matter what your morals are not going to change and that you are happy and proud of being a vegetarian. My mother has made some unnecessary remarks when I first became a vegetarian and then when I became a vegan. We got into a few arguments in the grocery store because of her negative attitude to where I shouted at her to "Get over it!" I don't recommend yelling at your family the way I did but, my mom just wouldn't take a hint. I told my mom that its my life and I make my own decisions because I am my own person and she cannot control my beliefs, I am what I am.

Now, if you don't like being around meat that is going to be difficult. If people are shoving meat in your face or talking about meat as being "tasty" or insulting your decision of being a vegetarian let them know how you feel. Tell them to stop making those rude comments, that even though you do NOT agree and support their consumption of meat you don't insult them for their decision and point of view so you would appreciate it if they respect your vegetarian lifestyle and leave you alone about it.

Just be sure to stick up for yourself and put your foot down.  Give them a piece of your mind if they cross the line.

Now if you are talking about food wise. See if your parents will buy you vegetarian friendly meals they or you can cook yourself. If they don't want to spend the money, if you have money you can buy it yourself or see if your parents will let you do chores or favors for them in order to get vegetarian food. But, you can get good veggie food for cheap. I get by on a very small budget of 10-15 dollars a day for 3 meals and 2 snacks at the grocery store and usually some things I get last for quite a while since they have multiple servings in them. I always go with my mom to the store and pick my food out myself.It depends on Go to the website below to get a free veggie starter kit from PETA that has some good recipes and good vegetarian and vegan brand foods found at grocery stores. If you need anything you can always email me.

Answer 5

Eating meat is natural and healthy. Your family has every right to do so and not feel guilty about it.

Answer 6

Get your parents to buy veggies and soy products.  Soy is where you will obtain your protein from.  They also make some great vegi burgers and other non meat products that are readily available in the grocery store.  If you need to help out with the extra cost of the groceries try babysitting or helping around the house for some extra money.

Answer 7

Down here

Answer 8

buy a lot of soy products such as soy milk, soy meat, ect ...... ;)

Answer 9

Their your family, they should respect that you don't want to eat meat, and therefore accommodate for your meals to.

Don't worry its not abnormal to be a veggie

Answer 10

You just need to explain to your family that you've made this decision for yourself and for your health and that you don't expect them to stop eating meat but that you do expect their support,like when your mom(or whoever) cooks for the family ask her to help you make a vegan alternative,this would also be a great time for you to learn to cook if you haven't already.I have a similar problem,i'm on a diet in a house full of junkfood junkies so i know your pain!I must add though that you can't pressure them to become vegan just because you have,everyone has to make their own choices.

Answer 11

Be courteous to your family and the people around you at all times. Never try to use your vegetarian lifestyle as the biggest thing about you, it puts people off. People who are annoyed are much less likely to be supportive. Next year you can get a job and then you can afford to buy the foods that you choose, until then, politely eat what you can.

Answer 12

Don't eat meat, eat more of the other stuff. After all, many vegetarian foods are eaten by meat eaters. They're just called side dishes.

Answer 13

Ditto.

But my parents are suportive of it, and they buy me meatless meat.

If they won't buy it for you.

It's called "morning star"

It's amazing!@#$%^&

It's usally in all like King Kullens and big supermarkets.

Answer 14

Don't worry I used to be in this situation. Just ask your parents to buy you tofu, veggie burgers, etc. They could cook it for you, but you may have to cook the food yourself (because parents don't exactly like cooking two meals).

Answer 15

I grew up in a house full of meat-eaters. As an adult, when I visit, I still dislike their eating habits = )

Well, I don't fully know your situation nor do I know your parents. As parents, they have a right to be concerned about your choices but they should also respect them if you do proper research to ensure you remain healthy.

My parents always supported my decision. My mom would just ask me what I wanted for dinner and I would tell her. If you eat a diverse diet with vegetables, fruits, and some dairy while avoiding junkfood- it is really hard to be undernutritioned in this country. If my family made meat with vegetable sides, I would eat a lot of the veggie sides- no big deal.

I guess my thoughts were along the lines of what could my parents do? Really? They couldn't force me to eat meat. I suppose they could ground me without food but consistently doing that would most likely lead to child neglect because I wouldn't cave because I was starving. Especially if I could go to school and get food at the cafeteria like those veggie sides.

Now, you must respect that your parents are looking out for you. You can do some good research and present it to them. You could have them talk to a dietician/nutritionist. The FDA, the ADA, even the Cancer Institute appear to promote vegetarianism so they might want to look at those. With some good heart-to-hearts I hope you can come to a compromise.

Unfortunately, that is all I have. I didn't grow up in your exact situation so I can only offer some tips and advice from my own experience. I wish you luck. Of course, when you get older you will be able to make your own decisions so keep that in mind if they decide not to let you go vegetarian. With that in mind, you can just consume less meat while living under their rule. The RDA for protein is pretty small (think a 3 oz steak).

Answer 16

This might help:  Ask your family if they could at least have a few vegetarian meals each week (not hard, really).  Offer to do the cooking for a few meals.  Many of my friends have found this very helpful:  whether you are religious or not, when they are eating meat, make a point of saying a "prayer" out loud to the spirit of the animal, thanking it for giving up its life for their enjoyment, and it is your fervent hope that the fear and anguish and pain it went through from being coralled to slaughter, smelling the fear of death and knowing it will die, and the trauma and fear from having its brain stunned before its throat is slit and its life's blood flowing out of it until death was a sacrifice worthy of the people whose plate it sits upon.  My vegetarian and vegan friends have found it really helps turn their family off meat, and makes them think twice.

HOWEVER, PLEASE HEED THIS WARNING!  As a vegetarian you are probably going to be told to eat tofu or soy milk or other soy stuff.  BE CAREFUL!  Soy hurts the thyroid (thyroid disruption and cancer is higher in vegetarians) and has been linked to early onset of Alzheimer's.  If there is any history of thyroid problems or Alzheimer's in your family, AVOID SOY!  I've included two links (out of many) FYI/

Good luck!

Answer 17

My sister went through this, ask for substitutions: tofu or some other protein source, or buy your own to replace the meat portion in the meal.  Don't expect the meat lovers to enjoy that tofu or conform to your way of eating. Not to sound mean or anything but you chose to be vegetarian not them. My sisters married with children now and still in a house of meat lovers,and on occasion will have a little bit of chicken  in a meal but thats the only meat she will eat. Good luck

Answer 18

im in the same boat, just make your own meals, i spend lot of meals eating cereal...

Answer 19

Offer to cook them a vegetarian meal one night a week!

Answer 20

Get a job and buy your own food.

Answer 21

ugh, im in the same position. i just ussually eat sides and if i want, i will just make up a veggie burger for myself. its really not that hard. do you still lie it? if so, it might be a litle harder, but i promise that after a while, it will be second nature. : )

Answer 22

you'll have to use your willpower!

Answer 23

Pick and choose!

Answer 24

Me too!

Well, maybe you should have a talk with your family. I mean, I have and they went out and bought me special food.. For when they have a cook out, they can put some soy burgers out for me. If you don't want to chat with them then just use that gut of yours and stay away from the meat! If it gets out of your hands, than think about what you are eating before you put it into your mouth! Good luck!