Is this unusual?

Question

I went vegetarian about 4 months ago and I've been ridiculed immensely by my friends and acquaintances. And I fully expected that from my family seeing as they're big big meat eaters they eat meat basically every single meal. But they actually supported me greatly which really suprised me. My question is is it usual for parents to support their children when they want to become a vegetarian? Also I'm a conservative on most issues 'cept for war am I like the only conservative vegetarian cuz most of my veg friends are liberal?

Answer 1

Congrats on going veg. I think it IS kind of unusual to get support from parents who eat a lot of meat. Almost every day in the Vegetarian/Vegan section, a teen says they want to become vegetarian but their parents won''t let them. There are a variety of reasons -- concern over health issues, concern that a child's vegetarianism would create more work for the parents (e.g., making separate meals), and sometimes it's just a power struggle.

My parents didn't support me at all and tried to convince me that it wasn't healthy or necessary to stop eating meat. (I was surprised, because they're open-minded and tolerant in general.) Finally, they took me to a nutritionist who told them that vegetarian diets are healthy for teens.... that helped a lot, but they're still not too supportive. Consider yourself very lucky :)

You're definitely not the only conservative vegetarian!! For instance, Matthew Scully has served as a speechwriter and special assistant for President Bush, and he's vegetarian. He even wrote a highly acclaimed book called "Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy."

You might enjoy this opinion piece:

http://www.matthewscully.com/fear_factor...

Answer 2

The problem is.. You shouldnt even be concerned about 'announcing" it as if its something unusual...

like meat eaters dont go around and state "Im a meat eater".. so why should vegetarians go around stating the fact either? Just sit down to a meal.. push the meat to the side and eat what you please and no ones the wiser for it... Simple enough..

Answer 3

i am a christian and a lean towards conservative politics.....and fully vegan. a vegan diet is humane to animals and people (better for the environment in which we all live, better for creating surplus and healthy food supplies for everyone and better for each persons health...) as far as those who give you slack just ignore it and continue on your path....my family is supportive of me and i of them....no judgements from any of us but i get slack from some people (even waitresses!)....but who cares....it is my life not theirs and i intend to live it to the fullest!

...maybe some people are giving hassle because you have announced it and they feel defensive...like maybe you are judging them? I have found that some people may be hostile until they realize i am making my own choices but not expecting them to be converted...

good luck on your new lifestyle and do tons of research so you have educated (but not preachy) answers when ASKED....

Answer 4

I've been vegetarian for a year and I still get made fun of... by my mom. It really annoys me sometimes.

And mintee: This IS something you announce to your parent becasue if they're the one cooking they kind of need to know this, genius. Durr.

Answer 5

I think it's great your parents support you--shame your friends don't.  And yes, you have to let people know so when you're all going out, they can go to a place where you can get something to eat.  Hello!  I'm sorry your friends are not as supportive as your family is.  Some families are supportive, some are not.

And there are conservative vegetarians out there.  You might want to Google "conservative vegetarian"--you might find an organization or group that fits you.  I know there are religious vegetarian organizations, both Christian Veg and Jewish Veg.  You might be able to find like-minded fellow veg*ans there.  (I know religious affiliation didn't come into play in your question, but I don't know of any conservative atheists/agnostics.)

Answer 6

I support my daughter's choice to be a vegetarian. She's 15 and hasn't eaten meat in over 6 months. I respect her decision. It's actually been interesting to try out new foods, and now I'm hardly eating any meat myself.

However, we're not conservatives, so I can't advise you there.

Good luck!

Answer 7

If you don't want to be ridiculed, stop attracting attention to your self and lecturing everyone about it. Unless that's the real reason you did it, so you could get attention and be a pretend vegan celeb.

Answer 8

I congratualte you and every other vegetarian with parents so understanding - my sister went veg 2 years ago and all of my family except for my dad did not exactly like it.

My mom is reproachful and makes these wonderful nice little remarks whenever she gets a chance, every sneeze, every oh so little headache and every little cough my sister develops is blamed on her eating habits. My grandma's tried to sneak chicken or beef broth into our meals or cook a hunk of beef in their stews and fish it out before serving it to her in order to make her get some animal fat. I know they are just concerned, but I still thought it horrible to undermine her decision in this way.

On another note - I do NOT believe that vegetarianism has anything to do with the political ideas one has.

There is so many shades of liberals, conservatives, communists, whatever you call yourself. What defines a clear conservative? There is liberals that can be conservative in some perspectives or the other way round.

And what you eat and especially why; what your personal ethics look like and how you want to support them - that has little to do with the political group you put yourself in but with who you are in general.

Maybe there are more Vegetarians in the liberal corner - but whether that has anything to do with their views on war, foreign policies or taxes... I dare to doubt it.

Anyway - congratulations to your good choice!

Answer 9

nope im liberal and my parents were sketchy at first