My mom is humiliating !!!!!! - vegetarians please.?

Question

I'm really tired of my parents thinking that my vegetairanism is a joke. Ive been a vegetarian for about 2 months now.. and my parents still think I'm on day 3.

A few days ago my family had a bbq and my cousins and came over.. about 15 people. They cooked burgers, steaks, everything and ate outside. I cooked a vegan burger on the grill and ate with them.

Well I had previously stayed the night over my cousins house the night before and thats when my aunt found out i was a vegetarian for the first time. She was fine with it, and she told my mom how she was shocked how I could stayed on this kind of diet for so long. Well then my mom said ' well, she eats meat when she HAS to and has no other choice... but MOST of the time she doesn't eat meat. ' - i dont know what the heck she was talking about. Ive skipped dinner and lunch at school because I had nothing to eat besides meat, but I wouldn't eat it, I just wouldn't eat.

How to I get my point accross to my parents that im vegetarian??

Answer 1

Oh boy. you are getting the practise for all the jerks in the world who will belittle you for being diffrerent.

Do quietly but firmly correct your mom when she reports how SHE sees your diet.

But start packing a PBJ or burrito and some fresh fruit to school. Don't skip lunch.

I know it is difficult to eat around the smells sometimes, but going without is hard on your body, and if you do it long enough you can "teach" your body to store calories, which means fat down the road.

Also, look at what is around the meat on a plate. Start thinking of them as your main course, except for gelatin.

Answer 2

I would not call you a vegetarian if you skip meals..I would call you starving.  If you want to get the point across..cook up some good healthy vegetarian dishes for your family.  Starving yourself will prove that YOUR particular version of being a vegetarian IS unhealthy.

Answer 3

just stick with it. they'll get over it eventually,

Answer 4

Okay, look. I was a vegetarian for 5 months and my mom did the same thing. Then I stopped to be a vegetarian and when back to meat but couldn't help it and went back to vegetarian the next month. My mom was really humiliating too but don't let that stop you from being vegetarian and DO NOT go back to eating meat and being vegetarian again like i did.

PS My mom tried to sneak in meat with most of my meals so be careful, parents do that.

Answer 5

Just be patient.  She will come around.  Maybe it wouldnt hurt to have a talk and let me know that you dont feel like she is being supportive or respecting your decision.

Answer 6

Just show them that you can really do it! My parents were like that in some ways.  They still try to get me to eat fish.  It'll just take time, they'll notice how serious you are about it soon enough!

Answer 7

Your mom sounds cool

Answer 8

You've got to make up your mind to do it with or without support.

Answer 9

get a big ol block of tofu and eat it in front of them..and join peta!

Answer 10

I guess by just staying a vegetarian and telling them that your not going to change your mind.  My parents were sure that I would change my mind, but when I never did I think it got through to them.  Keep telling them why you don't want to eat meat and that your not changing your mind. Good luck!!!!!!

Answer 11

Just keep with it and prove to them that you are serious.

Answer 12

just don't give in to them, always show them vegetarian recipees

also, go to the peta site, and order all thefree c**p they have, and just keep talking about benifits of being a vegetarian, show that you truely are a vegetarian and you do care!

if you go out for dinner with them ever, ask someone at the restraunt about vegetarian options.

you just need to show your parent's you are commited to being a vegetarian, and it is not a joke

Answer 13

You need to be patient.  Since  you are only 13, you have been a meat eater for 12 years and 10 months, and a vegetarian for two months, which is not "so long", as your auntie said. Unless you went to the market and bought your veggie burger for the barbecue with your own money, then I do not think your mother thinks you being a vegetarian is a "joke".  If you parents cannot afford to buy you "special food" because  you have decided to change your life style (perhaps the reference to eating meat of you HAVE to and have not other choice), just eat the side dishes that do not have meat.  Also, I find it extremely difficult to believe that any school would have only meat on their menu.  It is unhealthy to skip meals, just to prove a point. I think that you have already proved your point to your parents.  Just give them time to get used to it, and don't attack everyone just because they do not agree with your life style.  As you are entitled to yours, they are entitled to theirs.

Answer 14

Actions speak louder than words.  Try really hard not to let her comments bother you... if you stick to it long enough, she'll have to realize that you're serious.

But you need to stop skipping meals.  This means you have to take care of yourself.  If no one is providing you with a meatless lunch at school, bring one.  If no one is providing you with a meatless dinner, cook one.  Skipping meals is not healthy and if your mom already has an objection to your vegetarianism, letting yourself get malnourished is not going to help your case.

Answer 15

Answer them straight back when they say things like this again, to their faces, so they know straight away they're wrong. Obviously the time has now passed but say to them when the time is right "Mum, Dad, I am a vegetarian now. It is a serious choice that I have thought about. I would appreciate it if you could support me in this." Loudly refuse to eat meat.

Cook your own meals if necessary, anything to get your point across.

I have been a vegetarian for a number of years, I am lucky because I had full parental support, but I am sorry for what you are going through :(

Good luck! x*x

Answer 16

Talk with her, and tell her that your serious about this choice that you have made.  Tell her that it is something important to you, and it's something you believe in, not something you're doing for attention or to fit into an image or fad.  And that because this is an important life decision that you have made for yourself, it hurts your feelings when she cuts it down, especially in front of other people.  Ask her that even if she doesn't understand or share your decision, that she at least respects it.  Tell her that the comments that she uses, makes you feel like people are looking at you as a joke, and mocking something that is important to you.

Another thing, make sure your going about things the right way.  Research healthy vegetarian meals, and ways to get your protein without meat.  Skipping meals is no way to be healthy, and if your not getting the nutrition you need you're going to start feeling bad and your mom's going to blame it on not eating meat.  And if you don't want to hear "i told you so" learn to eat healthy while being a vegetarian.  Just do some research on the internet and learn things you can make for yourself at home, and things you can take to school with you!!

But mostly just give it time, the longer you're sticking with it, the more she'll believe it.

And just a tip:

Something people don't always think about.  Assuming you cooked your burger on the same grill they used for their meat.  You have to be careful doing stuff like this, because if you cook your veggie burger on the same surface as their foods, your burger is going to soak up some of the fat/proteins/juices still on the grill from the other burgers, so it's not even vegetarian anymore!! It's easy to forget stuff like that though.

Answer 17

They will begin to take it more seriously soon, but the comments and the "voices of concern" still continue for me today and I've been vegetarian for 6 years, and vegan for 1.

My parents told me they thought i had gone veggie so that i could "get attention from it", but it is always other people who bring it up in conversation.

Its good that you were able to still eat with them.  I think some people just feel like if you reject meat you are also rejecting the way your family communes together and some people can take that personally.  It's good that you aren't isolating yourself and i don't want your family to try to isolate you!

Don't let the fact that you are being merciful towards animals embarass you!  You are doing a noble thing that takes a lot of strength and dicipline!

good for you!

Answer 18

I know this may seem strange but in reality you do not need to convince them at all. As long as you are confident and consistent in your own beliefs and actions no other justifying is necessary.

Now granted it could make things a whole lot easier if they were supportive. It is true that we all need support and that is way you need to spend time in vegetarian and vegan community as they will help you to know what to eat, how to prepare it, as well as helping to you to present a valid form of rhetoric (not meant in a bad way). All rhetoric is how you present your argument and or belief.

Keep studying on line. Try to find friends in your community. Keep strong to your beliefs and boundaries. I have faith you will fare this through just fine. : )

Answer 19

First, you need to explain your reasons for not wanting to eat meat.  Whether it is for your health or your belief that eating farmed animals is cruel.  First, get her the book "Skinny Witch  (Spelled with a "B"  it will explain a lot to her.. Next, read the book "The China Study"  for health reasons, you should not eat rotting animal flesh.. I'm a vegan for health reasons but am also an animal lover.. Last, get the book "Mad Cowboy"  a story about a rancher turned vegan.. will really open your eyes.  Stick to your ground and let your mom and family see you eating lots of veggies and fruit.  There is more protein in raw spinach than any steak..  Education is the key.

Answer 20

Hey im a vegetarian also, ha and ive been one for about as long as you said you have. My mom didnt mind because her mom was a vegetarian. But my father who grew up in "redneck-ville" didnt really like the idea. So what i did was i just kind of introduced new foods to them with out meat..and i googled some information about it and randomly stated facts about how much healthier it is for you and what not. Anyways, i hope this helps. Dont let them bring you down, being a vegetarian is great!!

Answer 21

im 14 and ive been vegan for 3 months now

i knew my parents would take it as a joke so for the first 3 days of my veganness i stopped cooking my own food.

i stopped eatingg actually, i sneaked home food on the way home from school.