My parents think my vegetarianism is a joke???

Question

Ever since I have told my parents I want to be a vegetarian all they do is laugh and think I'm kidding. I was at my cousins house the other day and my mom asked my aunt ' Did Jamie ( my 14 year old cousin ) ever go through a vegetarian stage? ' Then my aunt and cousin started laughing.

My mom will mix my vegetarian foods with meats in the freezer. A few days ago I had my Morning Star products seperated from the frozen meats and on my own shelf. Then my dad comes in and ' organizes ' it all and mixes my vegetarian foods with frozen meats, which I thought was gross. I told my mom what happened, and all she said was ' so? '.

Their really annoying me and taking my vegetarianism as a joke. Actually Ive been a veggetarian for about 2 months, and whenever my mom sees a friend she will always say ' Oh, she is TRYING to be a vegetarian. ' - she like never pays attention to me, so she doesn't know that Ive been a vegetarian for some time. How can I get my parents to take me seriously?

Answer 1

Mine did, too. I became vegetarian when I was 14 (researched it for months). I made do until I was 15, got a job and could buy my own food because they weren't supportive at all. My dad made me sit at the table with a couple of pork chops in front of me one night shortly after I became a vegetarian, screaming about how I was going to kill myself by not eating meat and that I wasn't allowed to get up until I ate it. I sat there for hours until he got fed up and left and my mom let me get up. They ridiculed and mocked me for a couple of years until they realized I was serious. Eventually, they calmed down and it just became something to endure from extended family ( read: jerks) at get-togethers. Everything was fine until I got married and became pregnant with my first baby. Then, all I got from people was idiotic, misinformed comments about how I was going to s***w up or kill my baby. I became vegan while nursing my first ( he was allergic to dairy and eggs) and stayed vegan through my other two pregnancies and to this day ( 8 years later). My babies weighed 7.5, 7.11 and 7.12. They're smart, healthy and active.

My point, I guess, is just endure. Stay strong, rise above their childish behavior, prepare  ( and buy if necessary) your own food and just endure until you're old enough to be on your own. Eventually, they'll get bored and stop picking on you.

Hugs, BTDT and you'll make it. :).

The one thing you can do to help your case is read. Become totally  educated on the subject so you have rebuttals to the stupid comments people are bound to make. Sometimes, the best response, though, is a pointed look and ignoring them.

Answer 2

Sounds like they think this is "just a phase" for you.  The best way for you to get them to take you seriously is to simply keep going in your vegetarian ways and DON'T make the mistake most vegetarians do -- getting preachy with those who are not vegetarian.  Believe me, the more you talk about being a vegetarian, the more non-vegetarians around you won't listen.  If you handle your diet your way and respect the fact that others (like your parents) don't agree with being a vegetarian -- and that's OK -- the people close to you will learn to take you seriously and respect your choice.

P.S.:  The people who are telling you that your parents are rude and suggesting you get confrontational are immature idiots -- your parents have just as much right to their choices and their opinions as you do, and NO ONE has any business disrespecting their parents just because you don't see eye to eye on certain issues.  They still gave birth to you, they still raised you, and they are still raising you.  So unless you're ready to leave home and be responsible for taking care of yourself, give your parents the respect they have earned.

Answer 3

This same thing happened to me. My family thought I was wacko for becoming a vegetarian. They figured that I would never last and thought it was just a phase - that I was just trying to find myself.

Like your mother, my mom seemed to go out of her way to tell people, "Oh. Ellie doesn't eat MEAT anymore" even when the conversation didn't warrant that information. Then she would give people a sarcastic look afterwards.

After being frustrated by this for a few months, I armed myself with good information about the meat industry. (at the time I was still eating dairy). When she would say something about my dietary decision, I would snap back about the foods that *she* was eating. She never had much to say after that.

I'm not suggesting that you stoop to her level of snickers and snide comments or your dad's clever methods of organization. I'm just suggesting that you make your stance well-known. Once they see you are informed and passionate, they should back off.

If all else fails, remember that actions speak louder than words. If you stay with it, they should get the message.

Since becoming vegan, my mother doesn't have much else to say about my dietary choice. :-)

Answer 4

I'm sorry your parents are giving you a hard time.  If they researched vegetarianism they should be proud of you for making such a mature choice.   My daughter has been a vegetarian for 3 years now and I totally support her.  I buy her own foods and cook them separate from mine.  When we go out to eat I make sure there are non-meat choices for her at the restaurant.  Her doctor told my daughter to keep up the good work, when her found out she was vegetarian.  How can I knock her for doing something that is healthy for her and the environment.  I actually respect her more for it.

Answer 5

well, that's ignorance at it's best.

apparently they don't realize is that meats and processed foods are mostly calories and the mineral, vitamin content is lack luster.

veggies, fruits have much more vitamins and minerals than all meats put together.

so, they want you to be anemic?

what kind of parenting is that?

now days more and more parents are just excuses,  they have children without preparation.

parents just aren't ready now days to have families...   if they can't take care of themselves properly why do they introduce children into their lives?

ignorance is bliss.

i feel sorry for you,   maybe if there was an adoption service that could eject you from that brainless wonder of a family you have you could be saved from the pains that their stupidity are going to do onto you if you keep putting up with their lack of knowledge.

Answer 6

Your parents are rude.  Tell them I said so.  Just be patient.  See if they are making fun of you in 3 years.

Answer 7

That's exactlly what my parents did to me when I became vegetarian. They said, "Ohh... so you decided to try on the Veggie stage too? Hopefully you last longer than your brother!" That really got on my nerves. My brother was vegetarian for about a week as a bet. I'm doing this because I'm serious about it. They have also recently tried to get my step-sister to stop being a vegetarian, though that is because she is having health issues.

Just try to talk to your parents seriously. Sit them down and tell them that this is something that you feel very passionately about and that you really want to be a vegetarian for a long time. That's how I got mine to take me seriously.

Answer 8

When I turned veggie, my parents NEVER did that.

And they never would.

That's cruel and rude, tell them to LAY OFF.

And actually, what I would do is bring the whole family together and show them PETA videos of animals getting slaughtered. And if they laugh at that, than their sick.

Sorry, but it's true.

Answer 9

My parents used to be like this too! they thought it was the dumbest idea ever.  But they stopped laughing now since ive been one for a long time.  Just ignore them.  after a while they will get used to it.  maybe sit down and have a serious talk with them. tell them its something that you are going to do and ask them to please respect you in your decisions good luck

Answer 10

Hey.

Your parents sound pretty ignorant, it was like that for me, people thought i was a joke, and over time they started to see that i was a vegetarian, now im vegan.

I think the best thing you can do is be a vegetarian, and keep trying to tell them when you get every good chance, and perhaps finally, they will stop being so mean and laughing, and see that your serious, cook your own veggie meals and when possible, try to get them to eat your vegetarian meals with you, cook for them, and talk about with them how serious you are about all of this, and tell them that its your choice to be who you want to be, and that they cant make your decisions, I really recon over time they will stop joking, here's a great vegetarian site you might find useful to, and perhaps show your parents, it has loads of information about being vegetarian:

http://www.vegsoc.org/index.html

Hope this helps and the best of luck to you.

Answer 11

slap them across the face(not really) tell them your serious about this and tell how you feel when they tease you and if they still dont listen talk to an adult you trust and see if they can talk to your parents my parents didnt do that to me and if that doenst  work make them feel guilty by saying you dont think they respect you or love you

sorry that probably sounded weird my parents are therepists so they talk like that all the time

Answer 12

Who cares what they think as long as they keep buying you Moringstar?  :-)

If you stick with it long-term they'll realize it's not a phase.  

Don't let their comments get you down. If you browse this section in Yahoo answers you'll see tons of people who have the exact same problem you do.

Answer 13

i think eating meat is a joke

...alveit an arogant cruel joke

Answer 14

Show them www.meat.org.

Answer 15

I went vegetarian 2 years ago & my family still gives me a hard time but I don't let it bother me anymore because I feel amazing & I know I'm doing a good thing.

You could have your parents watch a video on what animals go through in slaughter houses. You could also tell your parents that unlike other foods that take just a few hrs to digest, meat requires a lot more digestive enzymes to break it down. The undigested meat remaining in the intestines for almost a week. During this time the meat rots & become petrified & leads to toxic buildup which can lead to heart disease, infertility, colon cancer, IBS, diabetes, kidney stones, alzheimers, impotence, & well as other things over time.

I recently read a news letter that John Hopkins just released reporting that by refraining from eating meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells & allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells. It also reported that every person has cancer cells in the body. The cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. So when doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size. The more meat you eat the more fighting cells your taking away from your body to keep the # of cancer cells at bay.

So by staying away from meat you're keeping yourself healthy & away from a lot of conditions that others have a high risk of developing. You're also saving a lot of lives since each meat eater consumes thousands of animals in their life. That's a lot of lives to save :)

You're also doing your part to help the planet. By eating a plant-based diet saves 50% more resourses than driving a hybrid.

I know it's going to be hard dealing with your parents & others but just rememer what a great thing your doing :)

Answer 16

moms and dads think its a  stage for kids when they go through something new... sit down both your parents and explain too them why you are a veggie and tell them your beliefs.... there not taking you seriously cause they think its a stage your going through ...and explain too them how you feel and  if they still don't get it they will eventually after they see how serious you are about it.... it may take a little more time but they will get the message sooner or later good luck and keep up what you believe in .... smile i promise things will get better.....

Answer 17

Well, my mom was always alright about it, but my dad bothered me for a while about it and my step mom was RELENTLESS, eventually i cried to my mom about how my step mom was picking on me ALL the time about it and always saying "what are we gonna feed you , we have nothing"

Tell your parents, you'll eat what you can of what they cook, and if there is nothing you'll cook your own. You'll have to wait for your parents to mature up about the situation.

My mom was mostly worried about my vitamins and such, well i got a blood test the other day and i am PERFECTLY healthy and i've been a vegetarian for almost a year and a half :D

P.s. your mom probably doesn't take you serious because it takes a lot of will power and self disciple. I've known many people want to be vegetarian or vegan and fail... A LOT.

have fun

-Brittany

Answer 18

When I changed my diet to vegitarian, my parents were at first skeptical and made fun of me.  In fact my sister keeps calling me a fruitarian because she thinks its funny.  And at first I had a hard time getting them to take me seriously, but I have been a vegitarian now for over 8 months and my mom actually says, "Oh we are having steak, but I have salad and potatoes here is there anything else I can add to it for you."  So she is really making an effort to support my choices.  It didn't happen right away, but when the start to see that you are serious about it, they will take you more seriously.  I think the giving them a hard time about putting your veggie stuff next to meat when they are packaged seperately is maybe over doing.  If you have to share the fridge you need to be a little more understanding.  They don't feel the same way you do and they may never feel that way, but you need to respect their space and show them that they need to respect yours.  I hope that helps you sort this conflict out.  Give it time, I am sure that they will come around eventually.

Answer 19

that sucks :(

I would talk to your parents about your beliefs. Try to gently persuade them and present the benefits of a fleshless diet. I kind of suspect they probably aren't going to drastically change their diet, but with any luck they will at least be more respectful of your choices and treat it as a valid life choice, rather than some stage, because for most of the v*g's know compassion/awareness isn't just a "phase"

Answer 20

If my parents had acted like that with me, I would have told them off. I have been a vegetarian for over 10 years. I never really cared for meat, and decided I did not want to eat it anymore. It got to the point where the smell of it made me sick. My mom would call me up while I was at college and tell me to go get a burger. I told her I am not eating meat and that is the end of it. She never brought it up again.

I am not doubting your commitment. But now if you were to go back, you would have to hide it from them. You know they would start with the "see, I told you so" c**p.

Answer 21

ًwell, first it's your own decision to be a vegetarian, but I dont recommend it as a personal opinion, just try to minimize consumption of meat and so, but keep some healthy food like milk dairy products .

Regarding your parents, I say if you really would like to be vegetarian, you ought to talk to them in a mature way

and ask them politely to accept your wish for being vegetarian

Give them time and they will understand

GoodLuck

Answer 22

maybe they don't understand WHY you want to do it.

a lot of people from your parents' generation grew up thinking a vegetarian diet was only a "fad" diet because it sort of was back then.

anyways, you should find some good books and ask them to read them and educate themselves about it.

ask them to see things from your point of view and to understand your reasons.

Becoming Vegetarian is a good book with a lot of information about healthy vegetarian diets.

Answer 23

This is an issue that obviously lies alot deeper than your vegetarianism. You need to speak to your parents about how you feel, and you need to approach it in a nuetral manner. Explain how you feel belittled and neglected and how upsetting it is for you.

Be adult and reasonable about it when you speak to them, don't be on the defensive and your parents should see how hard things are for you and hopefully things will begin to change and your feelings will be respected.

Good luck.

Answer 24

Just don't make a big deal about it. Let them say what they want. When I turned vegetarian for a few months my parents would always say, "We're having hamburgers, so do you want us to throw you on a piece of chicken or something?" They absolutely did not understand that vegetarian meant no meat, lol. It was frustrating, but the bigger deal I made out of it, the more they picked on me. If you just let it go, chances are they will too.

Answer 25

My sister became a vegan several years ago. No one took her seriously at first, but she's still a vegan. We have all adapted to her lifestyle, and help her to meet her needs. The important thing to keep in mind is that people will always seem to knock down your individualism, but it isn't because they don't care. It's because they don't know how to react to something so different from the norm. As long as you do what you want to, whether it's staying a vegetarian or switching back to eating meat, it doesn't matter what others say.