***i have been a lifelong vegan...i need some help?

Question

my parents are both vegan and they raised me to be a vegan..im 16 now and just yesterday my friend had a memorial day party and there was steaks on the grill and they kept bothering me to eat one. finally, i took a bite....my mom and dad are not going to like that i ate flesh one bit..:( should i tell them.. im rly confuse because to me it tastes rly good..what should i do

Answer 1

Follow your conscience.

Answer 2

If you tasted it and the curiosity is gone and now you'll continue being a vegan, don't tell them, there's really been no harm done in the big scheme of things and there's really no need to constantly inform your parents about every time you go against something they told you... trust me, that's what being a teenager is all about.

But if you don't want to be a vegan any longer, or if you think you'll keep eating meat after this, you should talk to them because it's best to keep bigger decisions like this out in the open. While you don't have to fill in your parents on every minute indiscretion or mishap you have, the bigger things are vital.

By the way, reflect on why you are vegan and what it means to you. Are you just vegan because that's all you know, or did your parents actually tell you about the environmental benefits, the health benefits, the ethical and moral implications, etc.? It might be difficult to understand and to live as a vegan if you don't really know why you're doing it.

It might be a good time now, being 16 years old and approaching adulthood, to analyze why you are vegan and whether it's something you believe in and want to continue or not, and maybe learn more about it and other paths you could take. Ironically when I was about your age I was transitioning from vegetarian to vegan. Being a teenager is all about self-discovery, finding where you fit in the world. This is all a part of it - trying different things, making mistakes, learning new ways to look at things.

Answer 3

What's done is done.

Learn from it, forgive yourself, and move on.

Answer 4

I was raised kosher. When I was at a friend's house, I tried some bacon. It felt very subversive for me. Afterwards I was afraid to tell my parents. But then I did, and they didn't make a huge deal out of it, and as a result the fun of breaking the rules was gone, and I didn't do it again. I don't know if this parallels your situation at all. Whether you should tell your parents depends on what your parents are like, but I'd suggest talking to them about it. They might be unhappy, but they will probably talk to you and help you decide what you think.

Now I am vegan, and I encourage you *not* to eat meat. Of course it tastes good, or people wouldn't eat it. Lots of bad things taste good. People smoke because they enjoy smoking. People eat trans fats because they like it. Doesn't mean they should. And that's the key question: what is the *right* thing to do?

You have a huge advantage over your friends. Because they have eaten meat all their lives, they are addicted. Even if they are convinced going vegan is the right thing to do, morally and for their own health, most of them won't do it. They are too used to eating meat, and will tell you, "I just can't do it." Like a smoker who can't give up cigarettes. Once you start eating meat, it will be very hard for you to go veg again. People just have trouble giving things up. So you really need to think about what's the right thing *now*, because you're giving up your advantage by eating meat.

Realize that, in order for you to eat meat, an animal was horribly mistreated and cruelly killed. Animals are kept in crates so small she couldn't even turn around or lie down for her entire life. Animals are routinely beaten with electric prods; die of heat stroke or freeze to death in exposure to extreme weather; live in their own filth so they are covered with ammonia burns and breathe air so filthy with ammonia that it burns their eyes and throats; have their genitals/tails/teeth/horns/beaks/snoods cut off without any anesthetic; are manipulated to grow so fast their legs become crippled, or deformed under their own weight; and so on. In slaughterhouses, birds have legs and wings broken and many are drowned in tanks of scalding water; other animals are in many cases skinned and dismembered while fully conscious.

Is it really worth treating an innocent living creature like that just because meat might taste good? What would you want someone to do if you were in their place? Your friends eat meat because they don't know any better, or because they're too addicted to stop. You do know better, and you have the freedom to do the right thing. I hope you do!

Answer 5

You can take a bite, and now you see what your missing, not much really. If you had a party your friends would sample your foods too, just as if you were a traveler (or they the traveler). They keep pushing it on you because they don't really understand so take a more proactive role in a better diet with them. Some people respond more to health considerations and others to animal rights and still others to environmental concerns. Armed with knowledge at least you'll have understanding friends that are not pushers, at most you may find some converts and everyone gets a class in healthy bodies and a better world. Sounds like you need to have a party of your own.

Answer 6

Listen to yourself. If you want to keep some of your parents morals eat organic free range. Gross.

Answer 7

Did you try to ask and understand why you were brought up as a vegan? Ask for it? If you are convinced you'll be sincere but if you feel satisfying your taste buds is important and good then do it. Expain to your parents why you don't want to be a vegan and try to make them understand. They cannot force you, it sure will not help.

Answer 8

i know how you feel you don't want to disappoint your parents but your old enough to make your own decisions. also meat gives you protein and if you don't eat too much its good for you.

and  i don't know your religious believes but don't stop because of the animals because god put everything we need on this earth to survive including animals.

so if you like it eat it

=)

Answer 9

I don't think that I would tell them.  It's not like you are doing anything that is illegal.  If you do feel guilty about hiding it from them then you should tell them about it.  They should be able to understand-Did they eat any type of meat when they were younger?

Answer 10

Well, it depends. Do you regret it? Did you like it? If you liked it :( I would recommend looking pictures, videos and documentaries about animal cruelty. I am not saying "Go look at the poor animals and feel bad" But I'm just saying you need to be educated and aware of what you are putting into your body. After that, I hesitantly and sadly say, eat meat and see if you really do like it.  If you do, I would recommend telling your parents, if you change your mind and you don't like it I would not tell them. Just let the time pass and forget it. You should tell your friends to leave you alone about eating meat though, you can't be a follower, if being a vegan is what you believe in, then stick to your guns. Personally, I would be very upset if my friends were trying to force me to eat meat; I don't tell them what to do so I don't expect them to dictate the way I live my life.

Hopefully, you stick to veganism.

Answer 11

You do realize why your parents are vegan don't you? It's 99% likely they are because they realise that it's selfish to kill an animal just because you have a food craving. If you think your needs are more important than another life then go for it but that will be completely selfish and there's no excuse for someone who never suffered the pain of going "cold turkey".

And definitely don't listen to the pro-protein meat-eaters, they have absolutely no clue. Vegans can easily get all the required protein they need.

It's just food, who cares if it tastes good? There's plenty of things for a vegan to eat. Best not to tell your parents about this, I've got your back.

Answer 12

umm ok if vegans et all the veges in the world all the animals will die and theyll have to eat animals too anyway

and meat is good

and its protein

so stop taking those protein pills and enjoy your food :) :)

momand dad ... its not their life, not their fault they havnt tasted the glory of being carnivorous

Answer 13

you shouldnt let your parents run you lives. if you want to eat meat, eat it. And i think that eventually you should tell them, and this doesnt mean you have to sit them down like in juno. just let it out when your doing somthing fun together, bonding (haha im rolling my eyes, too) any way, i think you should considder eating meat. its really not thtt horrible. but im not going to tell you how to run your life, jsut saying that maybe you should try somthing new

Answer 14

i wouldnt telll them

Answer 15

Don't tell them. Eating a bit of meat isn't a crime against humanity. You were raised to be a vegan by your parents but that doesn't mean you have to be one all your life. Make your own choice. It's just food, it's not as if you killed someone.  I"m a vegan and if my child didn't want to be one I'd be fine with their choice. I'm surprised a bit that eating steak didn't make you sick though. I"m sure it would make me up chuck; just the thought of meat makes me ill.

Answer 16

Tell them or don't -- I'm positive they have done the same thing and expected as much when their kids get older.  Kids raised healthily often go nuts during the teen years and try everything, but nearly always revert back in adulthood.  Not that you're going nuts, just that they expect your to try things.

And yeah, sure it can taste good.  That's why people eat it.  I'm sure killing that guy that tormented you all during your youth would feel really good too.  I didn't stop eating meat because I thought it tasted bad.  I didn't stop eating candy because I thought it tasted bad either.  That's not the point.  Things that taste good can still be bad for your health.

Not to mention, lots of people eat things that taste horrible, but eat it long enough and often enough, you can get used to it.

I have never drank in my life.  Never been drunk, etc.  But, yeah, of course I tasted just to see what it tasted like, but alcohol went against my morals and self respect.