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How do I tell my parents I want to be a vegitarian.. ?
Im 13/f and Ive been thinking of going vegitarian for about a week. The only meat I really like is hot dogs and bacon... I love animals alot and I just dont want to eat them anymore. How can I tell my parents this? How can I keep up protein if I dont eat meat? I only really like carrots, potatoes, corn, cucumber, and peas as veggies. What are good meals I can have as a vegitarian? How can I tell my mom and dad? I have a friend who is a vegitarian and I told my mom she is and my mom said "its a stage you go through" but I dont want to eat meat anymore :/ Help>
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It might be a little difficult for you if your family isn't on board too. It's less of a stage and more of something that you should try to see if it's for you. When I was a teenager, a good friend of mine decided to become vegetarian. It only lasted for a few months because she realized that it just wasn't for her. If this is something that you want to try, you should. Because you're only 13 though, there are a few things that you MUST do and these things may be difficult without support from your parents.
You are still growing, both physically and mentally. Cutting meat out of your diet and not replacing the nutrients/etc that you are losing would be really bad. It could affect your health and your mood. What you really should do is make an appointment with a dietician. This person will work with you to set up a good vegetarian diet plan made just for you. Your parents probably will not want to pay for this, however. If it won't fly, make sure you at the very least get a book.
The other thing you will need to consider is that you may need to start making your own meals for yourself. If your family is going to have hamburgers for dinner, they may not want to make something special for you. This isn't a huge deal because if you really want to do this, cooking your own food is a good way to take responsibility. The issue is that you'll have to somehow get the ingredients that you need. Your parents may have to buy certain foods for you. If they won't and you can't buy them yourself, you're not going to be able to do this.
In reality, going vegetarian while you're a teenager isn't a good idea. I'd advise against it. It's difficult to meet all of your nutritional needs and you're not in control of the household. A good time to start is when you're in college or on your own. I would definitely say that you should wait. If it's something that you really, really want to do, though, please, please at least get a book to help you. You don't want to be unhealthy. Being vegetarian and doing it the right way is a lot harder than it may seem.
Here are a few books I found. You may want to look in a bookstore or library first (if they still exist). That way you can look through it to see if you like it. I wouldn't trust anything that's online unless it's put out by a reputable organization. A book is your best bet.
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Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
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Being a vegetarian is a life choice that you make for yourself. If this is something that you have decided you want for yourself there is nothing wrong with it. As for what kind of meals you can make that are vegetarian there are many books that you can find with many recipes using various ingredients and seasonings. You can also search the web for recipes.
Telling mom and dad you want to eat vegetarian meals should not be all that hard. Make sure they understand you want to be a vegetarian an not a vegan there is a big difference between them.
Now I do see one problem about your choice which you must consider when talking to mom about this, especially if mom holds a job outside the house and is also the main cook.
It is unfair of you to ask mom to cook separate meals for you. I'm sure it is hard enough for her to cook one meal for the entire family and do whatever else she needs to do as mom and wife. So if you are wanting to make this change then you must also be willing to step in and make your own meal when mom cooks something for the family that does not fit with the vegetarian choices you have made.
If you are willing to cook your own meal when mom prepares a meal that is not to your liking or self imposed diet restrictions I see no reason mom or dad should object. I would also suggest you help mom with the shopping so that the foods you need to prepare are purchased as you want and there can be no arguments that mom purchased the wrong things for you.
A little assistance on your part in shopping and meal preparation should go a long way in winning your parents approval.
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im a 13 yr old female and am a semi vegitarian and waiting to become a full time vegatarian when im ready.i only eat fish and chicken incredably rarly like once a week and im fine.ive been doing this for about 3 years by my own choice and my family are big meat consumers,u may want to consider slowly stopping eating meat instead of an all out shut down to avoid getting too thin at your age. i hate meat but used to never having it so im fine,and yes it is a stage some people go through but stick with it and ull be fine
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Well of course, it is your decision. It's not something drastic, and so you can just casually tell her. Just be all "Mom, I think I'm going to go vegetarian for a while, and see how It goes".
Your parents may be a bit unsure, because it can be more hassle for them. They then have to prepare two meals everytime, instead of one. But be sure to help out around the kitchen.
In regards to protein, will you still be eating eggs/fish? Both are great sources of protein, and some vegetarians eat both. I think there's a special name for people like that.
You can also get protein from things such as tofu (bean curd). It's pretty much taste-less and so google recipes.
Beans are also a good way to get protein. Quinoa is a grain, and again, is a good source of protein. Nuts too, are good sources. As are vegetarian meat substitutes such as Quorn and Seitan.
Make sure you also eat plenty of vegetables: lots of different colours. Iron is something you can get from red meat. Spinach is a vegetarian source.
Be creative with cooking food. Don't just boil vegetables. Grill/stir-fry/roast/bake/saute/etc them so you don't get bored.
The internet has LOADS of recipes. Just google "vegetarian recipes" and you'll get thousands. Test them out, and see what you like.
Good luck!
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