Vegetarian ?? =/?!
Vegetarian ?? =/?
i was thinking of becoming a vegetarian, but i dont know if my family would support me, decicions and food wise. Plus im eating right and my parents think im starving myself, but im not. What are they going to think if i stop eating meat?! If you have any opinions or reciepies, that would help lots, please! =]
thank you, and tell me what you think?! <3
Answers:
Just do it.
If you don't want to tell them, then just say you don't like the taste of meat or something.
I'm vegetarian and first my parents didn't support me but now they fully support me.
Print out an article of the health benefits of vegetarianism and show your parents.
Talk to your doctor first before you go vegetarian so you get enough vitamins and minerals and protein and also so your parents know that you ARE SERIOUS about this.
& also, vegetarian is no meat.
vegan is no dairy products or meat.
Source(s):
experience
Vegetarians are usually not the healthiest looking people. They are missing so many of the important amino acids and nutrients that only meat and poultry can give you. Think twice about taking up a lifestyle that may adversely affect your health in the long run. Moderation in everything is key. Don't eliminate anything from your diet. Eat a little bit of everything.
what the heck is "Sweet girl" saying? Vegetarians (formally known as lacto-ovo vegetarians) are not the same thing as vegans. Get your facts straight. I'm a lacto-ovo vegetarian. I eat milk, cheese and eggs. For proteins, use complementary protein foods such as corn and beans, lentils and rice, etc. Try ethnic vegetarian diets--they've worked out all the malnutrition problems over the centuries.
Make a preliminary diet, and show it to a dietitian. If you get his/her approval, you're good to go.
Good luck!
Btw: I don't think anyone can call me malnourished or unhealthy-looking. None of my family is malnourished. Sure, if you adopt the pure American diet and simply eliminate the meat, you're gonna be in trouble. Just do your homework or stick with ethnic food (Indian, Ethipian, etc.) you'll be fine.
Don't you see we are omnivores which means we eat both plats an meat as you can tell by your teeth if you stray strictly to meat you loose a lot of protein and all of that good stuff although eating to much isn't good eat a balance of meat an vegetables and you should be good to g
Good luck
Not all vegetarians don't eat milk and eggs, to the first post. Those are VEGANS.
Anyways. I think you should tell your family about your new habit and just keep doing it. They'll learn to accept it. And if they don't , then it's YOUR life, and you should live it the way you want.
But make sure you get your protein from other sources!!!
And to everyone that's like "ZOMG DONT DO IT ITZ LIEK SO BAD 4 U!" be quiet. Let the girl make her own choices. A lot of things we eat and do are bad for us, and I'm sure you've all reached for a bag of potato chips instead of an apple from time to time. I have plenty of vegetarian friends who are healthy as hell and a lot more athletic and physically fit than the meat eaters I know.
How about eating meat in moderation? or eating more fish or pork? Just as one should probably drink alcohol in moderation.
If you are still living with your parents, that's a toughie. I'm a mother with teens, not vegetarian, but have many vegetarian friends who are, for the most part, much healthier than I am or most of my meat eating friends. I love many vegetarian recipes and if one of my kids decided to become vegetarian or even vegan, I would support that choice, and also do the best I could to make sure the diet was still balanced.
Did you know? Most Americans consume triple or more protien than the body requires? Most Asian, Indian, Lebonese and other cultures have consistantly used meat more as a condiment (flavoring) rather than a staple, and have lived long, healthy lives. Not because they were vegetarian, but because meat was in such short supply.
I don't know if you or your family are Christians, but if so...you can look in the Bible, in Genesis, and when God first created Adam and Eve, He gave them all the food they needed, which did not include animals. It wasn't until after the flood that God gave permission for humans to eat meat. Some Christian faiths still believe that. I'm not exactly one of them, and I do enjoy meat, but I also enjoy vegetarian foods and often eat vegetarian for days, if not weeks, without missing meat.
If you do decide to go vegetarian, please make sure that you have a balanced diet. Include legumes (beans), rice and nuts in your diet along with your fresh fruits and veggies.
Maybe your family is "old school", like mine, and think if you don't eat what is set before you, you are either wasteful, ungrateful, or disrepectful. My mother showed her love in food, and anyone less than 40 lbs overweight was malnourished. I wish you the best in your decision. I am including a few vegetarian recipes for you to try, and maybe let your family try. They are pretty tasty, and not "crazy...off the wall", as my mom would have said.
ZUCCHINI "CRAB" CAKES
2-1/2 cups grated zucchini
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup minced onion
1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying
Grate several fresh, unpeeled zucchini, place in a colander to
drain. Wrap the grated zucchini in a clean dishtowel to squeeze
out as much liquid as possible. You want to end up with 2-1/2
cups grated zucchini. In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, egg
and butter or margarine. Add the seasoned crumbs, minced onion
and seasoning. Using your impeccably clean hands, mix well. Now
shape mixture into patties. Dredge in flour. Heat the oil in a
large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Fry patties in oil
until golden brown on both sides. Yields 5 servings.
"Mock Lemon CHICKEN"
1 lb. firm tofu
1 T. olive oil
1 t. pressed garlic
1/2 c. sliced green onions
1 T. pastry flour
1 T. nutritional yeast (optional)
1/2 t. plum vinegar or brown rice vinegar
2 t. teriyaki sauce or light soy sauce
1 T. lemon juice
Cut tofu crosswise in 1/4" slices, then cut slices in 1"
segments. Heat wok or large non-stick skillet and add oil and
garlic. Add tofu immediately and stir fry for 1 minute. Add
green onions and stir fry 1 minute longer.
Dust tofu and onion mixture with flour and yeast. Stir fry for 2
minutes more, allowing tofu pieces to brown and crisp slightly.
Add vinegar and teriyaki sauce, then stir fry until completely
absorbed. Add lemon juice and stir fry 2 minutes longer. Serves
4
These are just a couple that are pretty easy, and most people like them enough not to miss meat.
Again........Best wishes to you.
two and a half years ago i was 11 and i decided to make the switch and luckily my mom was very supportive of me (i love you mom). She still is very supportive of me even though a lot of times she goes through extra trouble in order to make me a vegetarian meal.
however, a lot of parents are not as supportive. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU SHOULDNT MAKE THE SWITCH!!! You have to fight for what you beleive in!!! I have a lot of friends who have had to start cooking for themselves...dont let your parents stop you
if your parents get worried about you eating badly because you stop eating meat, explain to them why you are doing it and also explain to them about the health benifits of being a vegetarian (eg vegetarians tend to live longer, vegetarians have less chances off getting many kinds of cancer...) do research on it and know the answers to the questions that you might be worried about them asking.
“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”
“Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence. Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals. Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.“
-ADA’s and Dietitians of Canada position on Vegetarian and Vegan diets
Do not became a vegetarian it is not healthy your body was created to have meat as an important part of your diet.
If they don't respect your opinions, then I'm sorry...they're rubbish parents. They need to understand you're an individual, who's going to make your own mark on the world. Explain to them why, and make it clear. Have a special talk - don't just announce it. If they won't accept that, then ask them why not - try not to get into an argument, be diplomatic and polite.
Parents worry all the time - my mother thinks I'm all sorts of things, in the past she's been through phases of thinking I'm on drugs, anorexic, and even (shock, horror) lesbian (she thinks this is a bad thing lol). Only you know how to work your parents the best, but if they're well trained enough then it should be okay (although they're all individuals). Make them understand that you're going to be yourself, whether you like it or not, and don't just cave in - even if you have to get a job and pay for your own meat alternatives yourself (beans, lentils, cheese and Quorn are good).
Let me know how you get on - if you need some more advice email me, [email protected]
I say, who cares what your parents think? I made the decision to go vegetarian all by myself when I was in fourth grade and have been one ever since, even though no one else in my family is vegetarian. There are so many good meat substitutes that are better than the real thing. Having your stomach be a graveyard of dead animals does not sound very apetizing, does it? Every vegetarian saves at least 100 lives every year! Doing that just makes you feel so good, knowing that 100 animals lives are saved just because you decided to no longer eat them. Being vegetarian strongly benefits your health, the environment, and most importantly the hapiness of the animals. If you don't eat meat you can vastly decrease you risk of heart problems or cancer. Some of my favorite vegetarian meals are gardenburgers (or nutburgers), tofu-dogs, bean/cheese dip, almonds, cheese and veggie sandwiches (subway makes great ones), nachos or quesedillas, and so much more. MANY fantastic foods do not contain meat, and being a vegetarian really is not that hard! You can do it. Good luck!
i've been vegetarian for about 9 months now. at first my parents were unhappy, but i started without telling them at first...like i just stopped eating meat and then about a month in i told them that i hadn't eaten meat in a month and want to become vegetarian..this way i proved that i could do it before i even asked. because what can they do, shove a hamburger down your throat?
also, take iron pills. like i have these that i take [but ask your parents first!!] this way i don't get sick or get headaches. you really need to because your body does need iron. so get vitamins or eat a hell of a lot of spinich.