My parents think I'm weird for wanting to be vegan...?

Question

My parents think I'm weird for wanting to be vegan...?

Answer 1

Ignore them and do your thing.

Answer 2

give them more info about it.

Answer 3

My brother decided to be a Vegetarian. I know that's a little different but still. My dad, who is a **** by the way, did not like this at all for some reason. Im the only person who in our family who sticks up for him. My parents will take us out to places that only serve meat, fish, poultry, etc. So I'll tell them Im feeling like a salad tonight or something. But anyway they will make a big deal about it at first but it will become a normal routine to seeing you eat only vegan meals. It will die down don't worry about it. If its what you believe than you will be willing to take heat for a couple of weeks.

Answer 4

You do know that vegetarians and vegans (who stick to it for any length of time) take supplements to replace the necessary vitamins and minerals that their diet doesn't provide and that even herbavores eat bugs and their own poop in order to get those vitamins and minerals? Doesn't seem so natural to me...I never saw a cow taking supplements (at least not by choice).



hmmmmmmm.....



To all the would-be children of God on here...you do realize that beginning at Leviticus 11:2 God not only says to eat animals but actually tells you exactly which animals to eat. It goes on for quite awhile...pick up your Bible and read it...

Answer 5

Do what you want, my parents don't support me with some things.

Parents are like that, they'll soon accept that your a vegan. Don't stop because they think it's weird.

Answer 6

I'm also still under a Parent's care, and I'm vegan. My Parent HATES it. Thinks I'm Crazy, and unhealthy, and unintelligent. I haven't felt nearly as good as I do know. I also get the "it's just a phase" said about me. So, I feel you.



Do what I've been doing. Make the choice. Try to keep you cool as much as possible when family makes comments.

Offer to make a vegan dinner once in a while (only after you get used to vegan coking.) show them how tasty it can be!

Track your diet as best as you can on fitday.com, It'll help prove your point that being Vegan can be really healthy.



And Make sure you make it clear to them why you choose to be Vegan. If it's for the animals, if you can, I recommend showing your family "Earthlings" it's a great documentary on the horrible things done to animals. (there's a free version at http://www.earthlings.com/earthlings/video-full.php )

GOOD LUCK! :D

Answer 7

i can relate to you. i wanted to become a vegetarian but i knew my parents wouldn't be as open to the idea as i was. so i started off not eating red meat or pork, then i decided to stop eat meat all together. i told my mom that i wanted to be a vegan just recently and she said that she would try at least 2 nights a week with vegan dinners, since she has to feed my siblings also. you could try this. Basically just inform your parents. and dont worry, being a vegan isnt a social outcast thing, it means that you have strong beliefs and a lot of will power.

Answer 8

if kids need milk to grow, then I'm wondering how can malnourished kids flourish with peanut paste. google plumpy'nut. I'm a philanthropist. they dont get a steak to eat, food aid is corn, rice, beans, flour, vegetable oil, maybe some eggs and thats it. refrigeration is an issue. but first you need to know something about nutrition to convince your parents.



we dont need milk to grow. all milk mammals need is from their mother. no other species sucks on someone else's titties. eating eggs is more natural. since the first reptiles they all ate each other's eggs. that was a real battle for survival. adapt or die. thats how mammals evolved a live birth. anyway, milk is also causing osteoporosis, cause with milk we get too much protein and body will leech calcium out of bones to digest it. and half of the world is lactose intolerant, only whites are evolved to drink it, some blacks and arabians, asians too but not many. apparently 90% of native americans are lactose intolerant. just look at people around the world, east asians drink very little milk and their bones are fine, because its the hormones that build our bones. and vitamins too.



if they are worried about vitamin B12, stick with eggs, or take B-complex pills. iron and proteins arent an issue, just eat almonds and other nuts. almonds have 22g of proteins per 100g, they have lots of fat but most of it is monounsaturated (apparently a healthy thing). they also have no cholesterol, but I read about a research that showed egg cholesterol has no influence on us. and if they are worried about incomplete protein, then quinoa and few other grains have complete proteins or almost complete proteins, but I cant tell much about it cause I didnt do much research on this one.



if they still arent convinced, tell them that kids in india's school eat lots of vegetarian things. rice is a staple food, they make some sauce, fry some chilies, stuff like that, eat it together and kids are getting healthier.

Answer 9

Your parents are weird for telling you lies (you won't be a social outcast) and for not supporting you. There is nothing wrong with being vegan at all. Do what you feel is right and makes you happy, end of story.

Answer 10

There have been a LOT of dumb answers on here. Humans are NOT 'made' to drink cows milk! Animals are not 'made by God to feed us'! Our gut is not the same as a dedicated carnivore, rather an omnivore - which may be why red meat eating is so linked to cancer in humans.

'Farm' animals (factory animals might be a better term) are fed with vast amounts of hormones and chemicals. Vegetarians do NOT need to take supplements! So much more ignorance...



My GF became vegetarian and I respect her reasons, though I am a meat eater.



There are no health or nutrient reasons against becoming vegetarian or vegan.



Being vegan can be hard though - it means not exploiting any animal by products, including eggs and milk - thus including cheese! a favourite of many vegetarians... Plus chocolate, cakes etc.



You also cannot wear or use leather,silk or fur products.



I guess your parents may be a little pissed off that they have to change their shopping habits and budget to accomodate you, especially if they think it's a phase.



You can support the ethical rearing of animals (something that's almost unheard of in the USA) rather than choosing to not eat them or their by products at all.

Answer 11

Your parent’s reaction sounds like it's coming from a good place even if they could have been a bit more tactile. Firstly I would recognise that parents always want to protect their kids. They may well be worried that you will become a social outcast. Of course if you have real friends, you will not be a social outcast. In fact, things like this can be a great way to see who your real friends are. You need to let your parents know that your friends will accept you, thus you will not be a social outcast. Your parents may also be worried about your nutrition. You need to explain that you will get a full range of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, carbohydrates and protein. You will of course have to be more organised with your food or you will be unhealthy and they will have the right to be concerned. No living off lentils, get a plethora of different foods. Thirdly they may think it's not normal or unnatural. This is where I could write for days but I'll try not to digress.



I would make several points.



-Just because something has been going on for years, doesn't mean its right. For years people were told that smoking made you a man and put hairs on your chest.



-We have the biological components of herbivores e.g. long digestive tract, alkaline saliva, claws and teeth (people mention our sharp K9s for ripping meat but actually we are not sporting the same teeth as a shark or lion, we have flat teeth for grinding)



-Milk. I love milk but the more I think about it, the stranger and more perverse it sounds. We drink our mother’s milk. A cow makes milk for her calves. Why are we drinking it?



-Chicken. A fox can eat a chicken raw. With its short digestive tract, it will not get sick. We have to cook it for ages, arguably because we are not designed to eat it (although does that mean we are designed to eat fish).



-When you buy meat, you are in essence, condoning the life that animal has had. Most of the time it's not a pretty picture.



-And if you really want to go for the check mate, forget about whether humans should or shouldn't eat meat. Forget about if there is a God, what she had designed for us to eat. If you go vegan you are doing your part towards a better world for animals, a better world for humans, a better world full stop. If we got rid of the meat industry and focused on plant life, we could feed the world (yes, the whole world) and drastically reduce our carbon footprint.



Hopefully that will put their mind at ease, but don't get angry with them. Ideally they want to keep you in a bubble and let you out only for the occasional cuddle. Let them know that what you're doing isn't the easy choice but it's probably the right one and will overall give you a better quality of life.

Answer 12

Just to warn you, PETA does lie a lot, but I became a vegetarian at age 14 because of Them :P I had to slowly go into it, that might be better because food it sort of like an addiction it's hard to just suddenly stop Tell your parents you will make your own meals and (if you have a job) pay for some of your meals. Vegan and veggie food can get expensive, I come from a family of hunters so it was a bit hard for me Also make sure you talk to a doctor or do your research, eapically since you're 14 and need more nutrition than adults, I got sick. When you stop eating meat and and dairy you cut out a lot of nutriction. MAKE SURE YOU READ, THIS PART IS IMPORTANT!!! A lot of food has animal bi-products, make sure you watch out for that.

Answer 13

Going vegan is fine. I'm not surprised your parents are worried though. I'm in my fifties and my Mother-in-law still worries. She loves my food though and says minor complaints clear up when she stays with me.

Be gentle on your parents, as like many people who have answered on here, they probably think it is unhealthy, unnatural etc. Try to reassure them by learning about diet and nutrition, and cooking them some really tasty meals.

http://www.vegansociety.com/ is a good source of info.

http://www.veganfamily.co.uk/ is another good site.



It is also quite a challenge learning how to cook tasty vegan food. Vegan recipes are often hard work or so wholesome they are horrible. Your Mum may be worried about providing meals for you. It is more work for her.



Soy milk, soy cream. soy ice cream, soy yoghurt, vegan margarine, rice milk, oat milk are all very nutritious and delicious (depending on brand). They'll give you lots of calcium for healthy bones, Calcium is also in dark green leafy veg. IMO all vegan cheese is disgusting and I really miss cheese.



Cakes made without eggs and butter work well. I can even make light fluffy Victoria style sponges.



Vegetable stock cubes make life easy - but watch the salt content.

A dollop of curry paste rescues anything and everything. Herbs and garlic do the same.



Love your vegetables and eat a rainbow. ( the more colours on your plate the better, red, green, yellow, purple, more green).



The only supplement most vegans agree is required is B12. The latest research shows that heavy mushroom eaters manage fine without B12 but I'd take it to be sure.



I've had cancer twice. The first time I wasn't vegan and had always eaten a normal diet. During chemo you get regular blood tests. The first time my blood tests were unremarkable. When I found the cancer came back I did everything I could to help my body beat it and went vegan. My blood tests on the second bout of chemo were so good the nurses asked what on earth I was doing as they were better than those of a normal healthy woman.



As far as being an outcast, it depends where you live. California seems to have masses of vegan restaurants and events with vegan food. Here in remoter UK I really miss being able to go out for a meal. There are places to eat out but few and far between. More and more people seem to understand though. In the UK, the supermarkets are stocking far more vegan food. At family parties I just take a couple of vegan sausages or similar and eat the veg. Most social events I go to have some vegan food even if it is just hummus and baked potatoes.



You could always compromise a bit for the sake of your Mum and agree to eat a bit of fish once a week. Ease her into it gently.

Answer 14

well it is harsh for adults to understand my parents r the same way im vegetarian for over 30 years an being a vegan i cant do that i love cheddar cheese plus my chocolate milk but i gave up on eggs so iam well off just ask them to let u try it for awhile if it works then so be it if not agree that u wil go an try try there way as not a vegan by the way my boys grow as vegans but now they eat meat iam the only onew who does not crave meat at all good luck

Answer 15

They sound pretty normal, honestly. I went from a normal omnivore straight into vegan one day (after reading Animal Liberation) and the people around me seemed to simultaneously lose their minds. I got tons of 'that can't be healthy' speeches from people who eat donuts religiously and gorge on junk all day. But anyways, that's besides the point.



If you're sure you want to do this, go for it. Your parents are reacting from a lack of knowledge and seem to be worried that you are picking up possibly detrimental eating habits that could harm you.



To be fair, if you do vegan wrong you really can hurt your personal nutrition, so look into protein and determine what your daily caloric need is and *make sure you meet it.*



Vegan is a growing movement that's picking up more and more steam, and as such it's getting easier to be a healthy vegan, but you still need to watch your foods. I'd suggest getting a book on the topic or at least checking out a few of the many websites so you'll have a better idea of what ingredients to avoid in processed foods and get some insight on any particular areas you may need to focus on to balance your diet.



In my experience calories were the hardest part of a vegan diet, because ruling out dairy rules out most normal high calorie sources. I never really had trouble with protein (most Americans get way more than they need anyway, and I'm no athlete) but over the course of a year I did lose almost 10 pounds, which wasn't horrible but put me underweight. To be fair this was my fault as a lazy vegan who was still falling into that 'avoid calories' mindset that everyone seems to have these days.



Once you've checked into the nutritional side of things, I promise you'll have plenty of facts to present your parents with that should help alleviate their worries. Also I'd recommend telling them specifically the reasons you're doing this, and concede that if it negatively affects your health that your health is more important. So long as you put a little effort into it, it'll be a positive for your health, so you'll be able to comfort them without actually giving up your goal.



Good luck!

Answer 16

WOW!!!!! It's as if I posted this question! Both of my parents are pretty much anti vegan/animal rights and they think it's just a phase. I showed my mom and dad meet your meat (I pretty much forced them to after 2 weeks of them saying no :P) and they let me go vegan... on one condition: I cook my own food. So basically, just show them all the facts and also the advantages of being a vegan. Also, tell them that you're NOT taking this to the extreme, and you're NOT making yourself a social outcast. I am pretty popular (as in I have a lot of friends) and have actually inspired some of them to go vegetarian. Base the argument/discussion on THEIR beleifs (if yours and theirs aren't the same) And, as a last resort, tell them that they don't have the right to control what you do and don't eat. After all, they don't...

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Answer 17

Explain to them why you're becoming vegan.

Tell them all the good sides to it.

For the animals, world poverty, the enviroment, your health.

Answer 18

Well are you becomming a vegan for political reasons or for health reasons? There is nothing wrong with becoming a vegetarian, the problem comes when you try to make everyone else around you one. As long as you don't preach your views all the time then everything will be fine. Only you can make the decissions that will make you happy!

Answer 19

eat what you can when the magnetic poles of earth shift around the time of 21 of December 2012 nothin electrical will work milk will help you grow fat that turns into muscle if you exercise but i do know a lady lived to 106 and still living and her motto was i never ate me vegies

Answer 20

The first thing you need to do is find out the difference between vegan and vegetarian.

Answer 21

If they don't support it, well too bad. You can't really do anything. Please keep in mind that parents go through work when their kids are vegan, too, you know. Like, preparing the meals and such. Don't force the idea, and be polite about those type things. Eventually they will most likely get used to it.

Answer 22

stick with it, they'll see you are serious are in what you believe and how you feel about it but dont get nasty and a big deal out of it and dont make a big deal of it at school as kids can be cruel and can make you outcast. make sure you eat well though and still recieve all the nutrients you need.

Answer 23

Keep doing it and in the long term they are going to notice the bennefits. Your parents' opinion is really unimportant compared to a decision you are going to carry out for the rest of your life, when you go to cllege you are going to get props for being veggie. PLUS: your parents are plain ignorant. Ignore ignorant people as much as possible, even if they are your family.

Answer 24

learn as much as you can about it. To an extent, they are right...you will be somewhat of an outcast, and it is not normal...but you dont need milk to grow....just read up on it as much as you can and print the most important and convincing things for them to read....look up a video called earthlings and ask them to watch it. that video turned my boyfriend into a vegan after watching it once.



make sure you take a multivitmin at first, that wall also help your parents feel safe. and right down how much protien you eat at first to make sure your getting enough. every day you need to eat your body wieght divided by 2.2 and multiplied by 0.8.



Some things that are vegan...all veggies and fruit, bean, nuts, tortillas, most bagels, oreos, lots of asian convenience foods (taste of tai peanut noodles, yum!) Oreo cookies, spicy chili ramen, vegatarian Hormel brand chili, most products from quorn, and I suggest you buy a can of wheat germ and put on anything it tastes good with, that stuff is a life saver since it has 4 grams of protien and 50 calories in two tables spoon! and also lots of nutrients that people think is only in meat....it tastes like bread crumbs so its easy to sneak into cereal, or bread tofu with it then fry in oil.



eating out is diffucult but inpossible. there is almost awlays at least on vegan option.



my parents still dont like me being a vegan, but when they see how much healthier and happier I am since the change they dont have anything to complain about.



be prepared for the worst...people will say stuff that they have no right to. I have even been accused of having an eating dissorder!



good luck and of you need support or recipes email me at [e-mail]



to the stupid people who think god made animals to eat...WHO WANTS TO BELEIVE IN A GOD THAT WOULD FEED US LIVING BEINGS THAT FEEL PAIN????? I dont. I am a christian, but I cant trust a god that would do that and I dont believe that crap. God made animals and in the bible it says to take care for them, and we can eat them if we have to for survival, not to torture them to death and get fat off of their carasses!

Answer 25

my parents and my bf parents are just like that, but they intrude our privacy about it, my bf's dad is always yelling and actually SCREAMING that we're starving ourselves and that his son will be a womens size 3 in no time, which is complete bull shat! and MY mom is teaseing and taunting us, not yelling, but showing us meat and trying to coax my bf into eating it, and says that it's natural to eat meat and that just cuz we stop eating it, doesn't mean it's gonna stop them from killing animals and saying that they don't put hormones in the animals (total lie...btw) anyway, you should DEFINETLY defend yourself and stand your ground, but the only way you can and not be told your being defensive or "psycho" about it, is if you are quiet and just make your food or eat your food and don't say anything, just pretend like there's nothing wrong and if they start saying crap and disrespecting you, tell them that they need to respect your privacy and say that what you put in your body is your business and that it's not like your doing crack, and that they need to SUPPORT you and make you feel good about your decision, it's their responsibility as parents to help you not hinder you! get your point across, but just make sure you don't say anything that would make them say something, cuz they'll be jerk offs and "claim" your being psycho and stupid

Answer 26

Your parents are right.

Answer 27

Your parents sound like typical ignorant Americans who have closed minds and big bellies. No need to please them. Do your thing and gain all the benefits.

Answer 28

Well, explain to them why you are becoming a vegan. Just be sure to make the right decision, cause personally, I feel bad for the animals, but I love meat....



Also, God intended on us to eat it, because otherwise he wouldn't have chosen for us to figure out it's edible. And it is.

Answer 29

I have the same exact problem!

What I do is just keep bugging them about it

But I haven't got there yet

I just throw away the meat they give me as often as possible



Also try sites like

Peta2.com

And

Aspca.com

for tips and free vegetarian starter kits

Answer 30

You should tell them "I can choose what I want to eat, I don't have to have to have meat"



That's not fair, its your life and you can do what you want with it.

Answer 31

Usually, Parents should accept what you want to do in your life, unless it's mental.



Being a vegetarian wouldn't be the best choice, you need meat(protein) in your body, and meat aswell. Even if killing animals is gross, or you despise it, you should still eat meat, despite the fact that it's dead, and cooked.



Questions? Email or IM me at [e-mail]

Answer 32

well, being vegan is unnatural. its the circle of life! humans are built to eat meat and drink milk. its basic biology. just eating protein substitutes isnt enough. you are weird, as are all vegans.

Answer 33

you can tell them this if you dont like it, take this ,,|,,

Answer 34

Tell them to **** off and let you make your own health choices.

Answer 35

Grow up and eat meat like god intended

Answer 36

do what you want, but humans have canine teeth for a reason...