Help/tips on becoming vegetarian?!?

Posted by on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 · 3 Comments 

For quite some time now I’ve wanted to become vegetarian, and I’ve finally decided now is the time to make the switch. However, when I told my family, they just laughed and me and said that I could never keep it up and it is not at all compatible with our family lifestyle. I have lots of good reasons to do so (i.e. health benefits, humanitarian reasons, etc.), but they are not taking me seriously which makes me doubt myself.

I don’t think it will be that hard for me to give up meat, as I don’t eat pork or fish anyway, and only eat red meat occasionally. I’m not doing it particularly for weight loss, although that would be an added bonus (I’m 16 years old, 5’3″ and about 107lbs.)

Anyways just wondering what are some tips/tricks to being vegetarian? How can I get my family to support me, and therefore help me buy the right foods and stuff? My mom thinks that vegetarians aren’t healthier, and in fact end up consuming way too much fat and carbs. How can I eat so this is not the case?

Any other tips/suggestions welcome!!

Thanks!!

Related Items

Related posts:

Filed under Questions · Tagged with , , , , ,

Comments

3 Responses to “Help/tips on becoming vegetarian?!?”
  1. La Dueña says:
    August 3, 2011 at 9:54 am

    I was your age when I became a vegetarian and 21 years later I still am. I was an avid meat eater who loved steak so my parents were shocked when I became a vegetarian over night. They thought it was just a phase I was going through but I stood firm on my decision and eventually they accepted it although it was not easy at first. I became a vegetarian after a friend who was a vegan scolded me for eating a hamburger in front of her. She didn’t have the right to do that but I was 16 and it really affected me and decided to become one too. (The disadvantages of peer pressure). I ended up really liking it and did lots of research and found it fit my lifestyle. Make sure you find good alternatives for protein. That is probably the most important thing. Nuts, beans (any legumes), tofu and of course lots of fruits and veggies. Find veggies rich in iron because you’ll need that too. There are many more options for vegetarians now than when I was your age. If you have a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods you are lucky. They sell a lot of vegan and vegetarian things.

  2. Some girl... says:
    August 3, 2011 at 10:05 am

    I am 16 and have been a vegetarian for 2 years now. My parents didn’t approve at first and still don’t. But i have very strong views and was very stubborn. I’m so glad I became a vegetarian. I don’t eat fish or meat, and it’s great. The only downside was I lost A LOT of weight :{ I’m not dangerously thin, but I’m still skinny and could do with gaining a few. Partially to do with my fast metabolism, but do be careful if you do become a vegetarian and make sure you’re substituting meat with a healthy alternative.
    Quorn is a great one! http://www.quorn.co.uk/Home/

    Peta2 was very helpful to me, and opened my eyes to the meat industry and well if it wasn’t for them I’d still be eating meat.
    http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/top-six-tips-vegetarian.aspx

    As for you parents; if you stick to your views they will take you seriously. Prove how serious you are about it, research etc… explain that it won’t be that different.
    For instance, I eat pretty much the same meals as the rest of my family, just replace the meat with Quorn. At christmas I have a Quorn roast instead of chicken, but i still eat the rest such as the vegetables they make etc… and I have vegetable gravy instead.
    It’s really not that difficult. It is supposed to be healthier too. Apparently vegetarians live longer and have less chance of having heart problems and high blood pressure.

    Seriously check out this site, it will answer so many questions for you!
    http://www.peta2.com/index.aspx
    Peta is just amazing.

    I really, really hope this helped. Best of luck!! x

  3. Bewegt says:
    August 3, 2011 at 10:37 am

    1. You don’t want to lose weight. If anything, you’ll be healthier if you gain some weight.

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090625/study-overweight-people-live-longer (on Webmd… BMI:Overweight live longer. BMI Normal and Obese have the same, early death… BMIs are wrong and many Americans are too thin, and think they’re healthy as a result) At 5 ft 3 inches and 105 pounds you’re on the low end of “Normal” (dangerous) BMI, and close to underweight, which is a deadly weight category to be in. A healthy weight for you to be would be 140 lbs.

    2. If you’re a Vegetarian like me (Ovo-Lacto) make sure you eat an egg every day to keep up your protein. Nuts, soy, wheat gluten (Seitan, Mock Duck) and cheese are also great choices for protein.