I live with my omni-family, and I find it really difficult to find the foods I want in the kitchen. Most of it is meat/cheese/dairy/eggs or white breads. Right now, I am vegetarian and have resorted to drinking milk, but only infrequently. Ideally, I'd like to go vegan, but I've come to think that maybe it's impossible in my situation. Perhaps I should wait till I move out. Should I just resort to buying my own food? Is there anyone on this board who has a similar situation? It would be nice to hear from you as to how you dealt with this. I think basically, I need to be more creative in what I eat for lunch--I mean, at the moment, it seems all I'm eating is spinach leaves every day...Thanks for any help.

I don't mean to sound rude with this, but if you're in college, then yes, you are old enough to be buying your own food or at least taking some control and responsibility for the food purchasing and preparation in your home. I became veg at 15, and started taking on some of that responsibility then.

Insofar as lunches go, do a search for lunch and you'll get tons of ideas for what to pack.

I was in a similar predicament, but I tended to fall to cheese and "minute" dairy ingredients. I also became a vegan while at college and for a long time, thought it would just be too unrealistic and difficult.
I've successfully made the transition and I'm so glad that I did! Sure, there aren't a million of things for me to eat, but I'm very satisfied.

Faye, i agree with r_c, you are DEFINITELY old enough to take control of your own eating habits. The 14 year olds have a harder time because they can't get many jobs legally, but you are probably 18 or so and can definitely handle it. Get some vegetarian cookbooks, a part time job, and go nuts! :-) you'll find so many wonderful new foods you can enjoy. Doing your own grocery shopping is very empowering, and will help you a lot.

Yes, you're right. I just need to stop being so lazy and do something proactive. Thanks! :)

No problem sweetie. Sometimes that's all it takes :-)

Yeah, definetly buy your own stuff, or request stuff from your parents. Though yes, you are old enough to provide for yourself.

I've had similar situations. I went vegetarian for sometime in high school. I ended up going back because of that same reason. It was unhealthy because I didn't get enough protein and iron because I didn't buy my own stuff and I didn't know all I know now. I want to go vegetarian for health primarily and to me just not eating meat is not healthy. I need to have beans and nuts/nutbutters to be healthy as I have low iron even when eating meat, which I've never been a good meat eater. I just plain dont care for it.

Check out veganlunchbox.blogspot.com and veganlunchcast.blogspot.com if you're stuck for lunch ideas. These guys make the best lunches ever.

As for not having much to choose from at home, I'm sure your parents would love it if you offered to take on more of the food-related chores.

If you offer to do the grocery shopping, cook evening meals and clear up, I doubt your parents would refuse. That way you can introduce more veg*n food into the household. What parent is going to turn down the idea of coming home from work to find a meal on the table?

If they're still not convinced, learning how to look after yourself is a necessary skill that you need to learn for when you're on you're own in the big wide world. It can be a bit of a shock when you leave home and suddenly have no idea what to cook and what food to buy. They will probably be supportive and take you more seriously.

Good luck :)

vegweb.com is full of great FREE recipes too.

i agree with the others, i would buy some items (maybe the frozen veggie dogs, etc..) yourself. but i also don't know one parent who can fault a kid for wanting them to buy more fruits and veggies. if they don't want to purchase the items, i think you have to be proactive and buy the stuff yourself.

as a side note, i started making yummy veggie dishes for myself and my bf always wanted some (no problem). pretty soon, i was making yummy meals and he would just have what i was having. and i have even seen him sneak my veggie meatballs, etc...

so maybe if you prepare yourself something, your family might think it looks yummy and ask to try it. or, you could ask your parents if it was ok if you started cooking the vegetable side dish, salad, etc...

by having it there, enticing them, and not forcing it on them, they may be more than happy to accomadate your requests if it will also prove beneficial for them.

One of Sarah Kramer's books (I think her newest one...not sure of the title, but she also wrote La Dolce Vegan, so you could check the publication dates on Amazon.com) has a section on microwave cooking for college students. That should help.