[Becca_2012]

I just gave up meat a few days ago... But EVERYTHING my parents cook has meat in it. Should I just pick the meat out, and not eat it? Or should I make a whole other meal? And how long does it take before I don't want meat at all?

 

[River]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becca_2012

I just gave up meat a few days ago... But EVERYTHING my parents cook has meat in it. Should I just pick the meat out, and not eat it? Or should I make a whole other meal? And how long does it take before I don't want meat at all?

It's very much up to you. What are your parents attitudes about your change? Perhaps your family can purchase some faux meat subs so it doesn't seem like you're eating something entirely different from them. Picking up a veggie cook book and going through it with who ever does the cooking in your house may be a fun way for having different meals with everyone (they could certainly add meat if they like, but it would also give you the option). You could also ask that they just not toss the meat into yours.

I've been vegetarian (I was vegan for the first five or so years) for seven years now, and I still want meat. I didn't change because I didn't like it. It's different for everyone when you stop getting cravings. Be strong! And google around for some info and recipes your family and you may like, and google around to make sure you're getting all the vitamins and minerals you need. If your parents are hostile, also get some credible resources to show them that it IS safe and healthy.

 

[Limes]

Most meals can definitely be made pretty much the same, just leaving out the meat. Hopefully your parents are fine with making the meat separate and just not adding it to your plate. Also, my advice is to read the labels of EVERYTHING even the things that seem like they couldn't have any meat in them. So far I have been fooled by caesar salad dressing (has anchovies) and a tomato basil soup which was actually made with chicken stock. You could also try taking on a lot of the meal preparation yourself, as a mother myself I can't see them complaining about it if you're not making it a hassle for them.

Good luck!

 

[Drotar]

The biggest is thing is try and expose your family or at least the cook in the house that MEAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE CENTRE OF EVERY MEAL. Not every meal has to have meat surrounded by afterthoughts. Get them to understand this by offering delicious suggestions of meatless main courses that everyone will enjoy. As someone who just became a vegetarian 3 months ago I can tell you that very recently I found it absolutely remarkable when I came to this realization.

 

[Hekaterine]

I have nothing to add to the already good advice on the thread, but just wanted to say welcome and good luck x

 

[smiling]

When I was a teenager, I learned to cook a few basic and healthy things. I would make a nice sized batch and keep it in the fridge to heat up or spoon on my plate. I even froze some things in single portions. My parents didn't mind. I ate things like lentil soup, garden burgers, pasta salads with veggies, etc.. I learned that I could eat the way I wanted if I didn't rely on my parents to cook for me. I babysat and bought the food with my own money too. That way, I didn't have to answer to anyone about it. My parents thought I was weird at 16 going to Whole Foods (back before they were mainstream) and buying sprouted wheat bread, veggie burgers, organic fruits, raw nuts, etc... But, I didn't have to pick anything out of my food or eat unhealthy food as a result. That was my approach. I don't know if you are able to do something similar, but if you can't, maybe you can talk to your parents about including a veg*n grain or bean dish and a veggie every night so that you can have a healthy diet too.

 

[omnisheep]

A great thing that becoming a vegetarian has taught me is to try cooking my own food. I tried to learn on my own although with a lot of failure and unsatisfying meals but it gets better as you practice.

And also, although cooking your own food is obviously healthier and better, I always find that buying canned/microwavable stuff is helpful for days when you don't feel like cooking or what you cooked has failed.

 

[Niur-Tarow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becca_2012

I just gave up meat a few days ago... But EVERYTHING my parents cook has meat in it. Should I just pick the meat out, and not eat it? Or should I make a whole other meal? And how long does it take before I don't want meat at all?

Aw honey.. Stay strong. No matter what, don't let other people pressure you into doing something you think is wrong.

I work at a little cafe, where we make our own cold salads. Even though I'm vegetarian, I still have to make them (ie: tuna salad, crab salad, etc.). The crab salad was my favorite before I went veggie, and sometimes the smell of the herbs still get to me. But I don't let myself slip, because I know that there is still crab meat in it. Sometimes it is going to be hard, especially with dishes you enjoyed before. Just stay strong, and keep checking back here. We'll all be glad to give you support.

 

[Josh James xVx]

To be perfectly blunt, it's gonna be a lot harder for you if you're still under aged and living under your parents' wings, and that could be further complicated if they're hostile to the idea of vegetarianism. I don't have any first hand experience with this as I was practically an adult and buying my own groceries at the time I switched over. I'm sure lots of other people's stories more closely match your own though.

 

[CuCulain42]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drotar

The biggest is thing is try and expose your family or at least the cook in the house that MEAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE CENTRE OF EVERY MEAL. Not every meal has to have meat surrounded by afterthoughts. Get them to understand this by offering delicious suggestions of meatless main courses that everyone will enjoy. As someone who just became a vegetarian 3 months ago I can tell you that very recently I found it absolutely remarkable when I came to this realization.

To go along with this you may want to offer to cook a meal every once and a while for your family, show them how tasty veg*n food can be.

As far as the meat cravings go, it varies. I never really had them, but even before I went veg my diet was 75% veg*n. (Now chocolate, I'm chuffed that's a plant product ought I'd be in trouble)

 

[earthwhispers]

Hang in there... you can get through the bumps!

I became a vegetarian at 15 and I am from a very meat-centric family. Everyone has pretty much given the advice that I would give. I had always loved to cook, but I learned a bunch of new recipes and offered to help plan, shop for and prepare meals for the rest of my family. I also learned to work around the meat in meals others prepared. I didn't pick it out, but I ate sides that didn't contain it. I have gotten through over 15 years of holiday gatherings this way.

Over time, my immediate family has reduced their own meat intake and always have something for me. My extended family remain oblivious. My sister is on a multi-year plan to remove meat from her diet... one species at a time/ one year at a time. Hey, it's a start.

I'll be honest, I still crave meat now and then... even stumbled and gave in during my pregnancy. I believe I struggle because I originally went veggie for health reasons. I believe every lifestyle is a work in progress and every bit of effort helps.

 

[JanineChristine]

I would definitely say to try to learn to cook your own meals. It is a skill that will help you for the rest of your life! Before I went vegetarian, I never cooked but now I've discovered so many wonderful new meals and interesting foods that I never would have eaten otherwise probably. When you feel discouraged it always helps to remember some reasons why you decided to go vegetarian in the first place.

 

[Jenn69]

I like the idea of cooking larger batches of food and freezing it. As far as resisting the urge to eat meat (cravings) I like to take the food I used to love and making substitutions to make it vegetarian. I also like to buy or borrow vegetarian cookbooks.

 

[DavisMiller]

Hello my friends .This is your new vegetarian friend but you know in the start its not easy to be habitual of this.So please suggest me few useful tips.

 

[AeryFairy]

I am in no way advocating this, but it worked for me. Not proud of it, but it got my parents to listen.

I pretty much stopped eating. Anything they tried to feed me with meat in it, I refused. I told them I was going to be a vegetarian, and they laughed and called me silly and said it was a phase and all the rest of it. So for quite a while, I was eating a meal a day - breakfast. There wasn't much meat they could sneak into my cereal. I'd buy food at school if I could afford it, or else just eat my crisps and drink my juice and bring home the ham sandwiches they insisted on giving to me. If they made something for dinner with meat, I'd ask them to leave the meat out for me. If they didn't, I wouldn't touch it.

After a while, they got sick of wasting food and having arguments, and they caved. I wish I could have had a rational, civil discussion with them, but my mum is not a rational or civil person. If your parents are willing to listen and take you seriously, though, then just talk to them. Do your research, present them with scientific evidence that it's a healthy diet, and suggest some kickass meals that you'll all enjoy together.

 

[earthwhispers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeryFairy

I am in no way advocating this, but it worked for me. Not proud of it, but it got my parents to listen.

I pretty much stopped eating. Anything they tried to feed me with meat in it, I refused. I told them I was going to be a vegetarian, and they laughed and called me silly and said it was a phase and all the rest of it. So for quite a while, I was eating a meal a day - breakfast. There wasn't much meat they could sneak into my cereal. I'd buy food at school if I could afford it, or else just eat my crisps and drink my juice and bring home the ham sandwiches they insisted on giving to me. If they made something for dinner with meat, I'd ask them to leave the meat out for me. If they didn't, I wouldn't touch it.

After a while, they got sick of wasting food and having arguments, and they caved. I wish I could have had a rational, civil discussion with them, but my mum is not a rational or civil person. If your parents are willing to listen and take you seriously, though, then just talk to them. Do your research, present them with scientific evidence that it's a healthy diet, and suggest some kickass meals that you'll all enjoy together.

Sometimes you have to go to extremes to prove your point. I applaud you for your resolve... I don't think I could have been that tough if faced with the same resistance from my parents.