Okay so I'm thirteen I'm a girl and I love animals and don't like the way they are treated in the slaughter houses I saw the movie Earthlings and I cried for days and I stopped eating meat for about a month anyways I'm thinking about becoming a Lacto Ovo Vegetarian what can I eat/not eat? And how do I convince my mom to let me become a vegetarian? Thanks
Responses (1)
Hi there,
I have been vegetarian for the last 20 years or so and am bringing up my child as vegetarian - she's 9 now and has never eaten any meat at all. To become vegetarian there is one simple rule of thumb and that is it not eat anything which has a face. As a vegetarian, as opposed to vegan (who eat no animal products at all) you can eat all dairy (milk, cheese, butter, cream etc), eggs and honey. It isn't difficult at all actually to do this and live without meat - we use a lot of meat substitutes and eat veggie mince instead of mince meat in pasta sauce and chilli sauce etc etc it's healthier for your body and cheaper too.
Persuading your mum that this is the right choice for you might not be as tough as you think it will be. Try explaining your reasons in clear terms without getting emotional or upset and stick to your guns. If she refuses to cook different things for you and the rest of the family then offer to cook for yourself or even for the family some nights - you never know, they may enjoy the veggie substitutes so much they become a regular in your kitchen alongside meat. Try suggesting having "meatless Mondays" - here in the UK more and more people are foregoing moving meat on Mondays and sticking to meat fee Mondays. Above all else be consistent and don't appear to be the emotional 13 year old girl that is typical to change back to eating meat at he drop of a hat- it may take time but your family will respect your personal decision eventually. One more thing- don't become holier than thou and lecture at the dinner table if you do become veggie- if you're living in a household that eats meat be respectful of everyone else's choices and let them ask you about why you don't eat meat. And don't discuss it at the dinner table. Ever. If anyone brings it up at the dinner table ask politely that they wait till after dinner to have that discussion.
I hope that helps. Don't be afraid to ask for support - reach out to the vegetarian society or PETA - they will always be there to offer support and information for you and all of your family.
Good luck.