How vegetarian are you?

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by PhoenixOwl

My parent's have... 'issues' with me being vegetarian. I gotta wait till I move out. ;D

Ah, I don't want to induce family strife here, but your parents don't actually strap you down and force-feed you, do they? I have found (through experience at the PETA2 forums) that a hunger strike, refusing to eat your meat, will usually win out after 2 to 6 six stubborn weeks. After that point, the mother-figure generally has a breakdown wondering how you're going to get your protein, and she'll take you to the store to get some lentils, tofu, and (if you're determined) soymilk.
NOTE You may have to put up with a grounding if your parents are particularly strict about the meat issue. Stick to your guns.

One of the main issues is food prep. If you're going to be "different," then you need to take responsibility for prepping your own meals. This includes preparing something to take when you go to grandma's for holiday meals. Don't ever expect other people to be responsible for your food choices.
Don't just eat what's plopped down in front of you; be pro-active!

And edjumacate yourself on a variety of veggie issues: protein, b12, iron, calcium/D/milk/soymilk, essential fatty acids, enviromental impact of eating meat (it's sometimes easier to stomach an environmentalist in your mist than a veggie), social and political impact of eating meat, and religious issues (if they apply to you and your family).

A LOT of omnivores feel somewhat threatened by a veggie in their midst:
"Am I being judged for eating meat?"
"Am I morally corrupt because I like food that depends on an animal suffering?"
"A 'balanced' diet has to include meat! We learned that in school!"

You can help dispel this tension by NOT preaching about the wonders of veggism to your parents. Leave pro-veg literature where they can find it and read it in private. Bookmark pro-veg sites on the family computer.
The PCRM (a PETA offshoot) offers a lot of literature for d/l for free from their site:
PCRM
PCRM 'fact sheets' in PDF format

Offer to cook supper for the whole family a couple of nights a week, on the condition that YOU pick out what you're cooking (and of course you're going to pick a lovely veggie meal that will impress everyone with its tasty-scrumptiousness and whole-goodliness).

Keep in mind that after years of meat-eating, there may be an issue of pride at stake; people who have rallied against an issue for a long time stand to lose face if they have to be humble and admit that veggism might actually be good for you and tasty.

We have a rule at my house: the first person (non-cook) to bitch about the meal gets to cook the next meal.
I heartily recommend that all families adopt this rule, as it tends to lessen meal-related bitching.

Going veg*n forced me to become my own nutritionist and actually sit down and learn something. It also cornered me in the ethics department, so I sat down and taught myself how argue logically (rather than emotionally). I'm a far more effective debator since I went veg*n -- and not just in areas that concern veg*nism and animal rights. I've gotten to the point where I can spot poor logic and rip up poorly executed arguements. I've taken some formal college philosophy classes (mostly ethics), I can stand my own ground against some of the grad students because I've made it my business to know the ins and outs of veg*nism down every last poor arguement and moot point.

Of course, I've got 10 years on you, so it's easy for me to be glib, eh? Like I said at the beginning, I don't want to encourge you to start a war at your house.

Most parents want to do what they believe is "right" and "good" by their kids. You can guilt-trip them by pointing out that they raised you to make rational and informed choices, and you want to start exercising your right to make choices for yourself. If you do it right (calmly, practiced, logical, adult), they might be impressed.

[Quetzal]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

I'm lacto-vegetarian - closest thing to being vegan.

Same as me!

[mviara]

I just read this post on Wikipedia on Vegetarianism. It says that 70% of the world's vegetarians are from India, and that it has been common in India since possibly 2000 BC. I wonder why that fact is rarely discussed as a counterpoint to those who want to claim that a vegetarian diet is deficient. I mean, if people have lived for several generations on such a diet, I would consider that enough evidence that it is viable. Far better than any published scientific studies done on a small sample population for perhaps 50 years. I do realize that it may not be practical for most people on this thread to eat a total Indian cuisine, but I believe it still serves as a "proof of concept".