A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I've been a vegetarian for 5 years (I didn't eat meat or fish) because I think it's cruel to animals. A few weeks ago, I decided to become a vegan. I asked my mom and she said she would think about it because she doesn't think it's healthy. After a week, I asked her again, and showed her a ton of websites that explain what you can eat to get everything you need. She said I can and got *some* of the food I needed. Last Tuesday I started being a vegan, and now my mom thinks it's not healthy and doesn't want me to be a vegan. She said she doesn't think I'm eating everything I need, and I know I'm not, but that's because she won't buy the food I asked her to. She says that the things I asked her to buy are expensive, but she uses the money on junk food, and no one in my family really needs that - both my parents are on diets right now and my brother spends a lot of time playing video games, so he doesn't exactly exercise much. I told her it's just a waste of money and instead she could be buying healthier stuff, but she won't listen. We argue about it everyday and don't really talk to each other that much anymore. I don't really know what my dad thinks about it, he never really mentions it. They both say it's weird, though. I'm not going to stop being a vegan now that I've started, and they can't force me to eat what I don't want to. How can I convince her to let me be a vegan and to buy the food I ask her to?
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reader, anonymous, writes (8 August 2008): i have this problem right now. my mom says i cant be a vegan bacause it costs too much money and and i can be one when i move out. i called my mom a animal killing blood sucker and havent eaten anything for three days **food strike** i am also trying to get a babysitting job so i can pay for all of the food i eat. i need som advice too :P
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (11 June 2008): Thanks for the answers. They let me be a vegan. I just talked to them about it again. My mom hasn't been buying as much junk food and she doesn't mind it that much. The only things they said I have to do is take a daily vitamin and make sure I eat the right amount of protein, calcium, etc that I need.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (19 May 2008): You've done all you can but the truth of the matter is they don't understand, and think that you are demanding too much sacrifice of the family. They pay the bills unfortunately, so their opinions are more important than yours.
All you can do is try to stick to a healthy vegan diet. Make sure you get all your nutrients, proteins and vitimins. Like as been said before, arm yourself with information on how to live a healthy vegan diet. Your diet shouldn't be expensive, I know you think meat eating is cruel, but if you have an expensive diet, think of all the people starving who don't have the luxury of deciding what they eat, be it plant, animal or human waste. In this situation you got to learn to compromise. Stick to your values, but understand how your family feels, the circumstances of your life and the situation you find yourself born into.
Do the best you can, and I promise you it will be good enough. You present at 13/15 from the USA. You have done this for 5 years, you are determined to live by your values, compromise with your parents and in another 5 years time you will be free to live the life you want to lead.
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A
female
reader, °Ale°  +, writes (18 May 2008):
 As much as I agree with the anonymous male reader, I got to say, they really can't force you to eat something that you don't want.
You can still be a vegan and not spend tons of money on things that you can prepare at home. I suggest you do your research and find recipes or things YOU can make at home with the things you already have there.
You can also find out if your school offers a special diet, if not, pack your own lunch.
Consider talking to your mom about this again but don't be so pushy and don't bring up the fact that they're wasting their money on junk food- suggest better choices that everyone will enjoy.
Good luck
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (18 May 2008): Sorry to break it to you, but your parents call the shots - you are a child. Your nutrition is their responsibility. As for them not buying the expensive food you want, well at the end of the day it's their money, not yours, and you certainly wont help your case of them letting you become a vegan by arguing with them about it. This is an adult decision - they are already allowing you to be a vegetarian. Be grateful for that and reconsider the whole vegan lifestyle when you are a grown-up.
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