Hey Mom, I want to be a Vegetarian

So you want to be a vegetarian eh? Going to quit the whole meat thing cold turkey and save the chickens...defeat the meat economy... or just be a little healthier? Me too. And I can tell you something, it's not easy being a beginner vegetarian, especially not in a meat-eating family. So I'm going to use this blog to post everything you need to know to be the lone vegetarian in your family.

Naturally, when you drop the Veggie bomb on your parent/guardians, they probably won't just nod their head and go back to watching House. No way! They'll probably have a mountain of questions, and you ought to be prepared.

For one thing, the first thing they'll probably ask is: Why?
I can't tell you your reason for doing it, but I hope you have one. Personally, I'm going vegetarian for health reasons. Since I study medicine, I see that vegetarianism has alot more health benifits than the normal meat-eating American diet, so I'm going to be a lacto-ovo vegetarian. In otherwords, I'll eat eggs and dairy, but not any sort of meat, not even fish. Most of my recipes will be for lacto-ovo vegetarians, but along with my "for the family" substitutes, I'll put in some "for the vegan" substitutes too. (Beware vegans of vitamin deficiency!)

Second question : So what are we going to do about it?
It's a good idea to research on your style of vegetarian, so that you are ready with what you need. Don't expect them to know what they are doing. You should have a meal plan, and lots of info on nutrition and cooking.

Third question: Does this mean I have to learn to make tofu?
It'd be nice if you help out the head chef when it comes to making your portion of dinner. Afterall, if you're old enough to decide what you want to eat, you're old enough to cook it.Usually you can separate your part of the meal just before the meat is added and cook your substitute. No problemo!(okay maybe a little problemo if you and the stove aren't buddies.)

Your parents will probably have a book full of questions to ask you, and may even be a little worried about your choice. There are a few sites that will help both you and your parent(s) better understand your choice.

Eparenting: What do I do if my teen wants to be a vegetarian?
The VRG: Help! My teen wants to be a vegetarian!
Veggie Teens: Vegetarianteen.com
Vegsource: Vegetarian Food Pyramid
Chooseveg: Vegan Food Pyramid (Big Difference)
PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Kidsworld: How to become a healthy Vegetarian