I have a family question....

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-22-2004
I have a family question....
7
Mon, 09-12-2005 - 12:15pm
Hi again!
I was just wondering how many of you are the only vegetarian in your house? I've very recently decided to convert to being a vegetarian, but my family doesn't want too. I'm really hoping that wont cause any problems in the future. My older kids (ages 8 & 6) have no interest in giving up meat, but I'm hoping that I can raise my 11 month old as a vegetarian since she hasn't really eaten any meat yet. Any thoughts or advice on the subject? Thanks :)

 
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2005
Mon, 09-12-2005 - 9:33pm

My boyfriend is not vegetarian either.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Mon, 09-12-2005 - 9:40pm

the only way i can relate to your situation is that my mother doesn't understand why DH and i went vegan, and why we would raise our DD that way. but since we don't live with her, the basics of everday living isn't a problem.

holidays are going to be interesting though....i'm thinking of hosting thanksgiving at my house and making everything vegan, and tricking my family into eating a vegan meal...then i'll tell them afterward taht all of the food they liked so much was totally vegan ;)

i will probably make a small turkey for them, since tahts a thanksgiving mainstay....but if i can convince them that vegan cooking actually does taste good, then they'll let me prepare dishes for other holidays so that DH and i only have to watch out for the meat maindish.

HTH.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-22-2004
Mon, 09-12-2005 - 10:11pm

Thanks for the advice! I'm so glad I found this board :)

Emily,
In answer to your questions, I did briefly talk to my fiance about becoming a vegetarian and he was pretty supportive. He has always worried about my health because I have a huge family history of cancer (my mother, brother, & all of my grandparents have passed away from cancer. My father is currently living with prostate cancer, and my cousin was recently diagnosed with Leukemia), so he stands behind my decision. I doubt that I will convince him to completely give up meat, but he did seem a little bit interested in the health benefits. Neither one of us have been feeling very good lately, and both of us need to make some changes to our diet.

As far as Jesseca goes, I think he'll be okay with her being raised a vegetarian, as long as I can inform him of some health benefits. It's going to be a challenge because of our household situation. My future MIL is currently living with us because she is going through a separation, and she loves to cook (in fact she gets cranky if we don't let her). The problem is she has a few main dishes that she loves to cook, and of course they all have meat in them. Other than her main dishes, she will occasionally heat up quick, frozen food. Tonight for instance she made chicken nuggets (yuck). I politely said no, and ate some pasta. I know I'm going to have to sit down and explain to her that I've made an important decision, and that I need her support. I don't expect her to stop cooking meat, but I'm not going to eat it anymore, and I don't want her feeding it to the baby. Hopefully she'll take the news okay. She's kind of pushy and controlling so I'm sure she'll throw her opinions in where they aren't needed! LOL!

Anyways, I need to put my kids to bed, but I would love to chat sometime. Our daughters are really close in age! I'll email you soon (I need to fix my instant messenger). Talk to you soon!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Thu, 09-15-2005 - 4:19pm

Hi,


Just a comment about "tricking" them into eating vegan.

PEACE ALSO TAKES COURAGE

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2003
Tue, 09-20-2005 - 12:41pm

In theory, becoming vegetarian the day I was dropped off at college should've been perfect. I could manage the summers and weekends, and the university had a great policy with all the dining centers having at least one vegetarian dish at every meal- and with (I think) 5 centers with different menus...


A year and a half later my health failed. Seven years later I'm still at home (graduated from the university where DF is a professor by going half time). Mom was in a wheelchair before her stroke- and since it I've been the main cook.


I firmly believe that no one

Jaseann

co-cl-Celiac Disease

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-18-2003
Tue, 10-04-2005 - 8:36am

Hi Hi!

I saw this was written awhile back, but thought I'd go ahead and add my $. 02. I turned vegetarian at the beginning of the summer and have 3 kids ages 3, 6, & 11 who are all meat eaters. Actually that is almost a relative term now. Last night we were eating dinner and I was pointing out to them how all the food groups were represented, when my daughter chimed in, "but not meat, mom." Oops, I thought, I'm imparting my ways to them unintentionally.

I think w/ you as the predominate meal preparer, it will just happen. They can still elect and get meat at school lunches, etc, but its likely, at some point, you'll serve them vege meals and not think twice about it. My kids love the vege chicken nuggets and vege corn dogs. Again, its really been about my not having gone to the grocery store and just feeding them what happens to be in the freezer.

Eventually that can and will choose to eat what they want. Right now, I love being able to positively open a door to a way of eating they might not otherwise be exposed to.

Hope this helps :)

- jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2005
Tue, 10-18-2005 - 12:02am
Hey Jen, with all my internet problems I totally missed your post!

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