I don't want my kids to be vegetarian

[HowToTrainYourTeen]

DC (15 & 13) have decided they want to go vegetarian. I don't want to go vegetarian and neither does DH, so they'd have to have different meals. I/DH don't want to be wasting time making 2 different meals whenever we want meat or fish, and we don't really have space for 2 people to be cooking at once. WIBU to say no?

I was 15 when I knew there was no way I could continue to eat meat, and this was in the 1960s when you were considered to be some kind of alien if you were vegetarian. My Mum, bless her, recognised that this was an important decision of conscience and gave me vegetarian meals from that time on, at a time when there were no shop sold alternatives like quorn. I later became vegan and have now not eaten animals for 51 years. At 15 I knew this was something that was central to my personal beliefs and always would be, and if my Mum had not respected my decision and had tried to make me keep eating meat, I would have refused and I know I would never have forgiven her for ignoring how very important this was to me.

@AnnnaBananna

Do you make your children eat food they don’t like? I don’t tolerate pickiness. If DC don’t like what I’ve cooked then there’s toast as an alternative. I’ll cater for genuine needs or allergies but not for pure pickiness.

You consider an ethical, moral, responsible and healthy choice to be picky? You think it’s better to force people into unethical and irresponsible practices?

You could all learn to cook vegetarian meals, and you and DH can cook some meat or fish to go with it if you want. I do this when my ds has meals with us and I want fish.

You consider an ethical, moral, responsible and healthy choice to be picky?
As you said, it’s a CHOICE. Not a NEED. So yes I do consider it to be picky.

YABU to force them to eat meat and fish if they have told you they dont want too. It isnt difficult to cut it out of the diet and adapt a family meal.However dont be surprised if they quickly change there minds. My DD decided vegetarian was the way forward but she didnt manage 24hrs as others in the house were tucking into a meat based meal.

@AnnnaBananna

vegetarians cannot eat meat-based food They CAN though. They just don’t want to. Vegetarianism is not like an allergy - it’s a choice. I’d cater for an allergy but I wouldn’t put myself out for a choice.

Then you clearly have no respect for your children.

Make it a fun process!😎 We can all do with cutting down on meat and poultry etc. I think there are different types of vegetarians so maybe check what kind of vegetarian they are first?

I think the teens should be actively involved in the meal plans for the week and then they can also cook once or twice a week as well seeing as they are old enough.

How about trying out different seasonings and making your own spice blends as well? You can research Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Asian and African recipes etc. to mix things up. That way, food can still be flavourful for vegetarians and meat eaters as well.

You can shop around to cut down on costs so you don’t have to buy anything extra. There are also things that you can bulk buy that can last longer such as pasta, lentils, canned beans, tinned tomatoes etc. If you have store cupboard staples, you can make vegetarian lasagne, a vegetable curry, stir fry etc. The possibilities are endless

We can all do with cutting down on meat and poultry etc.

Spot on.

Wonder if the OP will be back?

It's a stage, many teens decide to go "vegetarian", usually last a week

I'd just serve them the vegetable part of your meals. They'll get bored of it VERY quickly. Do not stop yourself from preparing their favourite meal-based dishes

Let's face it, if they are happy to have a Sunday roast with only carrots and parsnips (hold the potatoes for now), good for them

It REALLY does not last, it's a normal fad.

Yes you can't force people to eat meat.

house not restaurant.

kids are old enough to get involved with meal planning, list making and meal preparation. Meals need to be balanced of course, but they have the internet to research that. This idea adds mental load, so the kids need to shoulder the extra.

if the OP is still here, that's the deal.

@AnnnaBananna

Do you make your children eat food they don’t like? I don’t tolerate pickiness. If DC don’t like what I’ve cooked then there’s toast as an alternative. I’ll cater for genuine needs or allergies but not for pure pickiness.

But it's a moral choice, it has nothing to do with being picky? Maybe you should watch some documentaries as to why people choose to be vegan & vegetarian as well as how bad it is for our planet and educate yourself on the topic. Your responses are very ignorant in my opinion.

@AnnnaBananna

You consider an ethical, moral, responsible and healthy choice to be picky? As you said, it’s a CHOICE. Not a NEED. So yes I do consider it to be picky.

So you’d expect someone whose religious beliefs meant being vegetarian to eat meat?

Oops voted YANBU by accident.

They should be allowed to choose and a plant based diet is far healthier. I recommend watching What the Health and Forks Over Knives.

@AnnnaBananna

vegetarians cannot eat meat-based food They CAN though. They just don’t want to. Vegetarianism is not like an allergy - it’s a choice. I’d cater for an allergy but I wouldn’t put myself out for a choice.

Oh do fuck off dear..

Omnivores can eat just vegetarian things... they just don't want to. The OP could make vegetarian meals.. they just don't want to.

See how foolish an argument like that is?

I do hope you attend a dinner party one day where the host serves you something they KNOW you don't like, on the grounds that you can eat it but don't want to.

It REALLY does not last, it's a normal fad.

You are, of course right. I fully expect my son who hasn’t eaten meat or fish for 30 years to order a kebab any day now.

Do you make your children eat food they don’t like?

When your children are at the stage where they REFUSE any kind of vegetable, of course you do!

Of course you make your children eat food they don't like, they might be happy living off chicken nuggets, crisps and chocolate, but so what.

You don't get to feel morally superior because you decide on what we impose and what we don't when you very likely would do the same.

Omnivores can eat just vegetarian things... they just don't want to. The OP could make vegetarian meals.. they just don't want to.

How stupid. Omnivores DO eat vegetarian meals, half of my dishes are "vegetarian". You seem to be confusing us with carnivores?

It REALLY does not last, it's a normal fad

Have you read the thread? Plenty of posters saying they turned veggie as teens and still are 20, 30, even 50 years later.

If vegetarianism is a fad, there’s a hell of a lot of people all going through the same fad for a long time!

At that age they'll just refuse to eat it if you try and give them meat or fish and can easily cook for themselves. Don't make such a drama out of their choice. What does it matter that you and your husband want to eat meat and fish? No one is stopping you. It won't cost you any more money to buy less meat and fish and more vegetables, the opposite in fact. I stopped eating meat and fish at 10 or 11, I wouldn't have eaten it if my parents had tried to insist I did, why would I?

It REALLY does not last, it's a normal fad.

I have never eaten a murdered animal, when do you think this particular fad of mine will be over?

@AnnnaBananna

vegetarians cannot eat meat-based food They CAN though. They just don’t want to. Vegetarianism is not like an allergy - it’s a choice. I’d cater for an allergy but I wouldn’t put myself out for a choice.

Been vegan for six years and it no longer feels like a choice. I’d probably end up being sick if I was forced to eat meat. I’m an ethical vegan so saying it’s a choice is like me saying it’s your choice to decide to not eat your dog. Technically it’s a choice, but really.....

OP, you really need to work with the children and not against them. There are some really good suggestions on this thread. Good news is at 13 and 15 they can take some responsibility for feeding themselves. You should support them by making sure the cupboards are stocked with healthy plant based proteins like beans, legumes, nuts and plant based meats. Most meals are so easily make vegetarian. For example you can make a chilli with lots of beans, and cook your own mince separately to add at the end if you wanted.

Oh, come on. It really isn't hard. DD1 went vegetarian at age 14 - we just adapted family meals, no need to cook 2 separate ones. Curry or casserole? Make a big vegetarian one, cook meat on the side for the meat eaters to add. Same with chillis, curries etc. Pizza? You choose your toppings. Roast? Well, we only ever did that at Christmas, and I was quite happy to make a veggie Wellington for DD. It isn't rocket science and it isn't hard work - and I worked f/t too.

These days DD2 is severely gluten intolerant, so I have to cook veggie and GF meals, and then my foster DS has multiple other allergies. I still manage it. A bit of creativity and compassion needed, OP.

Your wishes for your diet aren't more valid than theirs.