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?

My daughter at 15 said for health reasons she wanted to do this. Have you actually made a cottage pie with quorn, you can’t tell the difference in taste but.....no gristle or weird chewy bits. Changed my life. I still eat meat but will always try and go for the vegetarian option first. Why would you not support your child?

Yabu. But they need to step up and learn to cook more of their meals and you and your DH need to eat more veggie food.

So you'd deliberately withhold food from your kids to teach them a lesson because they don't want to eat the same food as you?

Maybe reflect on what that says about you for a moment.

to prove a point. You cook what you always cook, and just give them the "vegetarian" side of your meals. They get bored VERY quickly

Why do you need to prove a point though?

Why not use it as an opportunity to try new foods and dishes? Eat a new veggie dish twice a week for example?

if you don’t like a dish fine, but why so resistant to even trying?

Surely its hardly a big deal. Veggie is easy. If theyd said vegan it would be harder

Also, those saying just cook 'family meals' and let them eat the side veg- eating too much meat, especially red meat, is shown in research to be carcinogenic, I still eat bacon and the odd sausage, but much much less than I used to, and it should not form the bulk of your main protein:

www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/01/bacon-cancer-processed-meats-nitrates-nitrites-sausages

If your kids are so "MORAL", teach them about sweat factories, slave labour, animal testing, life condition of kids dealing with our leftover electrical equipments...

and ask how consistent they will be with their choices. That helps too.

Asking them to buy their eggs locally instead from the supermarket doesn't last long either

Can’t believe anyone would even consider making children eat meat if they have chosen not to.
Good for your children that they are considering animals and the cruelty involved in bringing them to the plate

DD went veggie at 16. Still is at 20 but at uni. I made it work by us all eating vegetarian 3 or 4 times a week and sometimes bulk making and freezing portions of veggie bolognaise or chilli for use when we had a meat version. Hadn’t been an issue really and we’ve all enjoyed vegetarian meals.

Asking them to buy their eggs locally instead from the supermarket doesn't last long either

Being doing that since I left home at 17, its also much cheaper.

@NoPainNoTartine

If your kids are so "MORAL", teach them about sweat factories, slave labour, animal testing, life condition of kids dealing with our leftover electrical equipments...

and ask how consistent they will be with their choices. That helps too.

Asking them to buy their eggs locally instead from the supermarket doesn't last long either

I imagine vegetarians are only too aware about animal testing.

But you're right of course. Those are all important issues that everyone should be educated about.

Not sure what your point is.

@NoPainNoTartine

If your kids are so "MORAL", teach them about sweat factories, slave labour, animal testing, life condition of kids dealing with our leftover electrical equipments...

and ask how consistent they will be with their choices. That helps too.

Asking them to buy their eggs locally instead from the supermarket doesn't last long either

I'm interested to know why you feel the need to undermine your kids.

Tbh op the world is moving towards eating more plant based anyway. Surely you don't eat meat every day? If so, may be something to look into! And on the meat days swap the meat out for something they would prefer. Put it on them to think about it.

@bluebluezoo

to prove a point. You cook what you always cook, and just give them the "vegetarian" side of your meals. They get bored VERY quickly

Why do you need to prove a point though?

Why not use it as an opportunity to try new foods and dishes? Eat a new veggie dish twice a week for example?

if you don’t like a dish fine, but why so resistant to even trying?

again, why do you confuse Omnivores and carnivores?

Why do you think meat eater don't eat vegetarian dishes?
I can't speak for others, I just happen to eat a varied diet, and I like the taste of meat. I am not removing meat and fish from my meals.

This is weird thing to “not want” your kids to do. Very controlling.

Why can’t you use the kitchen at 6pm and they use it at 7pm if it is such as issue?

www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/documentaries/2020-01-16/the-game-changers-netflix/

Watch “Game Changers”. Convinced several people I know to turn veggie, including one bloke who used to claim nothing would stop him eating meat.

I am not removing meat and fish from my meals.

So don't.

@NoPainNoTartine

If your kids are so "MORAL", teach them about sweat factories, slave labour, animal testing, life condition of kids dealing with our leftover electrical equipments...

and ask how consistent they will be with their choices. That helps too.

Asking them to buy their eggs locally instead from the supermarket doesn't last long either

They are many different ways to be moral. Everyone tries to do what they can. It's not 'oh we can't do it all so let's do nothing and be bustards in every way possible'

YABU to say a straight out no at their ages. But you can lay out your own ground rules, like you will make meals that they can have by removing the meat. But they are your children so you could also make some extra efforts like batch prepare a load of tomato pasta sauce, etc and ask them to tell you if they don't want the meal you are serving and they can have pasta and sauce. Things like pie and mash or sausage and mash can still be cooked too by just buying them a veggie version.

I am not removing meat and fish from my meals.

Has anyone asked you to? Why are your choices more valid than those of people who don’t want to eat those things?

Why do you think meat eater don't eat vegetarian dishes? confused
I can't speak for others, I just happen to eat a varied diet, and I like the taste of meat. I am not removing meat and fish from my meals

Why else would you suggest just serving veggie side dishes? That infers you always eat meat with a meal.

If you eat veggie occasionally, what’s your problem with others wanting to eat veggie? You can do that 3-4 times a week, and have meat/meat substitute meals the rest...

No one is suggesting anyone removes meat or fish from their diet if they don’t want to. Just pointing out it’s actually pretty easy to cook meals for veggies and non veggies at the same time...

Many vegetarian posters on MN feel morally superior, it will never change. I am not sure why they think a condescending attitude is ever likely to convince someone to remove all meat and fish from their diet!

There's usually one popping up talking about eating cadavers and dead animals. I know the lamb I am eating is dead, thanks . It's rather more humane to kill it BEFORE you cook it too!

I'm really sorry but it isn't in any way your choice.

Is that something that you can say no to? I thought we had human rights . They are well old enough to decide for themselves

May meals that you probably eat are vegetarian anyway. Omelette, macaroni cheese, many Indian or Chinese dishes, Mexican bean based meals. Widen your diet, it will be good for all. Personally, we never miss meat in a curry or stir fry.

Also I'm a veggie ( since I was a child) and DH isn't and it has never caused us any problems with meals