I have been a vegetarian for six years going on seven years now, and I go into a local bakery with my mother a couple days ago, and we were getting some lunch. And she asks me if I want to split a white albacore tuna sandwich with her. I was like, "Mom, I am a vegetarian. Why would I have a tuna sandwich with you? Honestly Mom, you should know better." Or when my father makes his infamous broiled lamp chops, he has the insane notion to fill my plate with the ghastly meat, totally ignoring my vegetarianism. Parents are unbearable sometimes, aren't they?
Have you had the same problems with your parents? Have you tried to drill the fact that you are a vegetarian into your parent's brains, and still they don't get it? Some kids are lucky, their parents are vegetarians, and they cook vegetarian meals for them three times a day. But most of us aren't that lucky. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and they are supportive in many of my avid pursuits, but when it comes to my vegetarianism they are clueless. When I was 10, I decided to become a vegetarian, and my parents thought I was just going through a phase and I would grow out of it and one day ask to be taken to Burger King for a Whopper.
Oh, but when I didn't grow out of it, they tried everything to convince me to come back to the "dark side." They used to put chicken broth in my soups and tried to buy food with animal products in it for me. I was sick of it, so finally, I started to cook my own food. I make the best Barilla pasta and Barilla pasta sauce ever! Over time they have gotten used to the fact that I am a vegetarian. They may not support it, but they know not to put chicken broth in my soup anymore.
We have the perfect compromise: I go shopping with them on Sunday and pick out my vegetarian friendly foods, and the stipulation is that I have to cook my food for myself. At this point I am totally fine with this agreement. If your parents are supportive of your vegetarianism, good for you, but if they are not, try working out a compromise with them. Tell them that you have made this choice for yourself and that you wish for them to respect your decision. Hopefully they will, and maybe they won't. But no matter what, get ready for cooking your own dinner - don't worry it isn't that bad. However, parents will be parents, and even after seven years they will still offer to split a white albacore tuna sandwich with you.
--Ava is a sophomore in high school and has been vegetarian for six years, vegan for six months.
