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I don't understand why you would have to have your personal choice of how to eat pass and have your friends approval.

That they don't agree really doesn't matter. I 'agree to disagree' with people all the time.

If it comes up - just tell them that it is a personal choice that you have made. If it is "the right thing for you to do" - there really isn't going to be anything that they can say that is going to have an effect upon your choice.

You shudnt have to explain yourself. But there are alot of health benefits if a healthy diet is taken into consideration. You wont lack ANY essential vitamins if you eat fruit and veg and other foods. Tofu is great for protein which is good for energy. Just tell them you want to be a vegetarian and that shud be a good enough answer! Its not up to them what you put into your body. But if they really need an answer....Meat consumption is linked to obesity, cancer, high cholesterol etc etc

As a vegetarian i am happy, healthy, NEVER get ill. The most ive had in the last 4 years is a cold and even then that didnt stop me from going to work etc because it barely effected me! Vegetrianism isnt for everyone and i accept that but if you feel strongly about it then just do it! Its all your choice :)

Well, almost none of my friends are vegetarian,

so it gets really tiresome to explain it to them why I am the way I am.

Honestly, if you want to be a vegetarian, you do it. If your friends disagree, just tell them that you don't tease them because they eat meat, so they shouldn't tease you for choosing not too.

Your friends should be supporting you in this decision

oh, do i know that feeling (my friends told me that i was insane, and started yelling at me. The funny thing is, now they want to go vegetarian - but don't know how to tell their parents)

The next time that your friends tease you or whatever, just ask them why on earth do they care so much about YOUR eating habits?

Explain that you actually care about animals, and don't want to contribute to their suffering.

If they still think that you're an idiot, then just say that this is what you want to do, and it doesn't affect them in the slightest, so why they care so much is weird.

The way I got one of my friends to shut up was after she was teasing me for being vegetarian, I showed her this picture of a panda. She said "oh, i love pandas, and animals"

Then I said "I love animals too, that's why I don't eat them"

That shut her up

; )

Well...

Just tell them to respect your beliefs.... just like a vegetarian or vegan should respect the beliefs of someone who ate meat....

It's a two way street....

I actually don't have a problem with vegetarians or vegans.... it's the fanatical "I hate meat eaters" that get to me.... and the nutjobs who join PETA and try to throw paint on you if you wear a fur coat.... (though I've heard they've stopped doing that).

Just respect other people's beliefs and try to remember.... that YOU TOO once ate meat.... and that our species EVOLVED when primates started to eat meat and their brains got bigger..... and that human beings wouldn't even be here if it weren't for that....

Just tell them to live and let live...

Why do your friends care. Non of my friends cared when I told my whole health class I was a veg@n when we learned about veg@nism and veggie-ism, they found it more interesting than anything! If they don't agree who cares, its not there decision and they don't have to live with it. And if they don't wanna be you friend anymore that shows how mature they are.

When you grow up, you will make decisions independently of what your so-called "friends" think of them. Adults have friends who support them and their choices. Teenagers only care what people think about them. You are probably trying to be a vegetarian (which you can't even spell) to be "different" or "special" and to get attention.

I support everyone who wants to reduce their meat, dairy, and egg consumption, but you don't seem to have the conviction of your convictions, not to mention the courage.

they dont have 2 agree with you. explain to them why you are a vegetarian and why it is good. if they dont understand, thats their problem.

Well congradulations on becoming vegetarian !

My friends don't like the idea of being vegetarian, but ahh well, its my decision right ? ... I can understand them being worried about your health, because most people do not do the propper research, and hence have an unhealthy diet.

The first thing you should do, is figure which type of vegetarian you want to be. There are several types of VEGETARIANS:

Lacto-ovo- vegetarian

When most people think of vegetarians, they think of lacto-ovo-vegetarians. People who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products are lacto-ovo vegetarians (“lacto” comes from the Latin for milk, and “ovo” for egg).

Lacto-vegetarian is used to describe a vegetarian who does not eat eggs, but does eat dairy products.

Ovo-vegetarian refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs.

Vegan

Vegans do not eat meat of any kind and also do not eat eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin. Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products that may not contain animal products in the finished process, such as sugar and some wines.

If you eat alot of fish and meat, it will take some time to transition from alot to none, so you should take steps. For example stop eating meat, and just use fish, or visa versa.

Pescatarian (also spelled pescetarian)

The word “pescatarian” is occasionally used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. Although the word is not commonly used, more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.

The vegetarian can be a healthy option, as it reduces fat intake and lowers cholestrol. However, you have to ensure that you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, to get all the vitamins and minerals from your foods. To do this, you have to exercise regularly, and use the vegetarian diet pyramid:

http://www.oldwayspt.org/vegetarian_pyramid.html

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/healthnutrition/f/V...

RECEPIES:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Everyday-Cooking/Veg...

http://vegetarian.betterrecipes.com/

http://www.cok.net/lit/recipes/

Proteins are organic compounds made of amino acids. The body can make some of its own amino acids -- these are called nonessential amino acids. The amino acids the body can't make on its own are called essential amino acids. People have to get these proteins from the food they eat.

There are different kinds of vegetarian diets. Vegans are the strictest kind of vegetarian -- they eat only plant products. Lacto-vegetarians allow dairy products, and lacto-ovo-vegetarians allow eggs as well as dairy products. .

Sources of Protein:

Type of food Quantity providing 10g protein (g)

Soya flour 24

Peanuts 39

Pumpkin seeds 41

Almonds 47

Brazil Nuts 50

Sunflower seeds 51

Sesame seeds 55

Hazel Nuts 71

Wholemeal bread 95

Whole lentils dried & boiled 114

Chickpeas dried & boiled 119

Kidney beans dried & boiled 119

Wholemeal spaghetti boiled 213

Brown rice boiled 385

answer me and i will tell u, why u want 2 be vegetarian? u believe that you will be healthiest to be vegetarian? or u feel sorry about the animals? (meat) send me msg and tell me why u want 2 be and i will answer 2 Ur question coz my best friend is vegetarian