vegan cheese: I'm thirteen. Don't tell me that I'm too young to be vegan, because I'm not. I'm old enough to make my own choices. My parents aren't vegan, and neither is anyone else I know. I'm not even related to any vegetarians. I've been vegan for about a year, and my parents still won't give up on converting me to vegetarianism. I still rely on them a lot, mostly because I have to. I don't live near any trader joe's or whole foods (etc.), so it's hard to get vegan foods. When they do go to Trader Joe's they refuse to take me, and instead make me create a list of foods to get (Tofurky, Daiya). Since I have never even stepped into Trader Joe's, I can't create a list, so they complain that I don't have any food choices. Then, when I ask for certain foods, they say that it's too far away. We always end up fighting about the topic. The only thing I've eaten today are Newman-O's and yesterday I didn't eat at all.I know that's not healthy, but I'm not eating animal products, just so that they don't have to put up with me. I live near a shop and stop. My parent's don't even walk into the store with me. I know they don't have any available vegan cheeses, so I told them, but they didn't care. I was so scared of my dad that I was forced to get Lactose Free. My dad has a really short temper, and had already been to another store I said didn't have vegan cheese, but he didn't believe me. I need help. I want to take care of my body, and I'm not willing to give up veganism.|||Yeah, same here... My parents were actually trying their best -. but it's such a strain on a family. If me being vegetarian wasn't bad enough, my parents end up having to buy cheap frozen food, we have very low income - and we have six other mouths to feed under our roof. I've decided that I will cut down on things I can - drink soya milk, so no dairy, no eggs, meat etc. But I have eat these products in sauces/pre made food, because otherwise there is nothing else to eat in my house, because never in a million years would my parents buy excess food just for me. So I am not vegan, but preparing myself for the diet - I'll be moving out next year so then I will do my own food shopping, and will be able to carefully filter what I eat. Maybe you should consider this? I know you really want to be vegan, but be fair, it is a lifestyle choice that can put a big strain on your family. Maybe wait a few years?|||Rice and beans! I don't know where you got the idea that you need specialty foods. Vegetables! You lost my respect when you said you only ate cookies yesterday. You don't need vegan cheese. How annoying.|||Not eating is hurting your body by not giving it the nutrition it needs. First, you are looking for "junk" vegan foods that won't help you in the long run. You need to get your protein and fiber. Have some oatmeal and fruit in the morning, try not to sweeten it with "sugar" or "honey" if you can. These sweeteners are bad for you. Use stevia or xylitol ( it can give you gas, but you won't know until you try it) to sweeten your meals. For lunch, have tofu or beans and lots of veggies. I'd eat a cup and half of beans with each meal. For dinner, again have veggies but add some pasta (not more than a cup) with some beans. There are so many kinds of beans out there. Also, try hummus. It's a chickpea dip you can add to lots of foods. If you're in a situation where you can't get access to vegan foods, just eat something like pasta with beans. You need to take in calories to help build your growing body. Anything else is unacceptable. Another thing you can do is look through your yellow pages book under health food stores and see if there are smaller shops you can visit. Some regular supermarkets are also starting to carry vegan foods. Good luck.|||This may not fully solve your problem but please, read Skinny *****: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook by Kim Barnouin. She gives amazing, easy vegan recepies (many lacking the fake cheese, milk etc). Also, she points out ways to make living as a vegan easier and gives some points that justify the importance of veganism. (There is a large portion of the book dedicated these points and tips before the cookbook portion). This book converted me to veganism for a bit. I'm a vegetarian but I understand and admire your position. I hope this helps! Also, I know you have limited access to healthy supermarkets but Gardein is an amazing brand for fake meats. I know Ralph's carries them...|||Your parents obviously don't understand your choice, and they aren't going to. You can eat a lot of none animal products with protein, besides tofu like beans, and nuts, that have essentialamino acids and such for your body. And also okay you cant just skip eating to save the animals. Eat some freaking fruits and vegetables at the least...I'm not going to starve myself because I dont want to kill a pig, pigs are omnivores, and if the pig didnt have anything to eat, and I was sitting in front of it dead, the pig would eat me. Get the picture|||okay i TOTALLY understand your situation, im twelve, have been vegetarian for a year and i just gave up dairy, my dad has a short temper too, but i wont go into details, he knows i dont eat dairy, he doesnt really understand it though, he thinks i just cant have a glass of milk, he doesnt get that i cant have most chips, cheese, chocolate, icecream and etc he isnt too supportive on the desicion, so i pretty much turn to my mum, i think in your case just try taking vitamin tablets if your parents dont mind, i just got some calcium tablets, though i dont feel unwell i want to know im getting all my nutrients i can give you an easy meal plan if you like? i think your desicion to be vegan is great, i hate it how so much people at my school just care about the taste, not what happens behind it, most kids our age cant stop stuffing thier faces with chicken nuggets! i think you need to insist on going to whatever supermarkets you have WITH your parents, but ask for your dad not to go so you can just go with your mum, anyways here is a pretty simple meal plan with some great information: BREAKFAST: 1 banana and/or mango smoothie: 1 banana 1 mango and rice milk or 1 banana and rice mik (works better than soy milk) or you can have: porridge with water and honey (use flavoured porridge for a better texture) or you could just have toast with your favourite spread i suggested rice milk aswell because there is a protein enriched rice milk with added chickpeas that has 5x the protein i suggested mango and banana because banana has these vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 & C it also has potassium and vitamin K, you should have one a day for good cardiac health and mango has these vitamins: it has vitamin A in it and it helps you grow, and it keeps your eyes healthy LUNCH: Promite sandwich or peanut butter and jam sandwich or vita wheats or fruit salad or raw vegetable (if you dont mind stuff like that) with a banana and wateror trail mix DINNER: Baby potatoes with broccli, salad, buk choy, spinach, eggplant and peanuts or minestrone soup or vegetable stir fry or stuffed capsicum, with asparagus and brocclini or simple pasta with homemade vegetable sauce! DESSERT: Your favourite flavour of sorbet! or soy yogurt! i hope this has helped you good luck with your veganism bye! Honestly? really?, thumbs down for decent advice!, get a life haters|||Oiy, if you are doing this for health reasons have you considered strict-vegitariansm? It basically is vegan but you can add milk,cheese, dairy's to your diet. I just switched to Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. I totally understand your situation. The difference is that strict don't eat eggs and try to be like vegans but dont are aloud to slip up. If thats not a option. I hate to say it but you can add rice,and lots of beans to your diet. Most american familys have those two items and make vegans lifes easier. Beans at least twice a week to keep your protein up so you dont flat out die. Im being seirus right now. You need proteins. Rice will help because its a filler and theres lots of ways you can eat things with it. Of course you NEED to keep those veggies in your diet. If you cant do either of those two options you can save your money and not buy those video games and what not and walk/ride a bike to the nearest store and look for what you need. Some walmarts carrie vegan/vegitarain items. And if your parents ask why you do all this just tell them, "Cause im going to outlive you all, and because im not going to have a unhealthy body". I started being vegitarian at the age of 11 and i remember those days, Stay strong! (And that would be my little cousin who started my question to be more like me in his eyes =) )