What to do when your parents aren't supportive of your diet?

A vegan diet doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. Try to avoid the imitation products, and stick with eating vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes, whole-grains, nuts, and seeds. It's a lot simpler than most people think.

If it helps, here are some things I like to eat (they're all vegan):

- Whole-wheat pasta with marinara sauce and a salad..

- Stir-fried vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, eggplant, etc.) and tofu (extra firm) served over quinoa.

- Pasta (whole-wheat) with tomatoes, mushrooms, and black beans. I like to add textured vegetable protein (which can be bought in bulk) to this, but it's still good without.

- Chickpea curry with vegetables and rice (or quinoa!)

- Quesadillas, tacos, and burritos. Use beans and lots of veggies. You could even use vegan cheese, but avocado is also a good substitute.

- Chili made with beans, vegetables, and corn.

- Pizza. All you need is crust (which can be homemade or store bought), sauce, and a lot of vegetables. Vegan cheese optional.

- Vegetable and quinoa (or brown rice) pilaf.

- Black bean burgers (very easy to make): http://vegetarian.about.com/od/maindishentreerecip...

- Vegetable or lentil stew/soup.

- Pasta salad with vegetables and chickpeas.

- Stuffed bell peppers or tomatoes (filled with rice, herbs, chopped onion & garlic)

- Sandwiches. (I'll often have a toasted whole-wheat bagel with mashed avocado, tomato slices, alfalfa sprouts, basil, and fresh-ground pepper.)

- Tempeh with roasted potatoes and vegetables.

- Roasted eggplant.

- Pita pockets stuffed with falafel, hummus, and vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, cucumber).

Breakfast:

- Bran flakes or oats with raisins/dried cranberries, cinnamon, ground flax seed, chia seeds, and hemp hearts (this is what I almost always eat for breakfast).

- Toast/bagel (whole/sprouted grain) with peanut or almond butter.

- Scrambled tofu with diced vegetables.

- Fresh fruit with granola.

- Fruit smoothie (frozen banana, almond/soy milk, plus some other fruit). Or even better, make it a "green smoothie" by adding a handful or two of fresh spinach!

For snacks, I try to stick to fresh fruits, veggies, and nuts & seeds (a handful will do).

Good luck!

Whatever money your parents would normally spend on your food, just ask for the cash, and go to the store yourself and buy your own vegan food. It won't cost them extra, and you can prepare the food yourself, so it won't take any of their time. I did that from the time I was 12 until I was 18. It wasn't hard at all. Beans and rice are so cheap, and so are vegetables. There's a lot you can eat raw too. It's so simple!

Do not be so strict as to think only organic produce is good and everything else is crap.

Eat non organic food in the meantime, until you are able to get a job and afford to buy the food quality you want. Believe me, you will be fine, because you will not be eating meat anyways.

Not much you can do because well, your still under your parents supervision. Wait til you can get a job and buy your own foods.