If animals are here for us to eat, ask your mom when the last time she ate a Grizzly bear was. :D

Or, you could tell her she has a very anthropocentric view of animals.

Incidentally, I was 15 or 16 when I suddenly turned vegetarian, my mom just kind of rolled her eyes and dealt with it. At 18, you are old enough to choose what is right for you. If your mother makes snide/rude/ignorant comments just ignore those comments, easier said than done, I know.

I can empathize on the mother thing. Though I'm way way older than you now.

Really all you can do is wait until you can get out on your own. Make the best of it while you are at home.

sit downa nd talk with her about your choice. Try to make an agreement of some sort. If you want to go veggie only, offer to help make your meal or offer to go to the store and help her pick out things veggie friendly.

Something else that is kind of interesting: How humans have a fit every time one of us ends up at the lower end of the food chain. Shark attack. Mountain lion attack. To some living creatures, we can become nothing more than a meal also.

Not that it isn't a tragedy when that happens.

If people want to say some care more about animals than people, there are thoughts and studies out there that clearly show a vegan diet could much better feed the world. The meat and dairy industries are also major polluters.

I can relate. I had the same problem, and because I fell ill my senior year (for completely different reason - asthma stuff), I ended up having to give in.

I applaud your choice! Do you share meals with your mother? If you have freedom in preparing your own food/eating what you want, then just eat vegetarian without saying anything. Look at what's in the cupboard and make something vegetarian for yourself!

Edit: Whoops, didn't realize this thread was so old... =P