Problems with meat-eater friend!?!
She was vegatarian for 3 days but couldn't handle it. Now that I decided to go from being a vegatarian for 2 years and switch to vegan, she is bonkers!?
She keeps saying I will be so unhealthy and and weak and I will get sick. And I know this isn't true and I have so much evidence that it isn't but I don't want to hurt her feelings. But she is driving me insane. She won't leave me alone about it.
Should I go ahead and blow up on her about all the facts about vegans and nutritional facts and stuff?
Answers: My best frien, Haley is a meat-eater, but that isn't my proble.
She was vegatarian for 3 days but couldn't handle it. Now that I decided to go from being a vegatarian for 2 years and switch to vegan, she is bonkers!?
She keeps saying I will be so unhealthy and and weak and I will get sick. And I know this isn't true and I have so much evidence that it isn't but I don't want to hurt her feelings. But she is driving me insane. She won't leave me alone about it.
Should I go ahead and blow up on her about all the facts about vegans and nutritional facts and stuff?
Why would you "blow up" on her? Why not simply explain why you made that choice in a calm manner? You are upset because she is not accepting of your decision, and you want to solve that by blowing up at her?
Just talk to her nicely and tell her why you arrived at this choice and that you know, being your friend, she will agree to support you and understand your feelings on the subject.
Go right ahead.
I don't think you should "blow up" on her. I'd simply lay out you'r feelings, facts, and statistcs as reasonably as you can. If you can explain yourself in a rashional matter, she's more likely to understand. However, there is the chance that no matter what you do/say she won't understand and will disagree with you. It's hard to change a persons opinion when they're set on one belief.
She's just worried about you, she's your friend. Just explain to her - nicely - how you plan on making up for any vitamins and minerals you'd usually get from eating meat and animal products. As long as she understands, I think she'll accept it a lot more easily.
She is obviously just very concerned about your welfare. Tell her you'll try it for a month, and if you've got any bad symptoms, you'll stop. This will reassure her that you're being responsible about your health.
Congratulations on choosing a vegan lifestyle. Not eating meat is hard for some, but it's a great way to help the environment.
Just take her out to a nice steakhouse and explain everything.
Here's my suggestion:
Tell her you're going vegan, but if she'd like to give you information about specific health problems resulting from vegan diets, you'll look at it, then just agree to disagree if it doesn't change your mind. Best of both worlds there: your friend gets to feel all warm and fuzzy for keeping you safe, and maybe you'll learn something you didn't know and avoid a health problem or recognize it if and when it occurs. After all, being a healthy vegan does require a fair bit of careful planning as I understand it
First of all your friend is wrong. You won't be weak and unhealthy you will actually feel good and be really healthy. you will prevent the happenings of getting all kinds of sicknesses. Don't blow up on her. Just calmly explain your thoughts and opinions. =)
i am a carcus eater, will always enjoy a good meaty meal, but i whole heartedly support your decision and respect it greatly, i think the vegan phylosophy is admirable.......i do care for the care and welfare of animals and find much treatment of agricultural livestock is horrific.... i do make a point to eat range fed animals and will not knowingly eat force fed and crate fed animals....good luck with your new lifestyle change,,, their are many produces and substitues that can provide your nutrients and offer you a healthy and productive life as well as a clear conscience... two thumbs up to your choice....
make a deal with her, no talk about each others eating and treat it like politics and just agree to disagree.... besides as long as you get all the proper nutrients your body doesn't care and it all smells the same when we are through with it....and i don't care what anyone says it isn't roses
besides much of the hype for us to need stuff like dairy products are studies bought and paid for by the dairy and cheese industry....while meats are excellent sources of nutrients and porteins, soy protien is just as good.. soy milk is even healthier than milk for you....
is it any wonder why so many people suffer from lactose intolerance,, we do not need milk or dairy products to live but we have been trained to drink our milk to get strong bones???
there is calcium in produce as well,
I like the fact that you stated that because your friend is a meat eater, it's not your problem. Therefore you respect her decision to eat meat although you disagree with it. Likewise, politely but firmly tell her that just as you respect her decision, she should respect yours. If she tries to bring it up again, either change the topic or ignore her. That way she knows it's the end of the discussion. Try not to be too passive. You worry about hurting her feelings, but by her constantly bringing the subject up, isn't she infact hurting you? Finally, she's your bestfriend, she won't disown you for sticking to your decisions. ;)
i think she is just jealous of your willpower!!! keep it up and dont let her get to u xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I wouldn't say blow up on her, but you should definitely tell her in a firm tone that you've made your decision. If you want to give her the fact behind it fine, but you really shouldn't have to explain your self to a "friend" in order to get support about a decision you made. Especially if you didn't go off on her for not sticking to being a vegetarian and polluting her body with meats. People are very afraid and judgemental about things they don't understand or believe in and its not right. So maybe you should blow up on her and enlighten her on the real facts about it. Let her know you respect her decision to eat meat and she should respect yours. In the long run her negative attitude won't discourage you from becoming a vegan but could discourage you from the friendship. GOOD LUCK WITH HER THOUGH!
I'm a meat eater, but I've taken enough health courses to know the benefits (and detriments) of vegetarian/vegan diets. It sounds to me like she's either ignorant of what you mean by vegan or she's concerned that you haven't properly thought it through. You should politely express your feelings on the subject and help her understand why you desire to change to such a diet. Also, it would help if you were to show her what your diet consisted of, show a knowledge of which foods supply what nutrients, what suppliments you'll take to supply what you won't be getting, and show that you're getting a sufficient number of calories to support your lifestyle (usually around 1200 for less-active people, 1800 for highly-active lifestyles, and as much as 2100+ for professional athletes. Unless the numbers have changed over the last decade or so). Another helpful resource would be the wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegan
Because they try to keep articles unbiased and free of conflict, it's a good refrence to point out without creating an argumentative environment. Most importantly, make sure you let her know that while you may find the idea of eating meat yourself offensive, you are not offended by her & her choice in lifestyle (it's just not for you). I've met too many vegetarian/vegans who are overly sensitive & take offense if I were to eat meat in their presence. While I understand their point of veiw they fail to understand that I could be equally offended that they won't eat meat as my beliefs are that God placed animals on the earth for the use (not to be confused with abuse) of man. Tell her you respect her lifestyle, ask her to show you the same courtesy. A little understanding on both sides tends to go a very long ways.
Good luck with your friend, hope it all works out for you.
changing the style of diet you have been used to isn't easy you have made your decision after consideration of issues involved & mean to go on with it ,it is also abvious that you value friendship ,
Tell your friend that you expect her support in this dietary venture,the going may be hard but you will do it anyway,but having a freind to back you up will certainly help.I'm sure she will understand,what are friends for any way ? Goof luck .
yes. bombard her with the facts of the unhealthfulness of animal proteins until she gets the message and joins you or shuts up.
She is information deprived. Meat is not really good for you, it's full of fat and things that shoulden't be in it. And there are many deseases going around.
I'd say vegan is a very good choice! She needs to get the facts straight.
It's a proven fact that plants give you A LOT more protein than rotting meat does.
www.peta.com
i feel that your friend has miscomprehended the concept of being a vegetarian. show her all the facts in black and white the benefits of being a vegetarian.
she is after all your best friend and she is just concern on you. in due time she will realise herself and may support your decision in becoming a vegan. just be patient!
shes gonna have to deal with it, cause its your choice.
i have two vegan friends (and 10 other vegetarian friends)
and they turned out fine.
If she is a real friend, she is just showing concern about your new lifestyle and how it may be bad for you. Maybe you can let her help you instead by asking for her suggestions on what would be good, keeping in mind of course, the limitations with being a vegan. If you involve her, she might be helpful rather than "annoying". She can even read the same materials and info that you have.
PS. On one point, she is right. It will not make you automatically healthy. But again, if you work at it, with her by your side as support and "sidekick", it it can be, both for your own physical and friendship's health as well
Don't "blow up" but the facts are most definitely on your side.
You deserve friends who are supportive of your choices.
Keep your self-cool. Don’t ignore your friend.
It is heartening to see so many (almost all) good answers to your question. Choose and follow them as per your temperament.
Goonhilda~~~~Yes, you can follow Goonhilda’s advise.