A question for vegetarians/ vegans...does your family support your choices???... ?!
I have just recently made the decision for me and my children to become vegetarians!.Well,my family consists of meat-eaters and they don't take my decision seriously!.My mom will make comments like how she would like a big juicy steak!.I just feel like they have no respect for me and I don't know if I will be able to stay around them if they keep this up!.So!.!.!.how would you handle this situation!?!?!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
It is so incredibly difficult to be a vegetarian or vegan when family is such a great part of meal time!. I have learned and not just from an eating lifestyle but life in general, you can't make someone like something they don't!. You know the old saying "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make em drink"!?
Educate your family, invite them to eat the same thing you're eating if they so choose!. Sometimes making that large of a lifestyle choice isn't an immediate change!. I cook for my parents all the time, my father has cholesterol problems, little does he know he's had a few vegetarian meals and not even known!.
I just attended the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival two weekends ago and I brought an omnivore friend (she's trying the vegetarian thing out now)! Oh so much fun! I saw a great idea for kids, it's a vegan nacho cheese sauce! How cool is that!?!? Exposure and education are such a valuable part of changing the stigma of vegetarian/vegan food being "all gross"!. I just took a course vegetarian cuisine for my culinary nutrition degree and there are soooo many great recipes out there!
Hope my thoughts help, feel free to mail if you want to bounce some ideas around!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Educate your family, invite them to eat the same thing you're eating if they so choose!. Sometimes making that large of a lifestyle choice isn't an immediate change!. I cook for my parents all the time, my father has cholesterol problems, little does he know he's had a few vegetarian meals and not even known!.
I just attended the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival two weekends ago and I brought an omnivore friend (she's trying the vegetarian thing out now)! Oh so much fun! I saw a great idea for kids, it's a vegan nacho cheese sauce! How cool is that!?!? Exposure and education are such a valuable part of changing the stigma of vegetarian/vegan food being "all gross"!. I just took a course vegetarian cuisine for my culinary nutrition degree and there are soooo many great recipes out there!
Hope my thoughts help, feel free to mail if you want to bounce some ideas around!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Your family having respect for you will come, in part, from your confidence in your decision to be vegetarian!. It is not an easy decision, but if you show them that you are serious about the decision you have make (maybe even explain to them why), and then show them that you are willing to be committed to your decision, respect usually follows!.
Family is also good at teasing each other!. So even though they may respect you, they will probably still tease you!. The thick juicy stake comment always seems to be a popular oneWww@FoodAQ@Com
Family is also good at teasing each other!. So even though they may respect you, they will probably still tease you!. The thick juicy stake comment always seems to be a popular oneWww@FoodAQ@Com
Well, I Am 12 and it's hard having a family that does not support you!. You Have to be strong and cofident about it and you just have to ignore there comments!. Being Strong and confident is part of being a vegitarian!. So The Only Advice I can give you right now is to be strong and eat vitimans so you know that your are getting enough vitimans, and are healthy and that you eat healthier choices!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Not choosing to eat meat when your whole family consist of meat eaters is hard!. I would not try to change their ways and I wouldn't expect any veggie dishes!. Just ask your mom if she can add stuff for you to eat with the dinner!. They may havesteak, salad, green beans and mash potatoes!. You can eat everything else!. When she comments on the steak, say something like!.!.!.!. "hmmm a heart attack waiting to happen, love ya!"Www@FoodAQ@Com
Well the only member of my family who really supports me is my mother!. I get lots of comments, but I just ignore them now!. I am not going to let them bother me!. My family has accepted that I am a vegetarian now, but they are still skeptical and there is not really much I can do about it!. I just ignore any jibes!. Not the most effective method but it works for me!.
I think you should just tell your family- this is me now, deal with it because it's not going to changeWww@FoodAQ@Com
I think you should just tell your family- this is me now, deal with it because it's not going to changeWww@FoodAQ@Com
When I first became a vegetarian I had support from my family of meat eaters, but it did seem they didn't take my descision that seriously!. There were a few hinting remarks, I decided it would be best to ignore it and to show them I was serious about my vegetarianism!. Eventually they realised that I was serious and stopped making comments!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
My family accepted it, and now my dad is a vegetarian, and my mom is mostly vegetarian!. It may just take some time, and some serious talks about your reasoning!. I know what you mean about people making comments like that and thinking that they're funny!. I just ignore them!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
my family is the same way!. they always try offering me meat and im like,"hello!?" i hate it!. sometimes theyeven try slipping me meat!. i totally understand what you mean!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I was lucky with my family - my mum was vegetarian when she had me!. She tried feeding me meat baby food but I wouldn't eat it!. So I have always been vegetarian, and as soon as I understood what it was about (age 3) I chose it for myself anyway, as I did not want to kill animals!.
Nobody forced me to be vegetarian - once I ate a fish paste sandwich by mistake, and went to my parents crying - they thought I felt guilty because I had done something wrong, and told me I didn't have to be vegetarian if I wanted to eat meat!. I had to explain to them that actually I was crying because I didn't want to have eaten the poor fish accidentally and was sorry that it was dead!.
When I was 19 (5 years ago) I realised that being vegetarian was ethically pointless if you care about animals, the environment, your health and social justice, so I became vegan!. My mum said it was a bit extreme at first, but when I explained how it was actually healthier and kinder to animals, she was supportive and even tries to eat less eggs/dairy herself!.
The rest of my family say they respect my choice and admire me for it, so fortunately I never had any trouble with them - they are happy to eat food that I cook if I visit them!.
I have about 30 vegan friends (I didn't know any other vegans when I changed, so I got all my info from the internet) now, and some of their families have been horrible to them in the same way as yours!. You just need to make sure you are armed with all the facts to correct their mistaken ideas!. See the sources section for info about how veggie diets are healthier!. Make sure you eat a varied diet to ensure you stay well!
I would maybe stay away for a while until your mum realises you are serious about it, and respects your choice (otherwise she may try to feed your children meat when you aren't there!)!. When you see her again, take her lots of delicious meat-free food, to show her that you aren't missing out on tasty dishes!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Nobody forced me to be vegetarian - once I ate a fish paste sandwich by mistake, and went to my parents crying - they thought I felt guilty because I had done something wrong, and told me I didn't have to be vegetarian if I wanted to eat meat!. I had to explain to them that actually I was crying because I didn't want to have eaten the poor fish accidentally and was sorry that it was dead!.
When I was 19 (5 years ago) I realised that being vegetarian was ethically pointless if you care about animals, the environment, your health and social justice, so I became vegan!. My mum said it was a bit extreme at first, but when I explained how it was actually healthier and kinder to animals, she was supportive and even tries to eat less eggs/dairy herself!.
The rest of my family say they respect my choice and admire me for it, so fortunately I never had any trouble with them - they are happy to eat food that I cook if I visit them!.
I have about 30 vegan friends (I didn't know any other vegans when I changed, so I got all my info from the internet) now, and some of their families have been horrible to them in the same way as yours!. You just need to make sure you are armed with all the facts to correct their mistaken ideas!. See the sources section for info about how veggie diets are healthier!. Make sure you eat a varied diet to ensure you stay well!
I would maybe stay away for a while until your mum realises you are serious about it, and respects your choice (otherwise she may try to feed your children meat when you aren't there!)!. When you see her again, take her lots of delicious meat-free food, to show her that you aren't missing out on tasty dishes!Www@FoodAQ@Com