how to tell family you have gone veggie?!


Question: How to tell family you have gone veggie?
I told my mom, and my best friend, and it was fine. I am nervous about telling my husband's family and am not sure how to approach it. They eat TONS of meat. (Scrapple, turkey, ham, chicken, you name it, she serves it). I do not eat meat anymore and we are going to be there over Christmas break for a few days.

How shall I approach this diplomatically with them? I don't want her to feel like she has to make me a separate dish, and I don't want to hurt her feeilngs by not eating the main course, but I won't eat it anymore. (the main reason is it makes me break out due to hormones in the meat, and then I am struggling with a bad face for two weeks from one piece of meat!). Should I just take a tiny bit and spread it aorund my plate? They live in an area where it is NOT common to be veg and where actually it's kinda looked down on as "silly" or "bad nutrition". They also eat venison, which they hunt themselves. I don't like it. :(

I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I am not going to eat it. How do I let her know? My family was fine with it but they are a lot more open-minded.

Answers:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Sit the family down and say "Folks, I've got some news. I'm leaving your son to live with my lesbian lover." And then when you tell them that you're not really doing that. You're actually only becoming a vegetarian, they'll be really relieved and they'll be fine with it.

Worked for me.



Talk to her ahead of time. Nothing worse than springing this on someone as you arrive.
Tell her that for medical reasons, you've had to give up eating meat, and that you don't want her to fuss and make something special, that you'll be fine with all the wonderful side dishes she always prepares. She may take it easier if you phrase it as a medical issue instead of a personal preference.



If they care for you then it really won't hurt their feelings. I would just tell them when you get there, that way they don't feel like they have to make a seperate dish. Bring a veggie dish too.

I would just right out tell them, it is nothing to be ashamed of.



Didn't know they still made scrapple ick but anyway tell them your going vegetarian for a personal health choice



why should it be any of their buisness?
i would assume your husband knows... thats all that matters

if your husband's family aren't OK with it... tell them too bad.



I had the same problem... U can't make them understand, so I just told them I like animals so I don't eat them... & I take my own food when I visit.



just get it off your chest. you cant hide it



I was vegan long before I met my husband, but I am in a similar boat as you. His family eats a LOT of meat and animal based products. They make a HUGE deal out of my being vegan. It's not like they think it's bad or anything, just silly. They poke fun and act like it's such an inconvenience to feed me. Ever since becoming vegan, I've made it clear that I don't expect anyone but me to meet my nutritional needs. I don't expect anyone to change their menu for me, and I only talk about why I'm vegan if someone asks, and I never act judgemental. I think if you adopt the same attitude, it will be fine. That being said, my own family made a huge deal out of my turning vegan when I was 17, now none of them eat meat either. Short answer, just do it and don't make a big deal out of it. They probably won't either.



K I think you are thinking about this in the wrong way. I to have a super meat eating family. However, here is the deal: she isnt going to be hurt because you dont eat meat. you may get poked fun of like I do but whatever, it is all in good fun.
The thing about it is that if you have someone that enjoys to prepare a feast, if you tell them ahead of time they will most likely see it as a challenge that they havent been posed with before and enjoy the experience. People that love to cook arent just interested in what they cook normally. She will probably enjoy the chance to explore something different. And she wont be making a dish just for you per se, because all those that eat meat can eat what you are eating provided they dont only eat meat but i doubt that is the case. for the most part the worst i have heard from someone trying what i am eating, and it is worth a laugh as fun usually is, is that "This would taste so much better with some bacon on it." :P
So let her know ahead of time so she isnt pressed at a time when she wants everything to be right and you should have no problem.
Good luck!

Sarah: LOL




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