Comments on: Family thinks being vegan is crazy, how do you deal?

By: kate m

kate m — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:08:46 +0000

find out why your family reckon it is crazy in this area it and have an answer for each one of their arguments they will soon get bored if you keep asking them to clarify their rational.

By: cody

cody — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:25:04 +0000

It sucks, doesn’t it? Best thing you can do is not let it bother you. You know why you’re vegan, and you’re certainly not the only one who is vegan.

I’ve mentioned this book on several of my answers today, but it’s really fantastic and has a whole section in this area dealing with family:

http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Sourcebook-Sourcebooks-Joanne-Stepaniak/dp/0737305061

By: VeggieTart

VeggieTart — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:03:09 +0000

Living a excellent distance from my family helps, although they’ve gotten a small more encouraging the longer I’ve been vegan. I try to cook for them at least once or twice when I do visit. And there’s a local veggie place they like that they took me to the last time I was there.

If you don’t have that luxury right now, check out “Living Amongst Meat Eaters” by Carol J. Adams. It will give you tips on dealing with the unsupportive people in your life.

And try cooking for your family whenever possible. If they see how well one can eat, you may not completely change their minds, but they might not reckon your lifestyle is so crazy. And try to work out a compromise that all the sides are vegan friendly, they have their meat main dish, you have your vegan main dish, and you all eat together.

By: Meg

Meg — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:40:20 +0000

If you choose to be odd . . . then you take the flack.

By: Scocasso !

Scocasso ! — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:27:30 +0000

Well, if you know your facts, it would be very simple to throw just as many comments in their direction as they throw in yours.

It’s a well known fact that when making your own choices in life family members are the nastiest and more ruthless and best as pushing buttons etc. So, why not just make it clear to them that they can any just continue to p*ss you off and make you mad or whatever the case may be, or they perhaps they should just support you in your choices in life — it’s no different than you choosing to suddenly drop your last ten being of piano lessons and say, “I have chose I don’t want to play piano anymore for the rest of my life” and go pick up a guitar instead — to the horror of your family who always loved the thought of you before a live audience piano (and paying for lessons etc.). No different.

Anyway, you should know how to annoy them and push their buttons etc. just as well as they bug you… or whatever the problem may be.

By: witdik

witdik — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:42:32 +0000

I sympathize with your problem. Unfortunetely, I sympathize with your family more, because not eating meat of dairy is, to me, just plain weird.

By: AinePriestess

AinePriestess — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:51:53 +0000

Who cares what they reckon? If you are pleased w/ your choice that is all that should matter.

By: pinkyjones32

pinkyjones32 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:31:18 +0000

When I first became a vegan my brother called me a freak and my mother “blamed” herself. I just ignored their comments and remarks and continued to grow personally and spiritually by life cruelty free. Don’t agonize in this area what others say or do, what you are doing is vital. I do the cooking for the holidays and people are surprised they can have a holiday meal without the death of an animal.

By: iAm

iAm — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:53:06 +0000

You need to learn the art of IGNORE and practice it. I doubt your family members will go on bugging you if you completely snub what they’re saying. That’d be pretty dull. Don’t agonize if they disagree, they’re allowed to, and you don’t need them to agree to feel excellent in this area what you’re doing.

By: exsft

exsft — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:48:37 +0000

Have you ever considered the possibility that they are right and you are incorrect? That is is you who is closed minded? Why would you listen to perfect strangeers on the internet and not your family? They have provided you with most of your material needs for a longer time and that was okay with you. Now you won’t even listen to them, even for just a few days during the year? If they can’t make you listen, why should they listen to you?