Vegetarian Discussion TopicsBreaking the News
Posted by Izabelle
at 01/30/2013
I hate to inconvenience people and have only within the year broken the news to my parents, friends and close accointances that I don't like meat and refuse to force myself to eat it anymore. This came to no surprise to anyone who knows me quite well because they all know I eat very little meat and the meat I eat is always picked at last. To say the least, they took the news quite well because it isn't a 'choice' per say, like being a vegetarian is a choice. I don't quite agree with their logistics but whatever.
I am now faced however with trying to break the news that I am going vegan. I have been wanting to become vegan ever since I have heard of the of it a few years back. The idea of completely removing animal products is brilliant in my eyes. My reasons for becoming vegan are not entirely animal rights, although it is a large part. I am a very health oriented person and believe we can do without animal products. I don't want to go into any more detail because I know I will end up in a rant!
I just want to know if anyone has any good advise on how to break the 'vegan news' to family members and close friends since well... some of them seem to find it a rather ridiculous idea and that they have to bend over backwards to feed me if I go over to their place. I enjoy a salad or simple grilled vegetables but they seem to think it's an insult to serve a guess such a thing. Help!? How do I break the news without inconveniencing them and not completely removing myself from eating with people I enjoy the company of?
Responses
I always mention that women produce milk, goats produce milk, cats produce milk, and rats produce milk...so why cows? I don't really suggest that because people tend to have a strong reaction from it.
Honestly, most people don't live in the world of milk, eggs, meat. They live according to dishes. Milk, at least with the people I know, is used on cereal and with cookies. That's it. People don't think about milk if it's actually in a product, they're thinking of the product. That's why I always tell people specific products to drive the point home (ice cream, cheese, sour cream, butter, etc.). Because people think about specific products and meals, if you show them that you eat meals that are tasty and nutritious (and usually much cheaper) it'll take attention away from the fact that there's no animal products in it.
Have a list of foods that you can eat handy because you WILL be asked, "well what are you going to eat?" Good luck!
what I did first was to take in charge the meal.. and little by little they got use to. my older brother is still having angry defensive talk , but except him everyone is really open to it.
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