How can I respond to my family as a vegetarian?

I have been a vegetarian for little over a month now (made the decision to commit to it), problem is that my family gets all upset about it. I come from a Puerto Rican-Italian family, so of course they are meat-eaters (big ones at that), %26amp; they can be a real pain in the butt with me. They won't eat my cooking (mind you I'm not making tofu, tonight I made this delicious spanish rice with Boca meatless chicken %26amp; when I asked my mother and aunt they acted with disgust because of the chicken (%26amp; it tastes the same if not better)). They seem to have something against my decision, I respect them for their choice to eat meat, but how can I prove my standpoint when I'm constantly being told that not eating meat or fish isn't good for me? I told them I do my best to maintain a healthy diet (stock up on proteins such as beans %26amp; meatless meat to compensate %26amp; overall a good diet) and yet they still ridicule me. How can I be able to convince them that what I'm doing is the right thing (in my case)How can I respond to my family as a vegetarian?
It's a tough place to be. I have experienced a very similar situation for many years.





When I became vegetarian, 17 years ago, my (bald) father warned that I would lose my hair. My mother refused to accept my choice. The first meal I returned home for after making the announcement was an Easter Dinner. Everything they made had meat in it, everything. The salad had a warm bacon dressing, the potatoes were made with suet, my mother never did those things prior to this. Breads, sides, desserts all had something derived from meat. They told me this, and still couldn't believe I wouldn't eat. Nothing like celebrating the return of the lord like meat.





These meals continued for at least five years. I would join them and not eat, I began to eat before going home. One day my youngest brother asked me about some natural pest control for his yard, he has young children and was worried.


As i began to suggest some ways to control them my father walked in on the conversation and lost his temper. He knew that some day I would start preaching about how to live naturally. He claimed that the family was never going to become vegetarian. I walked out of the house and left.





My brother straightened him out, when he told him I was only answering his questions. My father called me that night and apologized, he then told me he thought I believed he raised me wrong. I believe my parents raised me in the manner they believed was proper.





The next meal at my parents was vegetarian, but they insisted that it wouldn't happen again.





My five brothers have all since had heart problems, hospitalized with them. My parents now eat more than 50% of their meals vegetarian. Two of my nieces are vegetarian, and my family has realized it is not going away.





You can blow out a match


but, you can't blow out a fire


once the flames begin to catch


the wind just blows it higher. (Peter Gabriel, Biko)








p.s. They still rarely eat anything I cook for them.How can I respond to my family as a vegetarian?
Well, you could explain how it makes you feel better, like you have more energy and feel better internally, and that regardless of what they say then not accept their eating meat. They gave you the liberty to after they criticized you.
A month may feel like an eternity if you're being criticized, but honestly, it's not much time for them to have become used to the idea. Give them time. Be patient. Remember you're the one that's changed, not them. Love them, and don't be too insistent that they eat like you do -- even when visiting you. Try to serve something that's ';neutral,'; like a rice-and-cheese dish, or something like that. By ';neutral,'; I mean something that the non-vegetarians would eat normally anyway.





Be patient. Love them anyway. Let them love you. It'll take time to have proof that this lifestyle is a healthy one. If they accept the authority of the Bible, show them the part of the Book of Daniel where Daniel and his friends become vegetarians and prove to the king what a healthy lifestyle it is.
I agree wholeheartedly with the third answer, and I'm a meat eater. If they choose not to eat what you make, that's their choice, just as you choose not to eat what they make. But don't let it be a bone of contention. Life is too short to fight over food, and please remember that in an Italian household a meal is a gathering place. They may be taking it slightly personal that you don't want to mange with them, in their style. But they will get over it. Try to sit your most receptive family member down and explain to him or her how it is making you feel that they don't except this choice. And I know you will probably think I'm an idiot for saying this, but if you don't live with them, and meals are infrequent with them, is it worth the fight? You can live however you choose, but sometimes it's easier to make sacrifices and do what you don't want for those who sacrificed for you (any parent who hates grandma giving out cookies five minutes before dinner will understand that one). Good luck, I hope it works out for everyone involved.





PS...Good call on watching your protein, but also watch your iron intake. Lots of green leafy veggies, and you may also want to grab a multivitamin for anything you might be missing.
You can try to find out what their real issues are for their negative feelings about it. This may be hard to find though, but if you find out you may be able to provide points that help your side of the argument.





Do they have any people they admire (actors/musicians, etc...). Perhaps they admire someone who is a vegetarian and they just don't know it.
Yeah, you are in a bad situation.


I don't know if my answer will help you, but I know how you feel, alot of my family is not understanding. My mom in particular still calls my decisions stupid, she does not understand why I chose to become a vegan. I don't think that she ever will. Some people unfortunately will never understand... I've told my mom countless times that I take care in my diet, and over time she has actually come to terms with the fact that a vegetarian/vegan diet is healthy... she realizes that now. But as far as the ethical reasons for me becoming a vegan, she thinks that it is just stupid, and never misses a chance to make her opinion known.


Maybe just give it some time, eventually they will see with their own eyes that you are healthy and happier than ever...


Of coarse I'm not saying that will definitely happen, some people will never understand and there is no reasoning with them, better just to give up on making them accept/ respect your decisions... and let them see for themselves first hand how much healthier you are.


Good luck though, and hopefully they will eventually respect you choice.
just eat what you want to eat. who cares what your family thinks.


i became a vegetarian during my teens years in a family of meat eaters. it isn't that hard to do. plus it gives a great opportunity to cook for them great, healthy meat free vegetarian dishes. they will soon see, that it's not that big of deal.
Sometimes they never understand. It has been years and years for me, and my parents still shake their heads whenever I turn down turkey at Thanksgiving. If I ever get a headache or a cold, my Dad is quick to tell me to start eating meat right away, since to him it is the source of all goodness. My sisters don't understand it either, but they at least respect my committment to it after all this time. Just grin and bear it. If you show you are good natured about it and don't back down, they will at least ease up a bit eventually.
It's purely psychological... they raised you one way, and suddenly you've decided to change into something else! They can't bear it that you've become different from the family, that's all. Don't get worked up about it! They're just ridiculing you in the hope that you will give up and come back to the family tradition. It's their way of being close to you.





You've told them you can take care of your diet and that you really want to stick with this.. There's nothing more you can do. Just act like you've always been this way, and don't give them an opportunity to voice their opinion on your cooking. If they don't like eating anything which doesn't have meat in it, don't force them to, or even offer. Eventually it will become a given that you're sticking to your resolve.
Vegans and vegetarians go through this quite a bit. Dont be detoured by negativity...hold firm to your purpose for being a vegetarian.
You have tried to talk to them, I suggest now you just tell them you do not want to talk about it if they begin to ridicule you. Just politely say that you have made a decision for the betterment of your health and unless they support you on the decision there is really nothing to talk about.
Learn to cook tasty meals; show your family that food without meat can be delicious. Also make sure you're healthy and happy. Let them see that this choice makes you a better person. They wont understand but eventually they will accept your new lifestyle once they realise that it is not just a ';phase';, and that it makes you happy.





Talk to them about animal cruelty, show why you think eating animals is wrong. Dont argue though, or they'll think that veggies make people mad. :) Just explain that you cant stand the sight of meat anymore, and that it hurts you if they cant accept it.
That's pretty brave of you with your family, but just try to stick to your decision. Give them time to adjust. This is probably very sudden for them and they may have a hard to getting use to the change. Maybe print of a fact sheet on the health benefits of being a vegetarian.





You could try writing out a note to them explaining why you are becoming a vegetarian, that way they won't be able to talk over you or argue with what you are saying if it's written down. Of course they could always choose not to read the note but if they do read your thoughts when they are written down they'll probably read them from start to finish and actually understand what you mean.





Goodluck
Not everyone in your life will understand your new diet choice, but don't let them discourage you. If you feel a need to explain yourself try one or all of the these.





I care about protecting the rain forests. I care about preventing the suffering of innocent creatures. I care about preventing topsoil depletion. I care about preventing world hunger. I care about reducing energy consumption. I care about the air we breathe, and the water that flows in rivers. And I care about my own health. I honestly believe that the most significant thing I, as an individual, can do for any one of these things I care about is to consume only vegetarian food.
Here is a site with 101 reasons for being a vegetarian. The only reasons you need are the ones you already have.





http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alexteh1/vege鈥?/a>
My reasons are based on economic, health and compassion issues. Vegetarianism is not a new phenomenon. The ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras was vegetarian, and until the mid-19th century, people who abstained from meat were known as ';Pythagoreans.'; Famous followers of Pythagoras' diet included Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, George Bernard Shaw and Albert Einstein.





When I became a vegetarian the first thing I learned was not to argue about why I am a vegetarian. I believe change makes many people insecure. This includes becoming a vegetarian. The only person that needs to be convinced being a vegetarian is the right choice...is YOU. Don't sweat what the others say or think. You are doing what is right for you and that is what matters.
sit down with them and really explain to them why you are becoming a vegetarian and that if they could support you you would appreciate it a lot. i got lucky and my family was very supportive of me, but not everybody gets that lucky. you cant expect them to never eat meat in front of you but they should respect your new lifestyle
The only way to make your family understand id if you talk to them and tell them all the facts! You should tell them this...


I think that vegetarianism is a very healthy diet. For 1 reason, you don't consume as much fat and oils that belong to other living things.It is scientifically proven that most vegetarians live healthier lifestyles than non-vegetarians I also believe that it is wrong to eat meat for 1 basic fact that you are murdering. As bad as that sounds, everyone that eats meat is a murderer, and i don't mean that disrespectfully at all. As funny as it sound, when a butcher kills a cow or pig...you have to realize that he/she is killing another animal's sister, brother, mother, father, cousin, aunt, etc...Plus I know you must have heard this many times...but how would you feel if someone was killing you that brutally so they can keep their tummies full? Makes you think doesn't it?








I have been a vegetarian all my life...but some of my friends are thinking of being a veg too so this is what i tell them...if ever you feel like eating meat..then carry a photo or sticker from PETA...that says fish are friends not food or something...if you want them...check out PETA2.com and order them. Just looking at a sticker or an animal in pain will drive away your craving! I know that it is a big step to take...but now a days there is ';fake meat';. It is actually tofu made by the Bhuddist monks of Nepal (i think). It tastes just like meat and you can eat it with a guilt-free conscience. If you want to purchase that..then go on PETA2.com and you can order the food. Or for the week you can ask your friends to be vegetarians with you...that way you can have fun and it won't be too hard.
Can you tell 'em that you were considering becoming a transvestite, but decided on being a vegetarian instead.? They may prefer the latter option if they think about it a bit.