Telling people about my new change

[.kiz]

well i have not yet gotten round to saying about how i am choosing the vegan life.
i feel nervous that im going to be told its a phase and be laughed at basically which i dont want to do lol.
anyone have any tips as to how i can explain?

[3LittleBirds]

It can be hard. Are you talking about friends, family, both? I would just be honest. Let them know your reasoning and ask them to respect your decision. Don't be judgmental about their way of eating. That will just cause them to give you more grief about being vegan. Maybe have some nutrition information available in case someone asks about being healthy while eating a vegan diet.

Is there any particular reason that you are worried about their reactions? As for them thinking it's just a phase - you can't control that. Just stick to your convictions and eat the way that you want to. Don't be guilted into eating things that you don't want to eat. Eventually everyone will realize that it's not a phase.

[.kiz]

It can be hard. Are you talking about friends, family, both? I would just be honest. Let them know your reasoning and ask them to respect your decision. Don't be judgmental about their way of eating. That will just cause them to give you more grief about being vegan. Maybe have some nutrition information available in case someone asks about being healthy while eating a vegan diet.

Is there any particular reason that you are worried about their reactions? As for them thinking it's just a phase - you can't control that. Just stick to your convictions and eat the way that you want to. Don't be guilted into eating things that you don't want to eat. Eventually everyone will realize that it's not a phase.

Thanks, well i spoke to mates who are also veg*n and they got pretty much that reaction

as with my girlfriend, she may aswell be a dinosaur the way she eats, but i said im never going to force anything on anyone else as they cant do it to me either :)

[MZCsmpsns]

When I did it I just said I'm veg and won't eat this or that. No biggy, I have supportive people though. My advice would be to just tell them you don't eat whatever anymore, be casual, and if they laugh joke about it nicely let them know it's disrespectful. In my experience the more casual you are, the better... but I dunno.

[.kiz]

ok well im going to explain tomorrow to people, so hopefully im just blowing it out of proportion haha
thanks guys :)

[3LittleBirds]

Thanks, well i spoke to mates who are also veg*n and they got pretty much that reaction

as with my girlfriend, she may aswell be a dinosaur the way she eats, but i said im never going to force anything on anyone else as they cant do it to me either :)

It's good that you already have veg*n friends. They can support you.

If your girlfriend loves you, she will love you whether you eat meat or not. My husband has been very supportive. But I never tried to push anything on him. A year into my veg*nism, he eats veggie meals with me and loves tofu and seitan. But that all happened gradually. I think if I had pressured him at the beginning, he would have reacted much more negatively.

Let us know how it goes once you tell her.

[wordicus]

My family has been supportive. My mother even decided to stop eating meat once I explained everything to her.

My friends have not been supportive. They think it's a phase.

Stick to it and prove 'em wrong if that's what they think.

[Kiran]

I don't recommend any kind of grand announcement up front since people can react in weird ways. If its just casual situations, its better to just stop eating meat and dairy and say "no thanks" when anyone offers. Then, a few days after they've had a chance to notice your choices, you can tell them in a casual way (as suggested above).


I think if you let your actions lead your words, they'll take you much more seriously when you do tell them.

[Beachbnny]

Congrats and welcome to VB!

I'm sure everyone's got a different approach but I noticed that when I first started telling people, they had a lot of questions. Be sure you're ready to answer those. Specifically: Why? Where will you get your protein? Iron? Calcium? and, of course, Will you still eat fish?

You'll get lots more too but being prepared with what you're going to respond with will go a long way with how people accept your change. The more confident, but not arrogant or boastful, you are the better. At least that's what I noticed. So do your research and be ready to answer questions.

The other thing to keep in mind is that people will get over it and it won't be such a shock eventually. That is, as long as you're consistent. So treat them nicely, most people are just curious. They may very well have chuckle and pass it off as a phase so be ready for that. Don't over-react and explain that you feel this is best for you. Everyone has different reactions from explaining what little meat they do eat to calling you a freak. As long as you know what's right in your heart, then don't let anyone harass you. It's a good way to learn to stick up for yourself :)

[broccolichick]

I don't recommend any kind of grand announcement up front since people can react in weird ways. If its just casual situations, its better to just stop eating meat and dairy and say "no thanks" when anyone offers. Then, a few days after they've had a chance to notice your choices, you can tell them in a casual way (as suggested above).


I think if you let your actions lead your words, they'll take you much more seriously when you do tell them.

This.

[AussieShane]

I don't recommend any kind of grand announcement up front since people can react in weird ways. If its just casual situations, its better to just stop eating meat and dairy and say "no thanks" when anyone offers. Then, a few days after they've had a chance to notice your choices, you can tell them in a casual way (as suggested above).


I think if you let your actions lead your words, they'll take you much more seriously when you do tell them.


yea I agree with that.

[.kiz]

well i told my girlfriend, in the reply was very negative at first, but its good now :)
thanks everyone, i even got cooked fried vegetables by my girlfriends mum :)

[jenni-anti-fur]

When I did it I just said I'm veg and won't eat this or that. No biggy, I have supportive people though. My advice would be to just tell them you don't eat whatever anymore, be casual, and if they laugh joke about it nicely let them know it's disrespectful. In my experience the more casual you are, the better... but I dunno.

Thats how I was too...and I have awesome Family and Friends who are very supportive and they wanted to know more...learn more and it was easy for me...they still poke fun sometimes but its all good...good luck!!