Evergreen Grrrl
November 7th, 2009, 09:54 PM
I am the only veggie is a family full of carnivores. When I say that, I mean they base their entire diet around meat. It is in everything they cook, and a meal is considered incomplete without it.
I have been veg-friendly all my life, but especially since dating a long term vegetarian and learning to make all of the dishes I loved without meat. Then, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and chronic migraines. To top it all off, I needed an allergy test and learned that I was ALLERGIC to all meat except turkey, freshwater fish, and shellfish. I had gone Kosher years before, so that left minimal meat to eat. I then found out that I had IBS along with the other chronic conditions, so my body could not digest the food. I gave up eating meat in order to have a healthier, happier, fuller life.
Now I have started buying organic, joined a CSA, and subscribe to various veggie mags to get ideas on making my life more full in its new environment. Unfortunately, I have just moved back to the country, away from civilization and all of the understanding that it brings with it. I have to drive 30 minutes to get a good vegetarian meal and am currently living off some good TV dinners and peanut butter concoctions.
Everytime I adapt my life to what I feel it needs, my family is nothing but critical. I am the butt of all jokes, and my sick grandmother complains and doesn't want my "veggie crap" when I offer to cook dinner. My family complains when they come home to a vegetarian dinner. I am doing all I can to make this change work for me, but Rome was not built in a day. My mom even "joked" complaining that the next thing I would make us do is start a compost heap. I would like to start a garden first, but the "joke" was un-called for. Why not start composting? Especially when we no longer have a garbage disposale.
On top of everything, my little cousin has come to live with us since her mother died. She is 10 years old, autistic, has health and behaviorial problems, and loves going to the farmer's market, cooking, and wants to garden. I am trying to help her be healthy and keep my family from falling down this contiously slipping slope. How can she grow when I am the only one encouraging her to try new things and develop healthy habits?
I am overwhelmed right now. Holidays are dismal. How am I supposed to enjoy our get together when nothing I cook will be eaten, everyone will complain about me, and I cannot eat anything others prepare. I would love to be involved with an active veggie community and find friends who accept my choices. But all of the world seems to be conspiring against me. I welcome all friends, invites, recipes, or ideas.:help::help:
I have been veg-friendly all my life, but especially since dating a long term vegetarian and learning to make all of the dishes I loved without meat. Then, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and chronic migraines. To top it all off, I needed an allergy test and learned that I was ALLERGIC to all meat except turkey, freshwater fish, and shellfish. I had gone Kosher years before, so that left minimal meat to eat. I then found out that I had IBS along with the other chronic conditions, so my body could not digest the food. I gave up eating meat in order to have a healthier, happier, fuller life.
Now I have started buying organic, joined a CSA, and subscribe to various veggie mags to get ideas on making my life more full in its new environment. Unfortunately, I have just moved back to the country, away from civilization and all of the understanding that it brings with it. I have to drive 30 minutes to get a good vegetarian meal and am currently living off some good TV dinners and peanut butter concoctions.
Everytime I adapt my life to what I feel it needs, my family is nothing but critical. I am the butt of all jokes, and my sick grandmother complains and doesn't want my "veggie crap" when I offer to cook dinner. My family complains when they come home to a vegetarian dinner. I am doing all I can to make this change work for me, but Rome was not built in a day. My mom even "joked" complaining that the next thing I would make us do is start a compost heap. I would like to start a garden first, but the "joke" was un-called for. Why not start composting? Especially when we no longer have a garbage disposale.
On top of everything, my little cousin has come to live with us since her mother died. She is 10 years old, autistic, has health and behaviorial problems, and loves going to the farmer's market, cooking, and wants to garden. I am trying to help her be healthy and keep my family from falling down this contiously slipping slope. How can she grow when I am the only one encouraging her to try new things and develop healthy habits?
I am overwhelmed right now. Holidays are dismal. How am I supposed to enjoy our get together when nothing I cook will be eaten, everyone will complain about me, and I cannot eat anything others prepare. I would love to be involved with an active veggie community and find friends who accept my choices. But all of the world seems to be conspiring against me. I welcome all friends, invites, recipes, or ideas.:help::help: