How did you explain your vegetarianism to friends and family?

3372 Views 23 Replies 20 Participants Last post by Mike4891, Mar 4, 2012

ShelterHelper

Discussion Starter · Feb 1, 2012

I recently became vegetarian and so far I've not mentioned it to many people.
My housemates are the only people I've told.

I was met with looks of astonishment. I might gradually try to explain to them why I no longer eat meat or drink milk. I don't want to sound pushy. I want them to be interested in why I made the choice. That way they might actually listen to what I am saying.

Any tips on how you explain to people? I want to be hounest with people but don't want to come across as preaching to people.

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ShelterHelper

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 1, 2012

Becoming a vegan is my goal but I still occasionally by things with eggs in them etc as I am still learning what to buy.

I am not drinking milk or eating eggs. But I know that there is more to veganism than that. No milk or eggs in any food items, no animal derived ingredients in anything, no honey, no leather clothing or shoes etc etc.

I'm not sure if some of the things I eat are actually vegan or not. I'm just learning really. Until I have proved to myself that I am actually a vegan then I think I'll just say vegetarian. Not that it really matters. I know what I'm trying to do so it doesn't really matter what label gets slapped on it

)

I think you are right about not preaching to people. If you do that their guard will likely go up straight away. I am just going to plant seeds and hope it might make people think about it themselves and hopefully do some research. Then maybe they will at least consider reducing their intake of animal products.

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JoBravo

· #3 · Feb 1, 2012

Be honest.
Be rational.
Either be prepared to defend your choice or be prepared to shut down the conversation.

ElaineV

· #4 · Feb 2, 2012

Some of my spiels include:
"For animals, the planet, and human health."
"I don't want to hurt animals."
"Animals are my friends, not my food."
"Because I don't have to eat animals to survive." or "Because I can."
"Sure it tastes good, but that's not a good enough reason to do it."

Sometimes I just hand them a Vegan Outreach pamphlet and say, "This pretty much sums it up."

More and more I'm trying to respond: "Why aren't you vegetarian?" or "Why do you ask?"

ShelterHelper

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElaineV

More and more I'm trying to respond: "Why aren't you vegetarian?" or "Why do you ask?"

That is a really good response. It might open up conversation with that person. It will also get them to realise that they can't actually defend their own standpoint.

Shyvas

· #6 · Feb 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElaineV

Some of my spiels include:
"For animals, the planet, and human health."
"I don't want to hurt animals."
"Animals are my friends, not my food."
"Because I don't have to eat animals to survive." or "Because I can."
"Sure it tastes good, but that's not a good enough reason to do it."

Sometimes I just hand them a Vegan Outreach pamphlet and say, "This pretty much sums it up."

More and more I'm trying to respond: "Why aren't you vegetarian?" or "Why do you ask?"

I like all the above and must jot them down.

Except for my daughter (she wishes that she had the willpower as she loves the fact), I haven't told one single person as I'm not up to feeling like someone on a witness stand.

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.Goth-Alice.

· #7 · Feb 2, 2012

I know it can be hard, especially what to call yourself, when you arent 100% vegan, and having to explain...well Im vegetarian, but I dont drink milk or wear leather or use cosmetics tested on animals...sometimes its easier just to say Vegan when youre not quite there. Personally I say im VIP...Vegan in Progress.

The best thing to do is be honest, if people ask me I say because I dont want to eat/wear things that were living and I dont want to be a part of animal torture for vanity. If they dont want an honest answer, they shouldnt ask in the first place.

LadyMetal87

· #8 · Feb 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Goth-Alice.

I know it can be hard, especially what to call yourself, when you arent 100% vegan, and having to explain...well Im vegetarian, but I dont drink milk or wear leather or use cosmetics tested on animals...sometimes its easier just to say Vegan when youre not quite there. Personally I say im VIP...Vegan in Progress.

The best thing to do is be honest, if people ask me I say because I dont want to eat/wear things that were living and I dont want to be a part of animal torture for vanity. If they dont want an honest answer, they shouldnt ask in the first place.

That's a really nice, quick answer

. I've recently got really into cooking and I've had some really good receptions from my omni friends. Before that they took the piss out of me but now they are showing signs of interest and are happy for me to cook for them

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Clueless Git

· #9 · Feb 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShelterHelper

Any tips on how you explain to people?

'Lo ShelterHelper

I had to find a very simple explanation to overcome a language barrier whilst explaining this (why so many English are vegetarians) to a donkey-kicking (yes he did!) Turk once.

Having found enough pidgeon English to confirm his understanding that animals had to die in order for people to eat meat, It went something like this.

"Do you think the animals want to die or want to live?"

"They want to live of course"

"Vegetarianism is a way of living without killing others who want to live not die"

He ponders ...

"People like you, my freind, are too clean for such a dirty world."

Damn sure he never turned vegetarian, or stopped kicking donkeys, but I kinda know he understood.

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be_it

· #10 · Feb 10, 2012

I always just respond that I like animals a lot better when they're alive. Then answer whatever question comes next. If they get mean, I end the conversation. If they ask about protein or what I can eat I respond nonchalantly. If you get defensive they will get attacky. The entire reason doesn't need to come out at once, if they are people who stay in your life, they are more likely to ask more questions as they think of them if you just answer them nicely.

andre'martins

· #11 · Feb 12, 2012

I say that there are, at least, 3 main reasons to go vegetarian - Your health, the Environment and Animal Rights - and then I explain each one of them if they start moking those reasons, which is what usually happens.
People seem to feel offended when we tell them we're vegetarians, because, in a way, we're stating that we're better humans than they are, but the truth is that it is true. We can't do much about it but to deal with it .

sparklegloss

· #12 · Feb 12, 2012

Just be honest and give a simple answer so there's no debate. I told my dad who's a big meat eater that I'm now a vegetarian and he asked me why and I just told him that I'm doing it for the animals and hubby's a vegetarian and our daughter even told me to stop eating animals and they should go back to the farm and have a rest there and be happy.

I just kept my answer simple.

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falconbrother

· #13 · Feb 13, 2012

I don't try to educate people. I just do my thing. If you try to educate people they seem to take it as my being supercilious so, I just don't bother. I figure actions speak louder than words anyway.

peacefulveglady

· #14 · Feb 19, 2012

I am explaining to my family and friends and fellow Christians, that I no longer want to eat meat because one, my health is having a scare right now and I need to think of eating more healthier meals and foods and rather the overly processed crap that been served over the last 40 years or so, I also say I care for the animals that are in the shelters getting slaughtered for personal enjoying and fun because people wants more and more cruel eating, I also say that I need to be good Stewart of the planet earth by watching the environment, gettin rid of toxins in my life and combating pre cancer cells as we speak.
I don't need to eat an animal or an animal product to live, I need to eat live foods like veggies, salads, grains and nuts, wholesome foods and oats and I'll be starting to feeling better.

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Hagbard Celine

· #15 · Feb 20, 2012

It depends on who i'm talking to really. But basically i will do the 'you are what you eat', and point out the growing number of diseases on the rise due to the junk people eat that can hardly be considered food, as well as the hard evidence that we evolved for tens of millions of years in the jungles of africa eating a fruit-based diet which-as a lot of evidence suggests- actually played a role in our evolution via a type of plant/human symbiosis

Plus i don't get sick anymore, have way more energy, a sharper mind (i hope?), and generally feel a million times better than i did eating meat and fast food all the time

Rachel Bonneau

· #16 · Feb 21, 2012

honestly, I don't explain it. if someone notices (which isn't very often, actually), I'll simply say 'I'm not big on meat' and leave it at that. if they try to needle a response out of me, I'll just raise an eyebrow and stare at them until they get uncomfortable and leave me alone.

goods of eden

· #17 · Feb 21, 2012

So far I have explained it only to people that actually care about it. My boyfriend and some of my family is very supportive, course most of my family teases me about it. Have a few friends who purposely tease just to get a reaction (which they don't get). so I think if anyone asks I will just keep it short and sweet unless they seem sincerely interested.

pasty

· #18 · Feb 22, 2012

I tell them I got tired of crapping my pants, so I stopped eating indigestible things, which in my case was meat.

Mike4891

· #19 · Feb 22, 2012

Oh, many people are defensive: when someone asks why I'm veg*n, looking to argue, I usually answer "Factory farming." which sidesteps all of the basic moral complexities and opens immediate opportunities to educate on environmental issues.

Nishani

· #20 · Feb 22, 2012

I didn't really need to explain it to my family. I just said that's what I am and they just went "oh". I got the feeling that they weren't that comfortable about it back then but my family is of English origin so they can suffer from over-politeness at times, so even though they wanted to say it was not wise or something, they felt too uncomfortable to bring it up.

I remember one friend saying "but what about BBQ's!" like that was a big deal cos I was going to ruin them all.

The best way to handle it is to be well-informed with facts about veg/veganism so when they try to make arguments that aren't logical you can set them straight. If you don't have a lot of patience, try to develop some because people you know are going to ask you the same dumb **** over and over.

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