Having a non-vegan family can be challenging, but it is essential to understand the reasons behind adopting a plant-based lifestyle. This can lead to tension, arguments, and even separation. To make the transition to a vegan lifestyle, it is crucial to be confident about your reasons for going vegan, such as health, animals, and the environment. It is also important to find common ground with your family, as they may have different preferences and needs.
When living with a non-vegan family, it is essential to find vegan recipes that your family will love. Just because you are vegan doesn’t mean you have to eat. In this article, we discuss various tips and strategies for navigating veganism in a non-vegan family, including communication, finding common ground, and making meals for both vegans and yourself. If you are struggling to keep everyone fed and satisfied, here are five suggestions to keep your whole family satisfied.
Living as a vegan in a non-vegan family can be tough both practically and emotionally. To overcome resistance, learn how to communicate your reasons, address their concerns, and find a resolution. If meat-eaters in your family are open to eating the occasional vegetarian meal, that’s the option that requires the least amount of additional work. Swap recipes you find and want to make, and compare notes on what works and what doesn’t. If your family isn’t supportive, a buddy can motivate you when you’re having a hard time.
To make veganism work for you and your family, follow these expert tips:
- Lead by example. Don’t be pushy or preachy. Get a vegan recipe book with good pictures and do the meal planning for the week. Explain why the meals are necessary. Make sure your home is stocked with plenty of plant-based and vegan-friendly alternatives.
In the beginning, try making one or two plant-based dishes to complement your partner’s otherwise omnivorous meals. Chop all vegetables and separate them into two pans, adding all other ingredients to both pans. You could also find a compromise and persuade them to be a part-time vegetarian, eating veggies during the week and sharing family meals during the week. Most well-balanced meals should contain about 4-5 food groups, giving plenty of variety even if a specific group is not a part-time vegetarian.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| How to become vegetarian when your family isn’t | Get a vegan recipe book. One with good pictures helps. Do the meal planning for the week and offer to do all the cooking. Explain why the meals … | quora.com |
| How to go vegetarian if your spouse isn’t | Grain bowls – usually a hearty dish with a base of brown rice or quinoa. I add a protein like roasted chickpeas or black beans, avocado, fresh … | reddit.com |
| Tips for Eating a Plant-Based Diet When Your Family … | It will be impossible to commit to your diet without making sure your home is stocked with plenty of plant-based and vegan friendly alternatives. | thetennillelife.com |
📹 Tips to go Vegan in a NON-Vegan Household (Parents, Roommates, etc)
In this episode of the Vegan Starter Kit, I talk about how you can go vegan when your parents or housemates are not! If you have …
What Are 3 Reasons Not To Be Vegetarian?
Being a vegetarian comes with potential drawbacks, including low levels of Vitamin D and Zinc, risks of anemia, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. While vegetarian and vegan diets may promote longer life spans—about seven and 15 years respectively compared to meat-eaters—they also carry risks like protein deficiencies and inadequate vitamin and mineral intake. Common concerns include the difficulty of obtaining essential nutrients found in animal products, such as Vitamin B12 and certain fats.
Moreover, many believe that vegan food can be unappetizing, primarily consisting of nuts and fruits. Some individuals struggle with cravings or feel disconnected from societal eating habits. Additionally, the environmental impact of vegetarian diets isn’t clear-cut, as meat production can be efficient in food output. Reasons for choosing vegetarianism often include ethical beliefs, health considerations, and cultural practices. Still, making the transition to a vegan lifestyle can be complex due to medical issues requiring specific diets or allergies.
Thus, while there are compelling reasons to go vegetarian, the associated health risks and practical challenges often lead some to reconsider their dietary choices. It's crucial for potential vegetarians to plan and educate themselves about nutrition.
Do Vegetarians Age Faster Than Meat Eaters?
A vegan diet does not inherently influence aging rates compared to diets that include meat. While some studies suggest vegetarians could age faster due to nutrient deficiencies or inefficient nutrient absorption, a well-balanced plant-based diet may protect against premature aging. Claims that vegetarians live longer than meat-eaters often overlook other lifestyle factors such as higher exercise rates and lower alcohol consumption among vegetarians.
Despite some misconceptions, both vegans and vegetarians typically enjoy longer life expectancies and lower disease risks. Research indicates that lifestyle, rather than diet alone, plays a significant role in longevity. Veganism, which eliminates all animal products, may contribute to overall health, but no diet guarantees a pause in aging. Studies indicate vegans, especially men, may not die earlier than meat-eaters, and they often exhibit youthful appearances.
While there is speculation about potential aging effects of a vegan diet, it is essential to focus on a nutrient-rich selection of whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables to promote healthy aging. Ultimately, further research is needed to comprehensively understand lifespan differences between vegans and non-vegans.
How Can I Get B12 As A Vegetarian?
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a crucial water-soluble vitamin essential for bodily functions. It is primarily sourced from animal-derived foods such as eggs, dairy, and meat, but vegetarians can obtain it from fortified foods and specific plant-based sources. To ensure adequate B12 intake, vegetarians should consider incorporating foods like low-fat yogurt, cheese, eggs, fortified plant-based milk, cereals, and nutritional yeast into their diets. Additionally, mushrooms and algae are potential sources of B12 for those seeking plant-based options.
For individuals transitioning to a vegetarian or vegan diet, it is vital to know how to meet their B12 needs, as unfortified plant foods typically do not supply this nutrient. While some sources suggest B12 supplementation or injections for raising levels quickly, responsible consumption of eggs and dairy can provide sufficient amounts for vegetarians. Fortified products, such as plant-based milks, cereals, and imitation meats, can also support B12 intake for vegans. In summary, diligent dietary planning with the right fortified foods ensures vegetarians and vegans maintain healthy B12 levels, promoting overall well-being.
What Is The Best Age To Become Vegan?
A vegan diet can provide complete nutrition for individuals at any age, including teens transitioning from vegetarianism. It’s crucial for growing teens to consume a variety of foods to ensure adequate nutrient intake for growth and development. Individuals interested in adopting a vegan lifestyle can learn about its benefits, challenges, and practical tips for transitioning, including meal preparation, social interactions, and engaging in animal activism.
While it's essential for all ages, including those over 50, to properly plan a vegan diet to avoid deficiencies in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12, the health benefits of a plant-based diet are notable. A gradual transition, focusing on manageable changes over four to eight weeks, is recommended. Resources like recipes, nutrition advice, and support from organizations such as The Vegan Society can aid in this journey. Learning to prepare vegan meals is an invaluable skill, even for those who might not initially enjoy cooking.
It's important to navigate social situations and the non-vegan world effectively. Anyone can adopt a vegan diet, with careful planning to ensure adequate nutrient intake, making it appropriate and safe for all ages. Moreover, while a vegan diet may not slow aging, it can contribute to a healthier appearance and potentially alleviate age-related health issues.
What Should I Do If My Parents Are Not Vegan?
If your parents are against your vegetarianism, suggesting a visit to a doctor or registered dietitian (RD) for reassurance about your nutritional health might help. Familial misunderstandings about vegetarian diets can create challenges, especially during social gatherings. If your family expresses concerns, engage in open dialogue to address their fears. Enlisting the support of a knowledgeable vegetarian can help alleviate their worries. Present them with facts regarding the health benefits of vegetarianism and encourage conversations about your lifestyle choices.
Familiarize them with vegetarian meals and invite them to cook together, which allows them to see the deliciousness of plant-based food. Utilizing positive reinforcement can make them more receptive; express gratitude for the vegan meals they prepare. Equip them with information, like vegetarian cookbooks or starter kits, to foster understanding. It's essential to clearly communicate your reasons for becoming vegetarian and to reassure them that you are informed about nutrition, mitigating their concerns.
This approach will help combat any misconceptions and can lead to a harmonious living environment, despite differing dietary choices. Building a supportive network of friends and family who understand your lifestyle can also provide additional assistance. Remember, knowledge and patience are key to navigating these discussions with your parents.
How To Be Vegan When Your Partner Isn'T?
Communicate openly with your partner about your respective dietary choices and values. Understanding why your partner is interested in veganism fosters empathy. Respecting each other’s dietary preferences is crucial, especially when one partner is vegan while the other enjoys meat. It can be challenging, but with effort from both sides, it's manageable. To navigate this, consider these tips: explore restaurant menus in advance, prepare plant-based dishes alongside your partner’s meals, and offer delicious vegan options to entice them.
Encourage healthy choices without pushing your lifestyle on them, and avoid guilt-tripping. You can create a mixed-diet household that accommodates both parties by incorporating vegan meals as a staple, sharing dishes, and directly asking for support. Additionally, educate your partner about the benefits of veganism for their goals. Emphasize kindness and respect when discussing diet differences, and remain open to compromise.
Remember, each person can only change when they genuinely want to, so allow them the freedom to make their own choices. Embrace the uniqueness of your relationship while enjoying your respective dietary lifestyles in harmony.
How Unhealthy Is A Vegetarian?
Following a vegetarian diet can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers; however, some vegetarian diets overly depend on processed foods high in calories, sugar, fat, and salt, potentially leading to health issues. Research conducted in the UK over two decades involving almost 50, 000 individuals examined the correlation between diet and stroke risk, differentiating between hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. A recent study suggested that certain vegetarian diets could induce mutations, increasing susceptibility to heart disease and colon cancer.
Consuming diets heavy in refined grains, preserved vegetables, and sugary beverages can elevate health risks. Nonetheless, properly planned vegetarian diets are nutritionally adequate and beneficial for health prevention, as recommended by the American Dietetic Association. While vegetarian diets typically contain fewer calories and lower saturated fat, they also offer higher fiber and vitamin content. Vegetarians generally exhibit lower weight and reduced cancer rates.
The motivations for adopting a vegetarian lifestyle vary, including health benefits and ethical consideration towards animals. Despite its advantages, an unbalanced vegetarian diet lacking essential nutrients like B12, iron, and calcium could pose health risks, underscoring the importance of mindful food choices within a vegetarian framework.
How To Eat Vegetarian When Your Family Is Not?
To accommodate both plant-based eaters and omnivores, consider meals like loaded baked potatoes or make-your-own pizzas; you can also create customizable burrito bowls with beans, rice, grilled veggies, and more. Understanding the motivations behind adopting a plant-based diet is crucial, whether it's for health, ethics, or environmental reasons. Celebrate your transition to a meat-free lifestyle with family by cooking vegetarian meals together and sharing your favorite plant-based recipes, while ensuring that everyone enjoys mealtime without constant kitchen struggles.
Here are four tips for integrating veganism into a non-vegan family setting: Stay confident in your dietary choices, making it clear why you're going vegan. It's essential to find mutual ground and navigate potential tensions with family members. Introduce exciting vegan dishes that appeal to all, proving that plant-based eating doesn't mean settling for bland food. Engage your family by meal planning and cooking to make this new diet more inclusive.
You might also opt to serve plant-based meals alongside traditional dishes—like veggie burgers with regular ones or hearty chili. Lastly, communicate openly about your diet, inspiring others with the benefits of your choices, while allowing for individual meal preferences when dining out or grilling. By doing so, you can successfully coexist with family members who aren't vegan.
What Is The Hardest Part Of Being A Vegetarian?
Being a vegetarian can provide ample protein and fiber, but certain nutrients like iron and omega-3s may be challenging to obtain. The cultural perception of "meat=manliness" in America complicates the vegetarian experience, making the initial years particularly tough. This phase involves navigating new food choices and handling social situations, such as family gatherings, where one may be the only vegetarian. People often choose vegetarianism for ethical or health-related reasons; however, concern over nutrient deficiencies can deter some from transitioning to a vegan lifestyle.
Although vegetarian diets are naturally low in fats and high in fiber, they still require creativity to meet nutritional needs without meat. Social pressures can make dining at others' homes uncomfortable, as it may feel impolite to decline certain foods. Moreover, many misconceptions surround the difficulties of following a plant-based diet, often focusing on nutrient intake rather than the psychological challenges of feeling different or socially isolated.
Despite the advantages of a vegetarian diet, finding sufficient variety in food options can also be an obstacle. Overall, while vegetarianism has its challenges, particularly in a meat-centric society, it can be achieved with intention and planning.
Why Do Vegetarians Look Younger?
A plant-based diet is rich in vitamin C, lysine, antioxidants, and beta-carotene, which contribute to collagen production and help maintain youthful skin. Research indicates that vegans may age slower than meat-eaters, as their diet often results in fewer wrinkles and reduced oxidation and inflammation related to aging. However, a high intake of refined carbs among vegans may negate these anti-aging benefits.
The actual aging process is nuanced, with some vegetarians aging faster due to missing nutrients. A recent study suggests adopting a vegan diet can slow aging signs significantly, as participants showed improvements in skin health within eight weeks.
Individuals on a vegan diet are generally lighter and exhibit lower insulin resistance than their meat-eating counterparts. Despite this, many vegetarians may experience decreased psychological well-being compared to meat-eaters. Notably, while a vegan diet might not inherently slow down aging, it can help one appear younger and alleviate common age-related ailments. Anecdotal accounts, such as that of a 70-year-old chef looking 30 years younger due to her diet, support the notion that a well-planned vegan diet boosts skin health and overall vitality. It’s suggested that the anti-aging effects of this diet stem from its ability to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, yet the results depend on consuming healthy vegan foods consistently.
📹 The Vegan Teacher isn’t vegan!
Her fridge has like 4 000 vegetables and a pepperoni stick which is really interesting um don’t ask any questions about it …
coming from a mexican household that puts cheese, meat, butter and chicken flavoring in absolutely everything it’s sooooo hard especially when i TRY to inform how meat is affecting our health. i buy all of my vegan food and it all gets thrown out bc ‘it’s bad for me’. we really need the documentary What The Health in other languages
I know a lot of my family makes jokes about me being vegan such as asking how my parents messed up, teasing me with meat/dairy, saying I can’t eat any food, etc. I usually laugh along because I don’t want to be labeled as “another one of those sensitive, butt hurt vegans who thinks everyone should cater to their lifestyle” but it’s honestly kind of hurtful at times.. mostly because I don’t want to get made fun of for a lifestyle that means something to me. I also don’t appreciate people throwing “facts” in my face about how the meat/dairy industry works and about human biology and how all of that makes veganism pointless. That is not something I would EVER do to someone, even if I disagreed, I never go around being a preachy vegan. All I ask is to kindly leave the animal products off my plate! I just don’t understand why people, ESPECIALLY FAMILY, feel the need to make someone feel like crap about a lifestyle that makes them feel good, especially if it doesn’t harm anyone.
I love how supportive you are even if someone isn’t able to be fully vegan at the moment. Not all, but a lot of vegans look down on people who make “excuses” which is what they would call them. I’m Asian and there’s a lot of people in my family, who all heavily eat meat and we usually just cook a giant pot of something that’ll feed everyone and last a few days. I try my best to eat Vegan but I also have to eat what is available, even if it means just picking out the meat or separating some on the side before my parents add in the meat. Other vegans always say, “it’s not expensive, I’m sure your parents can buy you beans/vegetables/etc.” but if your family has enough money to buy for a dish for everyone, it’s a little selfish or just hard to ask for separate things from everyone else. One day, I do plan to be completely vegan, but I just can’t do it 100% yet but I am still doing all that I can and I love and respect you so much, being 100% vegan, for understanding that. You’re literally my favorite Vegan and give me hope! <3
I first found out about veganism 9 years ago (I was 13 at the time) and really made me think about not only the planet but also my health. Also, at the time I was living with my grandparents and my mother so when I brought it up it was definitely a shock to them and they opposed. I tried to be vegan but I could only do it one day due to everyone’s lack of support and also because in mexican households 98% of groceries are animal products lol. Now I’m 22 years old and finally live on my own. I have been vegan for around 4-5 months and feel amazing! At first I never thought I would be able to keep up but I’m proud of myself because I’ve made it this far lol
Caitlin! Today marks 2 weeks of me going vegan and its mostly because of you! I come from a hispanic household and i never in a million years would’ve thought that i could become vegan but one day i got a recommended article from you and i just kept perusal more and more of your articles and you made it seem so attainable. I started perusal move vegan articles and documentaries and I finally made the change. I made the change from meat eating, to veganism overnight 2 weeks ago and i feel so great! I’m sleeping more, i feel more energized through out the day, I don’t feel the need to ever take a nap, my face is almost completely clear from all acne (i’ve suffered from really bad acne since my teenage years and i never thought that i could have clear skin!) i also started getting a rash on my arm that i thought was from the sun but since i started eating plant based it hasnt acted up once and ive been in the sun a lot. I’ve lost 6 pounds also (which is a good thing since I am overweight) but i’ve just seen so many positive changes in my life and i’m just so thankful to you and your articles. You really are an inspiring person and i’m so glad to have found your youtube website! Thank you for all that you do! You truly have changed my life for the better! 🙂
My mom basically said this to me today (but in french😂😂) : I don’t want to loose my mother’s job because you can’t cook things for everybody but she said that she knew nothing about how cook a “healthy” vegan meal so she couldn’t. So I said: I can cook my own meal My mom: but i would loose my mothers job Me: no the mother’s job is to be supportive white my opinion and let me being more (I don’t know what is the English for the french word “autonome” it basically mean doing thing by my self)!
I’m 17 and live with my dad, but he allows me to make the grocery list/do the shopping & gives me a budget and supported me when i decided to go vegan (I cook and prepare almost everything I eat and I cook for him too so I guess that’s why he didn’t really care)! It really sucks how some parents won’t even let their children at least try to go vegan… like they’re trying to be healthy lmaoooo
being vegan in an asian household is almost impossible, trust me. there’s no problem in regard to most dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese. but, it’s certainly an issue because of meat and eggs, and also, how strict asian parents generally are, not being allowed to cook some of your meals, and entangle my mom’s job as a parent since she would have to cook something different apart from what she cooks for the rest of the family, and so. oh, and also them not allowing me to become vegan.
I’m 14 and it’s my 3 day so far. I don’t really even crave anything yet and I hope that doesn’t change haha ❤️ I love animals and after perusal the documentary Earthlings I cried and almost puked. And I also love the nature and vegetables and fruits and I love cooking too, so I think veganism is perfect for me. 💚🌏💚
When I’m at university it’s easy to eat vegan food when I want it (I’m just veggie technically), but coming home for the summer is SO difficult! My mum used to be vegetarian yet whatever research I present her with she disregards with one of the classic meat eater excuses. My parents think I’m just going through being a student and thinking I know everything, when really I have spent hundreds of hours researching this movement, it’s so frustrating! Buttttttttt I’m buying a food processor when I get paid so yay can finally make smoothie bowls
Great tips! There is another situation that would be great to cover in this series: couples where only one person is vegan. I’m married to an meat eater and most of our food is cooked in a vegan way and he just cooks his meat separately whenever he likes. When I turned vegetarian and I was cooking, Sometimes I still prepared something for him as well because when it was his turn to cook, he always did something for me too. When I turned vegan I stopped cooking and buying animal products for him (there were lots of explanation on WHY I did it). He respected my choice and agreed on using vegan ingredients in our common food (vegan butter and milk for example). So everything we cook is somehow adapted to be vegan and when he wants to mix meat/cheese he will take a bit in a separate pan and add his stuff. We have some utensils for exclusive use of vegan food, which is great. Off course I would prefer not having these products at home at all, but this was my decision so I have to respect his time the same way he respects my choices.
can you do a article on how to read ingredients lists (like what to look out for etc) or how to make sure you’re getting enough protein etc in your diet? i feel like i don’t know what a healthy diet consists of in the first place (like how many carbs/protein/veg i need per day) so trying to make my diet vegan on my own seems scary bc i don’t want to be malnourished or anything! btw this series is really cool i’m glad you’re doing them!
I wanted to go vegan but since I’m naturally a small person my parents said no cause I already wasn’t getting enough protein. But I told them if I at least went vegetarian I could cut out meat for a start A) no more McDonald’s or random meat junk food and B) I wouldn’t be incorporating myself to killing animals at least. Now I’ve been vegetarian for 3 months and feel a lot more healthier and better since I know I’m not harming any animals!
Love this article Caitlin! I agree! It’s so important to show people that vegans eat more than salad. I’m so passionate about coming up with new ways to make vegan food taste good and share it with my vegan and non-vegan friends. I think even if people aren’t on a plant based diet they can still do a lot of good for themselves and for the environment by having some vegan meals throughout the week so hopefully that will help make vegan food a lot more common and more widely accepted 🙂 Love this series! Keep up the good work girly <3
I have recently stared to implement Veganism into my diet it was really difficult because I live with my parents (I’m a college student who works to pay for all my college tuition) but they buy and cook all my meals for me. At first I stated by having a vegan breakfast then the next week a vegan breakfast and lunch and so on. Since this was a small difference in my diet my family hasn’t really seen a problem with it. Now a month later my mom,who does the grocery shopping, will buy things that she knows I like and are vegan, sometimes she will even call me to ask if something it ok for me to eat!
i absolutely love this article. when u started talking about “being the perfect vegan” i beat myself up about times where i might slip up by eating something i didn’t know my mom made with butter or accidentally eating pasta my dad made alone side meat. i forget that my intentions are in the right place and i can learn from those mistakes and that it’s okay as long as i don’t give up. for the most part i make my own meals, i’ve really owned up to being vegan and knowing that this mature decision requires mature action. this is the second comment i write to just say thanks so much to you, caitlin but it never hurts to say it again. thank you for ur amazing, inspiring articles <3
I’m in the middle of veeeery slowly changing to a vegan diet. I know myself, and if I did it overnight it definitely wouldn’t stick! This way I’m super motivated and excited to try new plantbased oilfree meals every single day – without stressing out if I’m too busy/lazy to do lots, and just eat some yoghurt or a ham sandwich (for now). I just thought I’d share — if you’re like me and you suck at restricting yourself, I can definitely recommend just doing your best and never ever stressing about if it’s ‘good enough’ 🙂 Also, I now crave vegetable and never ever crave meat anymore – and I now feel super bloated, nauseous and disgusting after eating foods with lots of sugar… which is weird lol but GREAT
I’ve been perusal you for a year and a half (as long as i’m vegan) and still, every single article you make is soo helpful for me! I love the way you make everything easier for starting vegans and even for people that are following this diet for some time already. Thank you Caitlin, for inspiring me (and others) everytime a new article comes out. You are an amazing person. Hands down🙌
I’m 15 and I’m trying to go vegan but it’s really hard to not eat animal products in my house and it drives me crazy that I can’t be animal product free. My parent also think that veganism is a weird spiritual hippie thing (they’re Christians) and its really hard to be vegan with parents who are like that but this article helped me accept the fact that I’m trying my best and i shouldn’t beat myself up about something i can’t fully control right now.
I’ve had a plant-based diet before; I felt healthier, happier and better – I made my own meals as well. But my parents were never supportive about it, and bc my dad is a gp (doctor) he told me about some health issues for my growth and I believed him. So I stopped and started the paleo diet with my mum, (watched a lot of Sarah’s Day) which was a big mistake as I became unhealthy, fatty and miserable; but my dad supported this and I kept going – sometimes I would cry bc I knew what I was doing to the animals but I didn’t want to make my parents upset. I don’t know about you, but when I was a paleo I felt annoyed all the time and bc my mum is still on that diet, anything by “wasting money of buying vegan products” or mentioning the diet will tick her off and bc she’s on a diet to lose weight, it’s a very touchy subject when I talk about meals or diets as she makes them and I feel guilty as it might seem that I’m calling her fat; so I have left the idea for a while but I stopped the diet bc I knew it wasn’t me and I knew eating shouldn’t be a chore and thinking about food use to be draining for me. And now after all my research and my experiences. I want to start my plant-based diet again but I don’t think they will support me and I don’t want to start problems again about it. To top it all off, my friends and overall my community has a big stereotype towards vegans and some even claim to hate them, and although they may care or love me; it’s just really hard. Please comment and like this to help this 14y.
I went vegetarian and then vegan starting when I was 15. I lived in a household that was close to the poverty line and where we ate a very standard American diet. My mom did most of the cooking in our house, and she was mainly concerned that it would be very expensive and that I wouldn’t get enough to eat, but I stayed firm in my decision, and she actually began to enjoy many of the foods that we made vegan, and they were very affordable, as we didn’t often buy any meat replacements and just stuck to the basics! I am almost 27 now and still vegan, living with my boyfriend who switched to a vegetarian diet just before we started dating. Don’t lose hope! Just do your research, stay firm in your decision, and do the best you can 🙂
I’m currently living in two different households, one where my dad is vegetarian, but doesn’t make a lot of healthy food, and one where my mom has a lot of food sensitivities, my grandfather is paleo, gluten free and doesn’t eat cow products, and my grandmother is picky. thank you so much for this article! <3
I live with seven people(parents, 2 brothers, grandma, uncle, and sister-in-law) who love meat and dairy and I thought I would have to move out before going vegan. I talked with my step-mom and she’s letting me have my own drawer in the fridge for vegan only food!!! (My step-brother was also diagnosed with Celiac Disease over 10 years ago so none of us are strangers to dietary restrictions.) I honestly expected them to be really judgmental and while my dad kind of was, when I told my oldest brother that I was going vegan and about a conversation with someone at work (co-worker was trying to convince me that veganism wasn’t healthy and vegans were irrational) he said that person didn’t know what they were talking about, it’s not unhealthy, and that he respects vegans!! Also I love your necklace.
ever since I went vegan I started cooking for myself and im so happy I have more skill than the common 15 year old teen and a bit more than my mom, I also like cooking for my family and hearing they enjoy it. they also like buying me my alternatives like ice cream or pastries once in a while I’m so lucky to have a family like mine ^-^
You should make a “transitioning to vegan recipes” article that has vegan recipes that use only ingredients that most people have in their houses. Before I became vegan (about 1 year ago) the main problem I had was that I’d watch a lot of vegan recipe articles that used ingredients that the typical person wouldn’t own (like kale, quinoa, nutritional yeast, tahini etc) and I’d be put off. When I went vegan, I found out that I could eat many of the same foods that I was already having (like bread, pasta and cereal), and being vegan doesn’t require fancy expensive ingredients. On that note, maybe an “everyday foods that are actually vegan” article would be good too. Love your articles and I’m so glad that you’re making this series to help people become vegan!
tried explaining why because my husband and everyone around me are non vegans and they all still argue and tell me I’m gonna be sick and in the hospital and I don’t eat real food, so I give up explaining and talking about it…I’m just doing me and being vegan and learning and doing it all on my own and alone….good article, keep up the good work
Last week I started eating vegetarian for dinners and try my best to eat vegan for the rest of the day and I’ve honestly been loving vegetables so much. I used to be fairly picky about vegetables (but never any kind of meat bc my parents always praised me for eating meat) and I changed my attitude so fast my family keeps forgetting what I’ll eat now (I used to hate mushrooms and pepper but now I love them). Since meat (and a lot of dairy-lactose intolerant) is the only things I won’t eat so far, it hasn’t been that bad asking my mom to just not mix the meat in with the rest of the meal or scope out a portion for me before she does. Like tonight we had chicken pineapple stir fry and she just marinated the chicken and pineapple together and put them in a bowl on the side of the rest of the vegetable stir fry. I feel really proud of myself for doing this. I’ve wanted to go vegan for several months now and I told myself I would when I move out next year, but I couldn’t wait that long anymore so here I am being a vegetarian
I became a vegan when I was in 5th grade😂 so abt 5 years ago and my acne and health and everything just got better! Except my family thought I was crazy 😂 and they said that if I didn’t eat what they made I could “starve” and so for abt a month I went without sometimes and when my mom got worried abt me because I lost ALOT of weight. And she now buys things I’ll eat but I have to make it because she said she can barely cook😂😂 Thanks this article is suppeerrr helpful💛
YAY thank you!! My dad said I couldn’t be vegan until I knew more information about it, since Im the only person who wants to be vegan in my household. Super helpful! Ive also used so many of your what I eat in a days to my own lifestyle bc I need to be healthy and get all my nutritions. Love you so much and keep up the great work!
My friend’s toddler has developed a dairy allergy (tomatoes, too!). Could you do a article with some toddler-friendly vegan meal ideas? She is really overwhelmed trying to figure out what to feed her child, especially since none of their other family members have food allergies. I linked your website to her Facebook post about her son. I told her there’s vegan “cheese”, etc. I know she will enjoy your articles and will find some great ideas and info on here for her family! And I love your articles! 🏆 Picking up healthy ideas and tips here and there to incorporate into our meals. Love this new article series, too!!
I just wanted to say thank you! I’m not vegan, it’s just my personal preferences since I just love meat too much. However, for environmental and health reasons, I’ve decided to try incorporating more vegan food in my diet. I’m happy to say that I only eat meat ( seafood, chicken, red meat, etc. ) 3-4 times a week now, and the rest of my food are either vegan or vegetarian. I found that youtubers like yourself who doesn’t force their opinion down other people’s throat and actually provide new options for us are really helpful in changing my mindset. Before, I thought that all vegan would force their opinion on everyone else, so I thought that I would do the exact opposite that they’re telling me instead( childish, I know! ). I myself still live with my parents since I’m still 14 years old, but they’re very supportive with my decision! They’re actually pretty curious about what I’ve cooked and would sometimes ask to try it. I use my allowance money to buy beans and lentils since they’re pretty cheap, also my mom buys tofu and tempeh regularly since I live in Indonesia, so they’ve been a staple in our diet from the start! If I have extra money I’ll splurge on specialty stuffs like nutritional yeast, it’s very good! Thanks again, Caitlyn!
You give such wonderful advice about being a vegan that’s kind to fellow people. I think kindness and leading by example and offering delicious vegan food to share are great ways for people to influence others. Hatred and harsh judgement on others hardly ever leads to change. Most of the time it just creates tension and resentment. I changed when veganism became more accessible and I learned of the enormous environmental impact caused by the agricultural industry. Aggressive things never worked with me because I prefer to distance myself from aggressive situations. Sharing vegan options and educating me without judgement helped. Give people a chance.
The thing you said about doing the best that I can really resonated with me. I am so passionate about veganism and I am completely ready for the transition but my parents will NOT allow me to be vegan no matter what I say. When I am in control of what I’m eating I eat vegan, and that’s the most that I can do. I can’t wait for college so that I can join in on this lifestyle!
I’ve always been interested in living a vegan lifestyle and was first exposed to it by my middle school best friend (her family was vegan). I recently read the book How Not to Die, which changed my entire perspective on my health. I am doing everything in my power to slowly convert to veganism (meat only a few times a week, no dairy, etc.). I’ve struggled with acne and sensitive skin for years and it’s like a miracle that my skin is clearing up when I’ve tried every skin product. I realize that it’s best to treat your body from the inside out with whole, real foods. I’ll be full vegan when I move out in a couple of years!
Personally I took it in small steps. First cutting out red meat, then fish and chicken and then I went fully vegan. My parents were sceptical in the beginning, think they still are but are respecting my personal choice. My parents were vegetarians when they were young and I think that helped a little with the transition to vegan.
See I’m not Vegan, but I am Pescaratarian living with my parents and siblings, and yeah, they love their dairy, and eggs, and everything else: all the things I won’t touch. But I have found a lot of your articles very helpful as far as recipes and advice go. I really appreciate them. A lot of these recipes seem like things my family would enjoy. Edit: My mother did try going Vegetarian a long time ago. But it wasn’t financially sustainable.
Well, I still live with my mom. We made an agreement which says “If mom cooks, I’m a vegetarian. If I cook, I’m vegan”. I think this is one of the best ways how to deal with this ‘problem’ with non-vegan parents or people you live with. How you said, Caitlin, we can not expect someone who is taking care of what we eat etc would be happy from that (but it would be damn awesome, wouldn’t it?) So, thank you for your tips and I hope mine tip would help someone.
Lifesaver! I’m 12 and just became vegan! My parents eat a standard american diet. My Mom actually thought I was joking at first. I’ve been wanting to vegan for a long time now. Mostly ever since I learned people eat dogs. Usually meats would disgust me (bacon kinda stuff). So ya! Thank you so much 😀
Ah, it’s so amazing to hear a big vegan inspiration say that it’s okay to just do your best and not be a perfect vegan. I currently don’t have a job and I’m not able to afford separate food for myself than the rest of my family. When I can, I eat vegan, but unfortunately this isn’t an option for me completely while we’re all broke. Maybe you could do a vegan starter kit grocery list/grocery haul to show the best things for a beginner vegan? I don’t know if you have already, but it would be a great article in this series!
I’m so happy you made this article. I saw cowsparicy a year and a half ago and decided pretty quickly afterwards that I wanted to go vegan, but because my dad is very on the side of.. offence when it comes to animal care and the environment, I haven’t been able to switch 100% to a diet like that yet. It’s still a goal for me though, I’ve still decided that I wan’t to try going and staying vegan when I move out and you saying that this decision is okay is really inspiring to me. Thank you very much
I’m going vegan. And you are helping me SOO much. I live with my mom and my aunt and my mom is supportive but my aunt is not. So it’s been hard to transition. So I have cut it red meat for now and I’m going off to college in less than a month. Once I’m off on my own as will be buying my own Yeah I’ll be a vegetarian and work on becoming vegan from there.
I remember my first christmas being vegetarian. Told my parents beforehand about my new eating habit so that they‘d have the chance to prepare. But all they did was sausages like every year, they asked me why I don‘t cheat this one time for christmas and if I would be „normal” again next year. That hurts me still. Not being taken for serious. And that hinders me from even telling them that I turned vegan in the meantime. So sad.
I am financially dependent on my parents and still live with them (I’m 17, 18 in less than a month) and I told my parents that I wanted to become vegan. My mum didn’t ask many questions about it but she did go out and buy vegan groceries for me, because she didn’t want me to starve myself. She also said it is now my responsibility to cook for myself. 😊 which is fair, maybe I can change their minds with the food I’m making! 😁
I’m not vegan, but I am trying to incorporate some vegan meals on my day. I really like your recipes, you show a lot of variety and tasty meals. My brother is vegetarian and it freaks my mom because she can’t think of anything to cook when he comes (also he is a lousy vegetarian, who doesn’t eat veggies). Anyway, I can see that there are millions of things that you can do if you make vegetables the star of your meals
Whenever someone questions me about why I don’t eat animal products I answer with the truth, it started out as a weight loss journey, I always saw skinny vegans and figured my problem was that I was eating too much meat, but then I fell in love with the vegan community and how kind to everybody they were, then because I always loved my cat I figured if I don’t eat her because I see a personality and soul in her and it’s considered immoral to eat a cat then why eat other animals? Why isn’t that immoral. Then I got a puppy and began loving dogs and just began falling in love with animals and found respect for all living beings. So to me it’s a health and happiness benefit to me.
I’m 12 years old and I have stayed away from dairy products without knowing it… I don’t eat meat until dinner which then I eat only a small portion of meat and my acne disappeared. In a week in advance. Honestly I’ll never eat dairy or I’ll start getting pimples. Regular milk > Soy milk and almond milk Cheese > vegan cheese or none at all Sour cream > hummus or make your own pasty cream with vegan products. Yogurt > vegan yogurt (I have actually ate some.)
My husband and I are vegan and his parents went vegetarian after they kind of picked up on us whenever we visited them. Thankfully our family doesn’t judge us as other families do, but my family isn’t as open to my lifestyle as his family is. My mom always says that she is allergic to EVERYTHING and soy is bad so she wont be vegan (I don’t push it on her, I think it’s her conscious telling her she needs an excuse because she feels like she needs one to eat meat.) My dad and stepmom are super supportive. They make sure to always have vegan food in their home whenever I visit and are always thinking of me. I just moved back to my hometown and my dad bought a bunch of vegan sausages and coffee creamers and mayo and everything for me whenever I visit. He was a fisherman so it’s really amazing to see him changing and open-minded for me. In fact, they have a family dinner every Sunday and next Sunday they invited me and said they will make food for me too.
just found your website recently(: my mom doesnt understand and often gets angry offended when i try to explain the benefits. its frustrating because she doesnt cook and just buys be unhealthy frozen dinners (which can easily be traded in for vegan options) i finally convinced her to buy some soy and coconut milk products as well as more fruits so i can start adding to my diet and then limit meat/animal products all together
I told my parents that I wanted to go plant based yesterday and today for dinner they are asking me to come up with a grocery list of what we need to buy. I’m pretty new to this but I am really passionate about it. They have been on a “keto” diet, where they eat a high-fat low carb diet. I don’t really know what food to get because I want to meet in the middle with them by eating keto friendly vegan food, but I also wish to later on, tell them about HCLF and how it is better with fact-based evidence. I’m pretty sure that they are not going to go vegan yet because we grew up eating a standard Hispanic/Latino diet. The food we usually would cook with the stuff we have in our kitchen is also quite high in animal products and low in good carbs and fruits, so it is quite hard for me to even use what we have to make my own plant-based meals, and i can only eat chia seed pudding with berries for so long. What (high fat low carb) plant-based food staples should I get? Or if anyone has any advice (or advice in general) on how to show/tell them that they should be eating hclf instead. Thank you so much for any help and advice! (sry for this being so long, youtube comments are my therapy) I love your articles so much, Caitlin! <3
I find it easier to be vegan at home because my Mam is already vegetarian and I do all the cooking. But its harder in College with roomates. Last year I got lucky with a vegetarian and vegan roomate. This year though I’ll be moving in other non vegan people so its gonna be tougher sharing a kitchen 😛
I started off by eating vegan breakfast and lunch because I always make my own breakfast and lunch, then I would eat a vegetarian dinner cooked by my mum. Over time I convinced her to let me go vegan and I now do a lot of cooking with her to make my own vegan alternative while everyone else has meat, or I cook a vegan meal for my whole family and they add non-vegan things to theirs of they want to. It’s really not as hard as it seems, I think that’s mostly because I’m so willing to cook therefore I’m not putting pressure on my mum to cook vegan food for me all the time.
I’m 12 yrs old and I really wanna go vegan cause I know that it could help a lot with my health and the planet’s “health”. But my dad is kind of a very meat lover, my mom is almost vegetarian. And I kind of want to get so much information about what should I get to get all the protein I need and all the vitamins I need. Thank you for this article, helped me a looottt
I was a vegetarian for four years and went back to eating meat again for a year because I started dating a guy who kinda bullied me out of it in my second semester of college. I just went vegan recently and even though my parents thought it was overkill (no pun intended) I think that they’re starting to warm up to the idea more, especially now that I’m cooking all my own food.
As a vegan who is gradually converting my parents to the dark side (lol – it’s actually the light side), the best tip I could offer anyone is learn to make great vegan meals and offer to cook for everyone. You needn’t even mention that it’s a vegan meal until afterwards – just make it so good that they have to admit vegan food isn’t restrictive and boring!
Ayo this article made me feel a lot better and gave rlly helpful tips on how to become vegan. Im 16 and live in a very meat heavy dieted family and ive tried to go vegetarian and vegan before but it never quite worked out. But online i see a lot of people trying to persuade others to go vegan but saying stuff like you cant make any mistakes and if you do this your an awful person but never explaining why its so bad and never showing how to make even small changes. Seeing this article it was nice because you helped me realize this is a gradual process and ill make mistakes but i just need to try my best, i appreciate the understanding and patience it motivates me more to do better. I plan to do a lot more research and make sure to have at least one vegan meal a day. I also have a milk allergy(not lactose intolerant like i barf and my throat closes up and i cant breathe) and a shellfish and seafood allergy and a beef allergy somehow? idk its weird but they help with veganism since my family is very used to that, only difficulty for me is eggs and chicken but i plan to work on that! also i dont eat pork anyway, but yeah essentially with all my allergies itll make becoming vegan a lot easier and im excited to start making stronger efforts. Thank you for the tips 🙂
it was really helpful!!! I became vegan less than a month ago and my family is kinda conservative about eating meat bc I live in a country w traditional meal full of meat. So at first it was hard to talk w my mom about veganism ‘cause she thought it’s not good for my health and etc. but once she ate it and once I said about positive sides of being vegan she said okay 🥰 thanks!!!
Thanks you so much I’m 13 and I am telling my today (I was sick so I stayed home from school) so I’m writing down my reasoning and point and other things like expenses and just making a whole presentation to explain because my mom knows I’ve been thinking about this so it will be a shock but not that much
Myself, my mum and brother are all vegetarian but I’ve really thought about becoming vegan for like a month now. However I’m quite a picky eater which I’m scared would effect my mum’s opinion on my decision. When I became vegetarian she was very sceptical about it since she new I might not like a lot of vegetarian foods. I’m not sure how she’d take it if I said I wanted to be vegan plus it would mean that we would then have to make even more meals, since my other two brothers and my dad aren’t vegetarian or vegan. This would effect money and stuff and take more time. I’m kinda anxious to tell people since it is a difficult lifestyle to get used too.
Another tip for beginners, go vegetarian first. I know it is still killing animals and the harming the environment but it makes the change a lot more gradual for your family and is way better than eating all meat. My sister went pescatarian and was pescatarian for 6 months, then she started cutting out fish and after a month of that removed dairy and eggs (unless the eggs were from our own chickens). It made it much easier for my parents to get used to and she is now vegan (except our own chickens eggs)
I’m not vegan or vegetarian (yet) because I don’t feel that I’m prepared now to stop totally eating meat and fish (also because I live with my parents and they’re not vegan). so I started with little changes like I don’t drink milk or use butter/cream anymore, I started eating more whole foods and veggies/fruit. Also I love cooking so sometimes a week I cook vegan or vegetarian meals for me and my parents (mostly my mum) and actually she’s been liking! I think in some years I’ll be vegan (or at least vegetarian) 💚
I’ve been vegetarian since the end of november and honestly love it. I come from a Chinese household, where everything has some meat or animal products in it. I really want to be vegan, but even as a vegetarian, i’m constantly questioned by my family about whether or not I want to eat that meat in the fridge or criticized for my food choices. For me, it’s just that i’m scared of what they’ll think of me and how they’ll react if they’re so against being vegetarian. (also a note: I really don’t want to waste the food that we have in our house) update: i’m transitioning to being vegan after talking to my mom but she’s really concerned about my nutrient and vitamin deficiencies so idk what’s gonna happen
Hi, I am just starting my vegan journey. Don’t get me wrong, I totally wanna do it longterm and that it’s the right thing to do. But starting up I find it really hard to break habbits like eating cheese and choclate (which I love, espacially the milk choclate 🙁 ). Another hard one for me is social get togethers. For example when you go to a BBQ. I bring my own stuff to grill which is cool, but there are all these salats and things that other people made, and now all off a sudden I can’t have that anymore. It just feels a bit restrictive. Any advise on hoow to handle these isues? Greetings from Germany
I’d tried being vegetarian probably five different times. From the age 8-12 I tried to be vegetarian in a non-vegetarian/non-vegan house hold. I’ve finally gotten it down. Im 13 turning 14 soon and I’ve almost been vegetarian for 1 year. My mother and farther are very supportive about it and respect my decision but, I do have to make my own food except on very few occasions my parent’s try to make my food. I’m absolutley okay with making my own good. I actually prefer it. I go shopping with my father (he does the grocery shopping) and I pick out the food and he buys it which is absolutley amazing. I soon will turn vegan when I move out or get a job when I can drive so, I can buy my own food. I don’t expect them to spend lot’s of money on both vegan and non-vegan items. ( I have 5 people in my house-hold that eat meat. )
I did all of these things when becoming a vegetarian and my parents were completely unsupportive and all they would buy were salads but I just stuck to my diet and eventually they came around they still try to “tease” me with meat but they don’t realize that it has literally 0 effect on me but I’ve been a vegetarian for 7 months now and I’m loving it and I’ve been slowly trying to become vegan by cutting dairy out of my diet and then I need to work on cutting eggs out of my diet I hope to become vegan by the beginning of 2018
As a cuban teenager, going vegan is harder than it sounds… my parents not only reject the vegan lifestyle but prohibit me from not eating meat… even though we eat organic and pretty vegetable loaded foods, meat and animal products are a part of EVERY meal and my parents and I have gotten in huge arguments over me not eating meat because they 100% believe that not eating meat makes you sick and the only way vegans make it is by “swallowing a bunch of pills” (in my house we’re very against unnecessary medication) so my journey to veganism has been extremely difficult and i truly wish it were as easy as me cooking my own meals… most of the vegan meals i cook get meat added to them and then shoved down my throat… the worst feeling ever is KNOWING what you’re doing to yourself/the planet/the poor animals and still having to consume it. I have given myself indigestion and belly aches just thinking about the dead animal I’m being forced to eat and the suffering he/she had to experience to get to my plate… Bless all of the vegan community <333
Can you do a article on communicating against some negative stereotypes about vegans, if you are trying to explain why you went vegan? Also, a article about zero waste and shopping vegan would be so helpful. I initially found shopping vegan was difficult to get all of the groceries I wanted while trying to reduce the amount of waste I produced.
I am a vegetarian for now. But I want to eventually switch to full vegan. When I was home over the summer I was the only person who was a vegetarian I found it to be extremely easy. But my parents kept complaining saying that they are thankful they have one child who is vegetarian not all 4 of our children because eating a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle is very expensive. And sometimes when I go out to eat or to a family event I feel like I don’t eat as much. Because there just isn’t really much options for me.
hey girllllllll! So I’m 13 years old wanting to become a vegetarian, then a vegan lol. I want to go vegan because I’m thinking about getting more serious with my cross country. I eat tons of junk food that definitely negatively affects my health, so I’m looking forward to starting this weekend. This article helped a lot xx
I am lactose intolerant. I want to go vegan so badly. But not like the “imma buy these soy burgers that are frozen” vegan. I want to have 100% fresh unless I’m making a smoothie. I already go to the store most of the time cause it’s summer. I am willing to meal prep for school and make my food. I am called incapable of cooking, and told no even tho it will better my health so much.
I need advice from my fellow vegans: I’m on the search for a mattress. I have some back pain so I’m hoping to purchase a mattress for back pain and for combination sleeping positions (I’m a weird sleeper). Problem is none of the brands I’m interested are eco-friendly, and most importantly, vegan. Once I realized this I searched for some vegan mattresses. I found a handful of brands. However, most are super expensive and also don’t cater to the comfort specifications I need. So my question is: should I bite the bullet and shell out a couple hundred extra for a vegan, eco-friendly mattress that may be comfy but isn’t EXACTLY what I’m looking for, or do you think I should just buy the one item I need that I won’t purchase again for another 10 years, and try to forgive myself for knowingly lapsing. Any advice is appreciated. So sick of animal products being in literally EVERYTHING. Just had to give up my favorite soap I’ve been using for years because I realized it has tallow (lard) in it. -___-‘
Idk, not sure that I agree with your approach for this. If you ask me (and no one did), I think it would be better to ask to try different sources of protein for dinners, start reducing intake of dairy products, and enjoy the exploration of a new cuisine with the family. I think going at it from the perspective of an ideology will immediately raise suspicions and resistance, though being rational and informed makes a huge difference. “Going vegan” is not something I perceive many parents are likely to let their kids do. However, allowing the kids to help cook dinners, suggest ideas for different sources of protein, and then sharing tidbits of nutrition information with them might be a more cautious and reasonable approach. Also, I think it’s okay to say that people should not expect their families to provide vegan food for them. They should respect their family’s choices and not be entitled. And it’s okay to be concrete in saying that going vegan is a process, and that any reduction in animal products is better than nothing at all. Their awareness and attitude can compensate for factors beyond their control. Just some of my thoughts.
I just recently watched What The Health and I would like if you could make a article about how how diet truly does effect our health. I’m vegetarian and have been for about 8 years, and always wanted to succeed being vegan, but I would always mess up. Now I’m going to try again but not just for the sake of the animals, for the sake of my own health as well. Just a suggestion of a article you could add to this playlist:) Thanks for making articles like this, they’re very helpful.
I decided to go vegan 3 weeks ago, I wanted to give up meat for lent and I wanted to make my health a little better. People started questioning me. The days I told my 10, and 8 year old I was going vegan and if they wanted to join me they didn’t know what it meant. The next day I was making eggs for breakfast for them and my oldest saw one cracked and bloody☺️🤮🤢 and from that day he said no more eggs and then he said I’m giving up meat too. They were researching ingredients and they fell upon Gelatin and when they found out what gelatin is they stopped eating that. We are slowly transitioning yet we sometimes fall. Coming from a meat eating family since I was a kid is a change for everyone. We are learning new things though and that is great.
I want to go vegan because of the health benefits and to spread my love for animals it would be a little easier because I’m allergic to dairy and stuff like animal milk,eggs and cheese..but my mom knows that I used to like meat..I was eating it yesterday but I did a lot of research and I’m confident to go vegan I’m going to make a presentation! Good luck anyone else who is going vegan! Or vegetarian
Hi Caitilin, thank you for uploading this article. I live in Japan and veganism/vegetarianism is not considered socially acceptable(getting better but still so far from becoming a norm). I just told one of my family members about wanting to transition and she got so upset at me…In her real words, ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I didn’t know how to exactly react and the conversation kinda got worse from there. I really do want to go vegan but I just feel so oppressed at the moment. Anyway, i love your articles :)) wish me luck!!
after my parents tried 1 sit down dinner, and returned months later they were adamant to bring their own meats to cook here anyway. And I noticed they didn’t enquire about my breakfast attempt with avocado toast, just egg substitute, vegan soysage, and cofee with soy milk. Just silently eating, where just a year ago they asked and were wanting samples of anything I produced. i think its creating an authority power imbalance that makes them feel like I’m gloating im conquering a weakness for taste addiction they never signed up to overcome. That’s unfortunate, but they are human and I can understand why they might have preferred the consistency of treating another being as blundering always their whole life, so they can feel like the sane rescuers. But I can look that past that and just be happy they visit and we are all civil regardless.
ask your parents if you can go to the grocery store with them and pick your own foods. try to pick non-expensive whole foods instead of oreos and junk, it shows that you take it seriously. if they say no, just make them a list of things that you’d like. if they’re nice, they’ll come back with some of it (ive been doing this since i was little, so hopefully it will work for you). also learn how to cook !!! soups, pasta, and smoothies are probably the easiest, quickest, and most versatile foods to make and take to school. throw some frozen bananas, frozen berries, spinach, and orange juice into a blender and then put it in jar with a straw. boil some pasta and warm up a jar of pasta sauce and add mushrooms, lentils, and other veggies to it and bring it in a tupperware. chop up a bunch of potatoes, carrots, broccoli, etc. with some beans and let it simmer in vegetable broth + spices and you have soup !!! all my family and friends eat what i make until there’s pretty much nothing left, so if i can cook, anyone can. this works super well for me and has made transitioning to being vegan 10x easier. im still working on tryna educate my mom on the subject, but it’s hard aha. i hope this works for someone !!
I’m a 13 year-old school girl and I went vegan 2-3 months ago. I am currently living with my other 9 family members from which all of them are non-vegan. They think that I’m on a diet. I go with my dad to buy the essential vegan products and I make my own food but when my mom is making something that can be made vegan I ask her to make it vegan and I eat that too. So, it’s easy for me to live in a non-vegan house. 😀
this comment section about how everyone is facing a communication and belief hardship is fascinating reading truly, the persistence, consideration, and understanding for something that is ultimately pleasure reducing if you only think of what effects please your own senses is inspiring to discover there are non guru, non famous public personalities that are juggling self determination new approaches at life as well as being respectful of the existing situation figures of authority have already deemed as an unmovable right. Everyone’s answer vary, but they all wish for the same harmony for each other from both sides and thats really what matters, knowing theres good allocated for each other anytime.
I think it’s important when you’re the only vegan in a household, specifically a family setting, to be gentle when you inform the people living with you about why you’re going vegan. If I told my parents my true opinions about the meat, dairy and egg industry and the affect that animal foods have on your health then I know they would get offended and would have been less likely to let me go vegan.
I hope to go vegan soon im a vegetarian, the more i eat dairy i hate it, but atm im in an eating clinic (not for an eating disorder but for romination sydrome) and my dad said once i get over my rumniation he would be fine for me going vegan, i do try to pick out vegan options but sometimes i have to eat dairy
Also guys when you are going vegan and you have someone who cooks mainly try to just show them how it won’t be hassle for them. EX. If your family likes to grill alot (like mine) make shish kabobs with veggies. Or if your family is having a non vegan meal with something like rice or patatos just make something out of that don’t make a whole new meal or at least incorporate some of it in your meal to show you are trying. Another tip is do your reaserch on what food are vegan such as “50 foods you didn’t know where vegan” and if you don’t go grocery shopping make a check list for your parent or guardian. This shows that there are alot of vegan options out there not just salads like she said. EX… Did you know Oreos are vegan? And so are certain Doritos. Along with so many other yummy foods. Lastly if your family is concerned that your “Not getting enough protein” or “Not enough ____” get a app or print articles that prove other wise. My family was supportive but worried for my health so I got a app that I could track all my vitamins and protein. I don’t have to track anymore due to just keeping track in my head has become a habit but it helped tremendously with helping put my family at ease.
I’ve been adopting a vegan lifestyle this year from having a red meat allergy and I have felt better than I have my whole life. although I have always gone in and out of waiting rooms for widly various things when I eat out with my boyfriend (who is the typical commercial only food eating American) I eat chicken and two cheeses because I know he’s looking after me and wants me to keep a large calorie intake from my overly active high metabolism. since we are going to move in together soon I’m helping him eat less commercial food all the time, he will remind me to eat more and avoid the foods with fewer calories and get my weight up but he’ll have to adjust to me being a full vegan as well ^^”
The hardest thing I get sometimes is when other “experienced vegans” or just people don’t support me very much, like to point out if I mess up. I don’t always like to say “I’m vegan” because sometimes at a restaurant I’ll eat something with butter and don’t realize until afterwards and people will judge me for it. Or I’ll be told something is vegan and I eat it only to find out it isn’t and get shamed for it. I also have a question about honey, because I never really ate it before, but I’ve ate honey barbecue chips since I’ve started veganism and I found out later that honey is not allowed.. I’ve had a hard time figuring out the reason against honey, because it seems very controversial
I’ve been vegetarian for a while and I’ve been attempting to go vegan but I live with my parents and we eat at family’ s homes a lot. ( I live in the south so It’s very animal based ) I don’t want to offend people if I don’t eat their food and make them think I don’t eat anything. There also isn’t many vegan options in my area. Also literally zero vegans or vegetarians live in my area. I’m trying to go vegan right now and I made a calendar for 21 days so hopefully I can do it!
I’m nearly 25, live with my parents and have SSI so I don’t work. I’m going to make my first official youtube article on veganism and I’m going to explain my journey including seeing a nutritionist with my dad who is now persuaded to let me be vegan. He’s not as worried about me being “”malnourished”” Hopefully my article helps others trying to convince their parents as well.
very helpful! I’m so lucky that my mom was already mostly vegetarian (she used to eat them on some days of the lunar calendar due to religion, and she actually ate a day of vegetarian food right before my birth. now she’s tries not to consume as much meat as possible.). So for me at home, all of us eat ‘vegetarian’ food for dinner (which could actually be classified vegan I guess, since we don’t consume a lot of dairy), as my mom has the same views on veganism! However, we still have to work on not eating dairy desserts, which is the main problem. My mom and I have never specifically liked cheese or having milk itself. My dad is not as supportive of vegetarian/veganism, but he’s not home much and I won’t eat meat anyways so he can’t do much about it. But yeah! Reading about how difficult it is for everyone else to take on vegetarianism/veganism is quite upsetting, and makes me realize how lucky I am that my mom is fully supportive and on the same level as me of vegetarianism/veganism! 🙂
it suck because I love animals, its so hard to give up certain meat protiens and dairy products. (chicken and cheese my favs!!!) However i do want to adopt eating vegan I see the many benefits not only for ourselves but for animals and the earth. Hopefully slowly but surely I can! Great article thanks for sharing
Do you think you could do a article on how to refuse things without coming off as a prick? I’m mostly referring to holidays and birthdays. I’m a teacher and many times students (and during holidays family/neighbors) bring food or restaurant gift cards. I obviously don’t want to accept this stuff, nor do I want to embarrass myself or the giver by refusing it. I could give the stuff away, but then they might keep bringing the same type of things or be offended if I give it away.
I´m from non-vegan household and I went vegetarian (“the first step to being vegan”) about six months ago and I live with my mom who still eats meat and at the beggining she was a little worried (if I have enough nutrients, calories,etc.) but as I talked to her about it and started cooking more for both of us, she agreed that we won´t buy meat which is awesome. Anyway, few days ago I told my grandma that I don´t eat meat and she was totally horrified and she literally said that I´m crazy and she doesn´t even want to listen when I tried to explain it to her.
My parents don’t allow me to get vegetarian, and that’s a REAL problem. Every time we eat meat I skip the meat and eat the rest of the food. On my school we don’t really have vegetarian food, like just once a week and that makes me skip lunch and just eat carrots. This is not good for my health and I’ve been losing much weight for the last few months. Plus I’m underweight right now! Please give me tips!
for starters don’t try and follow any specific diet that avoids entire food groups, or for example one that is all raw, that’s gonna scare your parents more 😂. once a week, or whenever the kitchen is free, meal prep food for the entire week. keep it in containers so you can eat whenever you want. make sure you leave everything clean, you don’t wanna be giving your parents extra work. try and share the most meals you can w them. for example if your parent cooks beans, rice and meat, just eat the beans and rice. don’t be picky, eat what’s available. it’s not that hard. also make sure you get informed of all the nutrients you need and in what foods you find them that way you are getting a proper nutrition. also once you’ve been at it for a few months, ask your parents to get your blood tested, that way they’ll see you are perfectly healthy and they wont worry about that (that is if you are eating right ofc, you cant expect to eát pure junk and get all your nutrients). good luck everybody! it’s trul the best decision you can make
What about a boyfriend who really HATES the vegan life style and wants you to be “normal” again but you really really love him and have no problem with him eating meat? 🙁 His biggest problem is that the vegan life is uncompromising. For example he and my friends would try a vegan lasagna but I – the vegan – wouldn’t try the meaty one with them too. So everyone has to fit in your life style and not the other way around. What to do?
So I’m a vegetarian, but I want to go vegan. Although my situation is tricky. My parents absolutely refuse to get anything vegetarian for me. They were willing to let me starve hoping that I would go back to eating meat. Fortunately my aunt secretly bought vegan/vegetarian friendly foods, but my mom found out and scoffed. She said that I had a hero because she wouldn’t have done that. So in my case I can’t lean on my Aunt forever. So I’m gonna have to wait to be vegan which breaks my heart, and do realize we are a very strict Mexican family.
I’ve tried to go vegan/vegetarian before because I just want to live a healthier lifestyle and my mom tells me that she supports me but buying a few pieces of fruit and enough food to make one recipe is not going to help me and then get mad when you have to keep buying the food because DUH that’s what groceries are and I’m trying again and it doesn’t HAVE to be vegan maybe even pescatarian but I just hope she takes me seriously this time.