Vegetarians & Vegans Support Group

I had that trouble with my family and well, finally one day they were willing to sit down with me and listen to me and see how being a vegan has really changed my life overall. At first, they were so closed-minded and it just made me so angry but there was really nothing I could do. Until I started telling them that I haven't been sick with even a cold or the sniffles for over 2 years. They were like what are you doing? I told them, if you would really like to know, I will tell you. They decided it was time for them to listen to me. It is very difficult when family won't see the good and they just go along with what every else in society does. So, I would just suggest, keep trying, keep up your great job that you are doing for yourself and hopefully your family will come around. Just be patient with your family and just maybe they will come around when they are ready.

I agree with Janelle- it took me a while to get my mom into the swing of things, but now if she buys meat (which is maybe once a week) she makes sure it's atleast organic. I have really just tried to point out the things to her that I see, like the ingredients of some of the things she used to buy. I would just mention the high fructose corn syrup, or whatever it was. After a while of making comments about why this veggie is good for you or why that ingredient is bad, she has really come around a lot. Sometimes people think you are trying to convert them, or telling them what to do, and sometimes it makes them feel inferior, so I just look at it the way I do when I am feeding my daughter. She'll eat it if she likes it, and bits and pieces of information are always useful in passing. Good luck, and just like Janelle said, they will come around, when they are ready. Just be confident that you are doing your best, and that you are doing it in love. Nothing could be better than that.

I know only too well how you feel. The best thing you can do is be a good example, and love them for who they are.

My father passed away in September of 2007; there was no autopsy because he had so many health problems. He was 57, and grossly overweight, with Type 2 diabetes. I had tried over and over again to teach him healthy habits. Every once in awhile, there was a glimmer of hope, but overall he was just not ready to love himself enough to do what his body needed to survive.

It was a big lesson for me to just love him and let him be.

Now, my mother is in a similar situation: overweight, taking a pharmaceutical cocktail, eating crappy food and living a sedentary life. And I can't help but slip into the odd lecture about fast food or aspartame - but I make my most important job that of enjoying her company while I can; and accepting her decisions. Of course, whenever I visit her I make great salads and smoothies; snack on almonds or cashews or popcorn with her; bring back sorbet when she sends me out for ice cream - LOL, you know, the subversive method!

If she wants to put chicken on her salad, fine. If she wants fish & chips, I try to talk her into adding a salad instead. I make her tea so she isn't drinking pop...there are so many subtle ways to try and get them to be healthier.
Keep it simple and make it fun! Just like dealing with children...They may come around, and then again they may not!

Thank you guys so much! Everything you guys added has really helped me.

everyone i know eats meat... im trying to cut it out of my diet... but its hard when they look down on me for not eating meat

I don't always agree with the way my family eats, but like everyone else has said, you can't make people eat healthier. When I can, I try to point out various ways that family members could help their diet. The worst is when my dad goes to KFC 5 nights a week when we babysit my niece. I know it's convenient, but I cringe at the thought of both of them eating that stuff day after day. When he talks about what to give her for dinner, I try to suggest ways that stuff can be made in advance so there's a healthier alternative.

Rather than make an entire vegan meal for your family, maybe you can just make one dish that they can have as a side dish. If you can slowly incorporate healthier foods, they'll get used to them. They might not ever become vegetarian or vegan, but hopefully they will start to think more about their food choices. Also, I don't know how strong your feelings are about being vegan, but if you're willing to, possibly you could make them some vegetarian side dishes. Vegan stuff can be scary to people who don't really know about it, but maybe if you made something that had cheese or eggs they would be more willing to eat it and then that could lead to you introducing vegan options later. (I realize that most vegans aren't willing to have anything to do with animal products and I'm not suggesting that you go against your beliefs. But some will cook something with animal products for someone else, so I thought I'd put the suggestion out there in case that was a possibility for you.) Also, try introducing some healthy snack options. Even if it's not vegan, you could get a large bag of popcorn with olive oil from Whole Foods and probably your family could eat that instead of chips. Or if they insist on chips, maybe try to find some alternatives that don't have as much fat or sodium. You can probably find alternatives to most of what they're eating now, and where health is concerned, every little bit helps.

Is your mom a Type 2 diabetic? If so, you may want to buy her the book "Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for reversing diabetes". In this book and in his research he has proven that a lowfat vegan regimen helps to reverse diabetes type 2. (Also helps with type1) He is absolutely right...I have done his plan and it has lowered my blood sugar levels more than any medication I have ever been on. So....maybe a written word from an MD with scientific proof to back it up will help.