I'm having a difficult time lately. None of my friends are vegetarian and most of them believe you can't really be healthy on a veg diet, and they also think vegans are insane.
I feel like I'm going nuts at times when I'm just hanging out and a couple of them decide to talk about how much of a nutcase you have to be to be vegan.
One of my friends insisted that vegans look like cancer patients after a while.
If I say anything they act like they don't hear it.
OMG! What can I do?
Living in a meat eating house is bad enough without going out and having every single one of my friends eat it and promote it and debase any other way of living.
I'm sick of my boyfriend asking if I want chicken. No I don't want chicken!!
Any advise on how I can vent or otherwise?? Cleaning the house is losing its charm.
I think showing people can sometimes work alot better than telling them. I could run off the foods which had protein, iron etc till the cows came home, but it wasn't until I could actually show people how much energy I had and how healthy I was that they could see where their diets lacked and mine flourished. They are the ones complaining how tired they are at uni every day, while I feel fine!
If you get involved in some activism in NSW you will be sure to meet some other likeminded people who will not talk down about your life and the good things you do for animals and your own health. In the meantime, there's always heaps of great vegans on the internet, you can make friends here
as matt and aimee have said, a lot people respond better when shown instead of told. so maybe show them pictures of vegans/vegetarians, articles on vegetarianism/veganism, show them vegan food ingredients and how healthy they are. make them a few vegetarian/vegan meals and don't tell them until they're finished eating. maybe try talking to them one on one instead of altogether. it just depends on what you think they'll respond best to.
befriend other vegans/vegetarians who share your beliefs and passion for animals so you have people to relate to. you can make them friends by going to different activism events.
Luckily, my friends are supportive, but I wouldn't tolerate it if they weren't. Let them know how much it upsets you and if they don't change, maybe they're not worth your friendship. Good friends will accept you for who you are.
My family wasn't supportive when I became vegetarian (but you can't change family!!). My grandma still asks if I'm vegetarian (it's been 15 years!). Last time I saw her I replied "No". The look of relief on her face. I then ended "No, I'm now vegan!". LMAO!
As Aimee said, see if you can catch up with like-minded people who regularly organise get togethers. Where do you live?
Thanks everyone for your advice.
unfortunately most of the people I'm referring to are also my boyfriends friends.
I've tried a few of what you suggested to no avail. I guess lightbulbs have to want to change before they can light up again.
I've been on the website meetup for a while and joined a couple of vegan groups but havent ventured out to see them yet.
I'm in the western sydney area.
hmm, i think it's best just to let some people think what they want to think... at least that's what i do... it's just like.. "yes, i don't eat meat, no it's not to do with any kind of religion, no it's not because my parents forced me to" and then change the subject. Also, being able to laugh about things, including my diet, has meant that some people who were previous hostile will go out of there way to provide vegan options for me at parties etc.
I had the same problem with my bfriend's mates too. When they teased me or came up with some "stupid" veg jokes, I used to bite back, which seemed to make it worse! I have since changed my reaction and now laugh it off and say "whatever" and/or roll my eyes. When they don't get the "bite" they're after, they leave you alone!!!
Gah if they are the b/f's mates you can ignore them easier than your own... and besides your own friends should be understanding of your lifestyle!
I told one of my friends today that I was vegetarian (easier to explain than vegan) and his reply "you are pale enough already"!!! Sigh.
I have learnt to laugh at being a vegetarian, or coming up with smart ass replies. I am lucky that I'm not the only vegetarian at work, I am how ever the only vegan, so the no meat thing on special lunch days is ok, they've just had to double their supply, but once I start saying no as things may have cheese in them, that will be different.
When someone comments negatively to MY diet choice, I tell them that it's my life not theirs and to butt out. If I start defending it more they seem to ark up and give me more shit... so the best way to deal with it I've found is the "yeah who cares" response and ignore everything else they say. They'll get sick of bugging ya quickly if you don't say anything.
