Something a little strange happened today?

Question

I'm never really been the kind of vegetarian who preaches to people about what I believe in or why

My parents always were meat eaters.When I became one entirely and told my parents who I were no longer living with at the time I could no longer eat meat,they thought it was a little strange at first.They became used to it,and started finding different foods to make while I was at the house.When they asked why I no longer ate meat I told them things like that I didn't agree with the way animals were raised,or I thought it was a simpler way to live,or I thought it was healthier

Earlier today they took me out to eat,and my father started talking about how he's been reading about vegetarians being healthier.Lower rates of obesity,heart disease,cholesterol, less likely to get cancer,better immune system,longer life span,etc

Anyone else have any experience like this?Where people you've never preached to began giving you positive reasons to be a vegetarian they learned about on their own?

Answer 1

I had the same sort of experience after I moved away from home and completely out of state... Then I returned for a weeks vacation with my family and my mom continued to cook meals for herself, my step-dad, and all my younger siblings that were full of meat and things I choose not to eat... I took the time to go to the grocery store and purchase myself a weeks worth of meals that I would normally cook at home... My mom and I cooked together in the kitchen each night and they were all surprised at how what they thought was "strange" looked so much tastier than what they had on their plates... By about the third night my mom and siblings were all asking for me to cook dinner, now a year later my mom cooks both ways but cooks vegetarian about 4 times a week and meat (mostly chicken now though) the other nights... They havn't given up the meat 100% but they are no longer calling my eating "strange" and none of them are afraid of Tofu... It's very funny how quickly they changed their mind... I think that they really thought that I was going to eat Just Vegetables for dinner each night before I showed them.

Answer 2

I've had a situation slightly similar to this with my boyfriend. When we first met, he loved meat, enjoyed McDonalds several times a day, and comes from a family with 3 older brothers that love crap like KFC. I never preached to him, I just told him that I would not willingly provide it for him. After 6 months of him eating the crazy meals my father and I would cook for him, he started enjoying the lifestyle and slowly understood why I eat the way I do. Even though now and then he still goes out with his brothers (Who make fun of him for being a "rabbit" arround me) to have steak, he loves nothing more than to eat my meals and to enjoy being healthier.

I think many people at first just don't understand it and think that being a vegetarian means your meals wont be as tasteful or enjoyable. It just takes some influences for them to realize that it's so much healthier and in the end, does taste much better. And you're saving the suffering of animals while you're at it.

Answer 3

Haven't had the experience, but that's great! Vegetarianism is getting a lot of good press for being a healthy diet, and it's really good that your father is reading about it -- maybe even thinking about it. (-: Offer to cook for your folks once in a while. A good meal is 10 times better than a sermon!

Keep up the good work!

Answer 4

Well I have had a similar experience with many people because I do talk to them about being Vegan. There is nothing wrong with talking about your choices with people. Why the larger vegetarian community has adopted this policy of live and let live I will never know. It benefits no one.

Answer 5

I had to respond, although I don't know what to say.

That is awesome, I believe in leading by example and not preaching. I will inform where curiosity and ignorance reside together.

I dream of an experience like this. As a professor I can say nothing is more exciting than to have a student come to you and explain that they did further research on a topic you discussed in class. Teachers try to lead students to find more knowledge.

Be proud to call yourself a teacher, one of the most respected titles in the world.

A very powerful story, thanks for sharing.

Answer 6

Yeah, situations quite similar to your own. My family, except for my lil sis who became veg after me, are all meat eaters. Some like to tease me (which is annoying, but doesn't bother me at all) and some acknowledge that it is healthy. It's good.

Answer 7

I had that experience with my in-laws - about eating organic food. They just didnt get it, over and over...then one day, poof! they said "boy this (fill in the blank - milk, fruit, beef, cookies, etc) tastes much better!
Now they "get it"

Answer 8

Make her some. She's your guest.

Answer 9

yea sometimes, but that just means more work for me to help them, and i only help those who help themselfs, and they should be helping themselfs