What is the best way to get my parents to become vegan?

Question

I am thinking about moving cause it makes me sick to see my fat sloppy parents eating red meat all day long.

My dad has a heart attack and my mother is crazy.

Is there anything I can do?

Answer 1

usually theres nothing u can do trust me i've tried

Answer 2

Be nice to your parents. My mom's not vegan either and I never say anything about it because I know it won't get anywhere. Some people will just never change no matter how much they know of what they're eating is bad for them, etc. I just wouldn't sit around them when they're eating. Also, just make your own vegan meals for them. I'm a really great cook and whenever I make a vegan meal, my mom just eats that and we can both sit together without me feeling uncomfortable.

Good luck with your situation. Don't try and change them though or tell them off. It won't do anything except start a big fight and make you feel worse because they won't understand your reasons for being vegan.

Answer 3

You can only make your own decisions and no one else's. Your parents will need to decide for themselves what is best. If anything, you can be a good example by eating healthy foods in front of them without preaching or nagging. And if you want your parents to eat less meat, I suggest you try offering to cook a *vegetarian* meal for them once in a while. Don't go so far as to cook a vegan meal. Most people won't want to give up milk, cheese and eggs.

Answer 4

Sorry about the heart attack. It sounds like the first step they'd need to make toward veganism is becoming vegetarians, given that they eat meat, but if I were you I wouldn't push that on them either. Maybe you can politely tell your father that you're concerned about his health and point him to resources explaining about the health dangers/consequences of red meat, such as Mad Cow Disease. White meat, such as chicken, is supposed to be better for health than red, so if your father stays off the red meat (beef, steak, ribs, etc) that should be a good start already. As long as he eats a healthy diet and removes red meat from his diet, he should be doing better. Exercise helps too.
About your mother being crazy, well, sometimes mothers can be that way, just like the rest of us, and I don't think thats due to her eating meat or animal products (unless its something linked with her health). Maybe she's just going crazy with worry about your father?
I think if you encourage them to make decisions to live a healthier life that should be good enough. Note that this can be as simple and straightforward as minimizing sugar and caffeine, cutting down on salt, eating plenty of fruits and veggies, drinking lots of water, exercising, and cutting down on artery-clogging fats, and getting plenty of regular rest. (Have I missed anything)?
Though you seem to mean well, perhaps vegan is too strong of a push. (I must admit, though, that ever since I have adopted a nearly-100% vegan diet nearly three years ago, I have felt healthier than when I was only vegetarian).
Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Never try to impose your own views on other people, how ever passionate you are or however much you love them and want the best for them.

What other people do with their lives is their own choice. You can make your views known, of course, and insist on your own diet and you can say that it makes you sick to see other people eating meat. Those are subjective things which are about you but it is best to approach the subject sensitively and to be very aware of other people's feelings.

If you really cannot eat at the same table as them, then it is best just to say so, politely and firmly. If you do not try to impose your views on them, then if they try to make you eat meat, you can legitimately object that they are trying to impose their views on you.

Politeness, respect for other people's feelings and love for what they are (not for what they do) are the main things to hold in mind at all times. Remember that if we feel hurt or disgusted by other people, it is usually not their fault but that of our own sensibilities (which we have to learn to live with).

It would obviously be best for your father if he ate less cholesterol ... as for your mother's craziness, I don't think that diet would help there! (Are you suggesting that she's a 'mad cow'? Once you have CJD there is no cure!)

Answer 6

Despite your parents poor eating habits, you cannot make someone become a vegan..that would be wrong. That would be like telling you to become a meat eater. Instead, tell them to switch to leaner pieces of meat and lose weight.

Answer 7

It is their choice. You can't force people to make a major lifestyle change. Maybe you can convince them to trim the fat off their meat and eat smaller portions.

Answer 8

You can't make anyone become a vegan, just like nobody can make you eat meat again. It's everyone's own choice.

Answer 9

Absolutely nothing. You cannot change people, they have to want to change. And if a heart attack didn't do it, I don't know what will. What I do know is that if you hound them, beg them, argue with them, attempt to "educate" them, or anything like that, you will alienate them.

But since you clearly have no affection or respect for your parents, go right ahead. They may be better off without you.

Answer 10

The best way to NOT make them become vegan is to keep harping on about it. Mind your own business, it is their life and their choice

Answer 11

Humans were made to consume both. That's why we have the variety of teeth that we do. Anyhow, it's your choice to be vegan, just like it's their choice to eat meat.

Leave well enough alone...