Being vegan?

Question

I've just become vegan recently and I love it. But... I'm struggling to cope when people question me on why I'm vegan. Especially, when they say things like 'Why not eat eggs if they're free range?' ect..

It happened the other day and they were saying things like this food is disgusting. It really upset me and I actually felt like crying.

Hoe can I cope with this sort of situation if it comes up again??

Answer 1

Read a book called "Skinny *****" (http://www.skinnybitch.net/). It contains plenty of reasons why you shouldn't eat meat/poultry/dairy etc. I went vegan for a while and used information from this book to shut everyone up!  When you tell meat eaters what supermarket meat contains, they soon stop laughing :-)

I loved the feeling of being vegan when I first started.  Sadly, there was something missing from of the diet and I used to go on eating frenzies and gained a lot of weight.  I have since gone back to meat eating but I'm a lot more careful where I source it from (biodynamic only) and have started to lose some of the weight I gained.

Hope it works out for you as it's a really sound way of eating if you can keep it up.

Be careful also of eating loads of soya.  See http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/soy_cont... for an overview as to why.

Answer 2

just tell them theyre dumb, im vegeterian and i know some people who think that means you eat fish , which isnt a vegeterian even if some people are dumb enough to call themsleves that when they eat fish, some even eat chicken/pultry and still claim to be one lol

Answer 3

Something that I think would be a great idea would be to carry around a "Why Vegan?" brochure by Vegan Outreach (http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/Wh...  You can hand them that if you like or if you want something more personal....do your research and make bullet point reasons that you don't eat eggs.  Memorize them.  Simple.

Answer 4

I feel for you, hon.  h**l is other people.

I read a book not long after becoming vegan called "Vegan Freaks," by Bob and Jenna Torres.  It was of IMMENSE help to me.  They also have an awesome podcast you can listen to for free called Vegan Freak Radio.  Lots of tips on living vegan in a non-vegan world.

Another good read is Carol Adams' "Living Among Meat Eaters."

Get thee to a library, and get reading.  I guarantee peace-of-mind.  ;-)

EDIT: also, get yourself onto a vegan food forum, like theppk.com or veganfreaks.org... communing with other vegans and venting your frustrations to like-minded others who've been there too is great therapy.

Good luck!

Answer 5

You just need to get tougher.  Veganism is not for sissies.

First, what you choose to consume is NO ONE ELSE'S BUSINESS.  You don't have to explain it.  I find the comment "I don't discuss my food choices" an effective reply.

Second, why do you care if they think your food is disgusting?  At least it isn't bleeding and pus-ridden.

Answer 6

Hi BOI,

I think it´s normal to struggle, or feel a little bit distressed about these issues at first, not only because many people turn into irrational and absurd "arguments", but because we have little experience discussing these issues.

I would suggest you to inform yourself. Read a lot, think a lot, read a little bit more, think about it again, listen to people, think, share, etc.

The fact is that these situations will come up again. And again. But we can´t look at them as "problems", but as "chances" of getting the message across.

Saying, "it´s non of your business", or "why do you care about my choices?" does NOTHING to contribute or help to put an end to animal exploitation. If we are serious about our morals, we ought to speak up, in a kind and non-aggressive manner, yet firm and confident.

When asked about "why not eat eggs if they´re free range?" I usually answer: "because for me it´s not a matter of "how" the slaves are treated, but the very fact that they´re being held as slaves".

A few websites that might help you.

http://www.abolitionistapproach.com - (There´s a great FAQ that might help you answer a lot of the most usual questions)

http://www.peacefulprairie.org - (An abolitionist sanctuary that debunks the "free-range" myths.)

http://www.humanemyth.org - (The name says it all)

I hope it helps.

Greetings.

Answer 7

Tel them free-range just means they have access to the outdoors, they are still living in cramped and dirty conditions. Laying hens spend their whole lives in little boxes laying eggs, when they can not lay anymore, they are killed for meat, by eating eggs, you are actually promoting the cruelity done to the chickens and the deaths of them when they are decided to be useless.

This website contains more information on going Vegan

http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/

Answer 8

I like some of the answers already here, but if you just want to get them to shut up and you don't feel like doing "outreach" (or whatever), I find that shrugging and saying "Because I don't feel like it." or "Because I don't like <insert food they're asking about>."

Also, with respect to them calling your food gross, bake for people.  I haven't gotten one negative comment on my "weird" food since I started bringing cupcakes in to work once in awhile.  :)

Answer 9

I have been a vegetarian, (but not a vegan) for 16 years now.  I can tell you right now, that even after this amount of time I still get sh*t from strangers about it.  My friends and family (it took my farming family a loooooong time - years to get used to it) understand now and don't comment too much on it, but random people and coworkers do.  My best advice is to get used to it and don't cave just cause other people are intimidated by you having views that are different from theirs.

I want to say PROPS on the vegan choice - I unfortunately don't quite have the willpower to give up sweets and baked goods, so I'm just a strict vegetarian.  When people ask me why, I tell them that I just can't bring myself to eat an animal.  They try to rebut what I say, but I am really set in my political views and can come back with any answer - hopefully you can get used to doing the same.

Good luck and don't let those people get you down - you're doing and GREAT thing!!!

Answer 10

this happened to me yesterday, except i'm only vegetarian.

i was at my aunt's house and her and my mother were talking about how dumb it is to be vegetarian. they said "part of eating unhealthy is dealing with the guilt" and "as long as i don't see them killing the animals, it's okay", "God intended for it to be that way, as long as the animals aren't tortured to be turned into food". also, health reasons."i can go without red meat and pig, but i could never go veggie". then my sister chimed in, "i saw the videos, and as long as i'm not eating the same animal, i don't really care."

you can already imagine how angry i got. i just explained to them that i don't necessarily do it for health, i don't feel comfortable eating an animal product, and i would like it if they would respect my wishes. maybe you could try something along that road, or explain to them that free range is only a cover to call them organic, and you don't want to give the animal cruelty industry your support. hopefully they will listen and honor your intelligent decision to be vegan

Answer 11

On the surface free range eggs may look cruelty free but millions of male baby chicks are gassed every year as they obviously don't lay eggs and therfore are not 'needed', hence any kind of eggs are anything but cruelty free.  Contact the vegan society, they are very helpful and provide free leaflets that will help you to answer these kinds of questions.  My wife has been a vegan for 18 years now and has faced this kind of aggresive questioning herself, take comfort in the knowledge that you are not causing harm to any living thing, you have the moral high ground so stick in there and good on you for choosing a truly cruelty free lifestyle, good luck!