Friends won't accept that I'm vegan?

Question

I went vegan almost a month ago a lot of my friends are really bothering me about it. I'm getting tired of all the comments like "I think you should start eating meat again," or, "how do you LIVE?!"

Well, I went vegan for a lot of reasons - mostly for animal rights and health reasons but also because I don't particularly like the taste of meat/milk/eggs anyhow. I'm not going to just "start" again like nothing ever happened.

What's something I can tell them that will make them leave me alone and/or accept me for who I am?

Answer 1

They never stop!!!!

Answer 2

I'm sorry to say that you cannot make anyone do anything...that is the darn thing about free will. However, you can tell them that you have a set of principals that are important to you and a part of that means living a vegan lifestyle.  If these people are really important to you, give them some time to accept your decision. If they are truly your friends, they will come to a point where they support you even if they don't agree or understand your decision.  If not, you may want to think about weather or not these people were really your friends to begin with.  Also, you may want to look for a vegan forum or support group in your area. www.meetup.com usually has some fairly good groups. Good luck!

Answer 3

I know how you feel! Today my aunt found out that I am vegan and you know what she said? She said "Oh, it's just a phase". I was so offended! But I guess it is just a part of being vegan. When some people discover it, they just don't understand.

If you're friends will not accept that your vegan because of your beliefs, then they aren't true friends. If they keep bothering you about it, just tell them that you are vegan because you support animal rights and you believe it is a healthier diet. If they say "oh, that's stupid" or something then tell them they should respect your beliefs.

Answer 4

well you can start harassing them into becoming veg*n and say things like "you should stop eating meat...etc" and then they'll probably say something along the lines of "don't tell me how to live my life... don't push your opinions on me.. i don't like the food... i can't live that way etc." and you can say "well it's the same way with me and eating meat. don't push YOUR opinions of it on me. I don't like OMNIVOROUS food... I can't live eating meat etc." Do you catch my drift? When it really comes down to it, if your friends are not willing to accept you the way you are then you shouldn't be friends with them anymore. I know it sounds cliche but it's really true

Answer 5

I hate to say it, but its part of being a vegan. People are going to question you about it a lot. Just tell them its a personal decision, and if they want to eat meat, they can.

Answer 6

Well, bear in mind that this is new. So they're adjusting to the fact that who you are now isn't the same person as the one they became friends with. So cut them some slack. Being patient, even though its tiresome, will go really far in situations like this.

It also sounds like you used to eat "normally;" that is, you ate meat and dairy and eggs. Going straight to vegan without having a vegetarian period is relatively rare and is a lot. (It's hard enough to adjust to not being able to share a pepperoni pizza... imagine how tough it is to have pizza off the table altogether!)

I would suggest arranging activities that aren't centered around food. Go to the mall together for shopping, play sports, go to the movies. If you can steer clear of things that bring eating (and therefore the fact that your eating habits have changed), you might be able to avoid having the subject come up, thereby reducing the number of comments.

If they do come up, respond calmly.

Them: "I think you should start eating meat again."

You: "I'd rather not, but thanks for your concern."

Them: "Oh my gosh, how can you live without eating meat?"

You: "It's been an adjustment, but I feel great!"

If they continue to bug you, find out why they're bringing it up so much. If you give them the chance to get it off their chests, without you getting mad, you might find that they're not trying to be jerks. They could be legitimately worried. Maybe they think you've developed an eating disorder (it's unfortunate, but some girls suffering from anorexia will go vegan so they don't need to explain why they're not eating). It could be that they miss being able to share meals with you without needing to think about where you'll go and what you'll order. Maybe you've been going overboard talking about why you're vegan (when I was learning about the non-health benefits of vegetarianism, I know I talked about it a lot).

Try to relax and be patient. Don't expect them to come around overnight and do your best to be polite but firm when declining meat (and rejecting advice that you eat it).

Be well!

Answer 7

Unfortunately people like to criticize things they don't understand.  They also may think it is just a phase you are going through.  My suggestion is to just smile and nod and perhaps tell them you won't question how they eat if they won't question what you eat.

Answer 8

they will eventually accept you, trust me, when i went vegan three months ago i had to deal with that too, them l*****g their ice cream in my face and c**p. then pretty much pulling out every common vegan stereotype and stupid question(your unhealthy, you'll get too skinny, its just a fad, do you ever cheat, what if you were stuck on an island and all there was to eat was a hamburger) it pretty much came down to us learning to agree to disagree on my veganism, they still think it werid and stuff but they know where i stand on it and know im not gonna change. i know they will accept you eventually cause its just like when i went vegetarian they all freaked out with me for a while then they got over it then i threw that i was going vegan to them and it started all over again then it died down. just give it time they'll get all there curiousity out and then they will leave you alone about it.

Answer 9

When they start in on you just tell them, "I choose not to make my body a grave yard for the corpses of rotten animals." That will shut them up and gross them out about what's in their tummy.  

Answer 10

people like to do things like that. i don't know why but they do. if people really care about you they should support you regardless of whether or not they give you a little bit of c**p.

tell your friends that this issue is really important to you and that it isn't going to change. assure them that you know it's your decision and that you aren't trying to change them. as long as you don't lecture your friends they shouldn't lecture you. they might just be surprised/threatened.

it might help if you make friends with some vegetarians. if will make you feel supported.

Answer 11

Tell them you did it for you! You didn't like to think about poor animals being killed and that you didn't like the taste of meat!

If they keep bothering you just tell them to back off it was your desicion you are not goin to change it!

I am a meat eater but I Accept that some people have there reasons for not being one!

Hope this helps!

Answer 12

"Leave me alone.  Accept me for who I am."

Answer 13

unfortunately, there's no miracle fix for this issue. i've been taking heat about being vegan for a while, but you just have to learn to live with it. if somebody really starts to bother you, just say something like "i don't think murder tastes good". one of my favorite things to say is that it's to help the rest of the world. with less excessive breeding of animals for meat, less food, water, and space would be used and could be given instead to people around the world who are starving or homeless. hope that helps ^^

Answer 14

I AM VEGETARIAN AS WELL, I AM A STAUNCH VEGETARIAN (RELIGIOUS REASONS) MY RELIGION IS JAINISM.

ASK THEM HOW THEY WOULD FEEL IF THEIR MOTHER WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AND CUT UP AND SOLD TO SOME MONSTERS WHO WILL EAT EM' UP...

I HAVE BEEN VEGETARIAN MY WHOLE LIFE (13 YEARS) AND I AM FIT AND HEALTHY...

I ALSO HAVE BEEN PUSHED AROUND FOR BEING VEGETARIAN

BUT JUST BE STRONG

THEY MIGHT BE BAD TO YOU...BUT JUS SO YOU NO I M PROUD OF YOU...TAKE CARE

REMEMBER YOU ARE VEGETARIAN FOR THEM (WATCH THE VIDEOS) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_C1EtT9l...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM-cpwgfM...

Answer 15

Then maybe they're not real friends.

Answer 16

I'm on and off with being vegan. I'm a true vegetarian though. It sucks, my friends and family do that same, and people will always be like that, they just don't understand it. All you can do is ignore it and explain to them why, you did a good thing and keep it up!

Answer 17

They have to accept it because you ARE vegan; it's not really open to interpretation.  Give them some time.  Try not to engage them at the level of their comments, but instead just eat healthfully and show them that you're happy with your choice.  Most people will back off when they realize that they aren't having an impact.  If they can't figure out how to love you even though you don't eat the way they do, they are very poor friends.