Hi from a new vegetarian

[aotc]

Now that I've decided to stop eating meat, it's difficult for me when I visit my family. I still have questions myself and I don't feel comfortable answering their million and one questions and I also don't want to be around them when they eat meat. yuk. Any suggestions?

[chris]

[kmeldrum]

Hi, New Vegetarian.
It is difficult when our families and friends don't share our convictions, and especially when they ask questions in a confrontational way. I've found it best to give the most direct answer I can, always within the context of, "this is what I believe", rather than responding in a negative way. If I don't know the answer, I tell them I'll have to find out and answer them later.

Not attending family gatherings would be difficult. And your being there, setting a good example, might inspire some other family members to go veg.
Karen

[aotc]

Thanks... it feels better just to know others understand how i feel and what i'm going through.

I hope to learn more here.

Thanks again

[larisa0001]

I've found that parents are very amenable to arguments involving health; and there can be plenty of such arguments to find about vegetarianism, especially cardiovascular ones. You might want to cite Dean Ornish's "Reversing Heart Disease" - that book was what convinced my parents to become vegetarian.

[larisa0001]