Yeah, so I was thinking about maybe going vegan this summer, but there are certain things that I was worried about that are kinda holding me back. I don't have a problem with what to eat or nutrition or anything like that. It's just that, I have these weird ideas that maybe my entire social life will be different from then on. It's kinda dumb but I mean, when I watch certain movies or am hanging out with my friends, I start picturing myself in similar situations as a vegan and it weirds me out cuz it would be like, yeah sorry I can't have that chip dip or yeah you guys go ahead and order pizza i'll just munch on a carrot, and I kinda worry that people will be annoyed with my "different" eating habits and such and going out wont be the same. Thsi whole thing sounds really stupid even in my head, I mean, if its important to me than why does it matter? But it's not really that simple for me, I'm still young, i wanna be able to chill with friends without worrying about food and i definitely don't want them to worry about it even tho i know they would, they're just that type of people..... So i guess I was just womndering, has anyone ever encountered these kinds of things with their friends, or when they first went veggie? Did things really change when you went out places even just to hang out?
One of my friends thought it was cool and went vegan, too. If they're good friends, they will support you.
But alot of times ur with acquaintances so they don't know u as well and may not be as understanding. One of the most common comments I had to put up with was "oh you don't need to diet", like it was solely a body image issue, and often times I don't have the chance to explain myself cos in a group so many ppl are cutting in and yadda yadda yadda. I get flack as it is for being thin. I'm conscious of the fact that if ppl see me on a 'diet' they may suspect an eating disorder. It’s been implied b4… by a vegetarian herself, ugh. Socializing was one of the biggest problems I faced. It may very well be the reason why i gave it up. Eating out is a majorly popular social activity in T.O. I tasted so many interesting dishes I don't wanna miss out .
Yeah, I mean, it just feels like all throughout my life, people will be kinda weird when it comes to what i would eat you know? I just kinda wish people would accept it and move on, I mean honestly, I still have to deal with certain people saying "oh here have some of my vegetarian carrots" or I'll be talking to someone and they're eating meat and they feel as thoughtjust because I'm around they need to make excuses for what they're eating, it's completely stupid.... And it will always keep going you know, peers, students, colleagues, family, friends, dates.....I mean the whole damn thing is stupid. I can make this choice without caring what they think or say yet I never wanna miss out on anything because of it... And i mean, its not just me, it already seems like others feel the need to go out of their way to accomodate me, which is incredibly nice of them, but I don't want people to have to do that for me. I mean, how have people's attitudes towards you changed or are they a lot different when it comes to gettting food for everyone? Have you ever felt kinda pushed to the side because majority rules? JUst honestly, how has your social life and being social changed since you went veg? and I really don't mean to sound so freakin moronic like i should base important ethical, and spiritual lifestyle choices around other people's hang ups when it comes to people with different beliefs and lifestyles, but i mean....i just dunno....I'm an idiot i guess
There are a lot of vegetarians in the world so I'm sure most people would understand to an extent.. But I totally know what you mean. Its hard going out to eat or eating at someone else's house. I've started being a vegetarian again recently and have noticed this, but it is expected. Just let people know and I guess they might judge you but most likely they'll respect you. If they don't, then they suck. The other day I went over my boyfriend's house for dinner and they got pizza with mushrooms and meat (I don't like mushrooms either haha), so I couldn't eat it. But luckily they have all kinds of health food so I just made something else and told them I recently became a vegetarian. And when I go out to eat now, I plan on getting salads with no meat. So its not so bad.. I mean just at least TRY it, and if it doesn't work out for you then it doesn't work out for you.
Drew: You'll have to deal with giving your friends an explaination, but beyond that, if they're good friends, they'll understand. I've been vegan for nearly 2 years now ... I haven't had any of my friends abandon me, or want to chill with me any less. I've had to explain why I'm vegan to no less than 50 people, but at this point, usually I can just say "listen man, I've had this exact conversation at least 50 times, you aren't going to win it, I've heard every argument against it there is."
^^that works IF you don't go out like St Mark the Vegevangelist and harrass your buddies. that's a truce zone. You don't hassle them, they don't hassle you. Hikky Z has the manners and control to NOT get in peoples' faces. I find that simply ordering my food and not pointing it out works best. My friends freak far more than me, and I'm lacto. I have LOTS of options in their loop. "I'll find something, don't worry" and "Hey let's try *insert vegan option place here*" work well.
Bring really tasty food with you where ever you go with your friends. And maybe convince them that there is tasty food that you all can enjoy.
I don't have any problem socializing as a Vegan, and I don't have any f2f Vegan friends. I have some vegetarian friends and some pescaterian friends, but most of my friends are omni. Here are some tricks and things to consider: 1. Have people over to your house whenever possible instead of going to their house, and LEARN TO COOK. If you offer yummy food, most people won't care if it has animal in it or not. 2. When you go to someone else's house to hang out, bring food to share. That way, you have something to eat, and it's only polite to contribute to a gathering anyway. 3. Lots of "regular" food is Vegan. Educate yourself and your friends on what foods those are. If it's not a pain in the rear end and all other things being equal, most people will purchase the Vegan item to accomodate you. 4. Disclaimer: the following is only my opinion;take it or leave it -- If people have gone out of their way to accomodate you and have made an error in not noticing some hidden trace ingredient, gently educate them about said trace ingredient, but be gracious and eat the food. Now, I'm not talking about eating a bowl of Jello or soup with chicken stock here; I mean if sodium caseinate is in the otherwise Vegan taquitos. I firmly believe that a big part of being Vegan is modeling how easy it is to be Vegan. If that means eating some trace dairy or egg derived ingredient at a restaurant to demonstrate that I can get something that isn't a salad at a restaurant, then so be it. For instance, last Christmas, my omni mom bought all Vegan ingredients to make spinich dip at family Christmas (Veganase, Sour Supreme, etc.). She didn't notice that there was whey in the Knorr spice mix. I quietly let her know it was there, and next year, she will purchase a different brand of spice mix. But I still made a big deal to my family about how the dip was "Vegan" and about how cool my mom was for making the recipe Vegan for me. To me, a little flexibility is attractive and being the Vegan police just turns most people off.
