its really hard if you get little support

[Guest guest]

As you know I am transitioning, I went to my sisters graduation, I told them

BEFORE they got pizza last night that I was now a vegatarian, and could they

just get me a cheese pizza.

They got 8 pizzas. 4 pepperoni, and 4 sasuge. Guess who had applesauce. I

just thought it was rude. My parents are always the type if you dont do what

they want, its wrong. They think i am stupid and goofy. Has anyone else come

across this ? How do you deal with it ? In my home home, my husband and family

are neither way.. they dont say anything. its more like do what you want.. type

of attitutude. Problems w/ my parents though go way back.. this is just another

thing.. lol. But generally, how do you deal with it, when people think you are

stupid for being a veg ?

 

 

 

 

Rene' Toro

" Mistakes aren't that big a deal. In fact, you might start viewing them as

instruments of discovery. A so-called slip-up could point the way toward a new

path that you didn't realize existed until now. "

 

 

 

 

Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha!

Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Games.

 

 

[Guest guest]

I just figure that some people have too much additives glogging their heart and

to much animal undigestables plugging their brains to know what is good for me

or them.

Get used to it. There are always going to be people like that. If I am going

somewhere informal I take something I like and eat my own while others eat their

pizza or burgers.

I have also been known to leave if there is nothing I can eat but usually I do

as you do and just eat applesauce or salad or greenbeans.

Katie

 

Rene Toro <jeffandrenetoro wrote:

As you know I am transitioning, I went to my sisters graduation, I

told them BEFORE they got pizza last night that I was now a vegatarian, and

could they just get me a cheese pizza.

They got 8 pizzas. 4 pepperoni, and 4 sasuge. Guess who had applesauce. I just

thought it was rude. My parents are always the type if you dont do what they

want, its wrong. They think i am stupid and goofy. Has anyone else come across

this ? How do you deal with it ? In my home home, my husband and family are

neither way.. they dont say anything. its more like do what you want.. type of

attitutude. Problems w/ my parents though go way back.. this is just another

thing.. lol. But generally, how do you deal with it, when people think you are

stupid for being a veg ?

 

Rene' Toro

" Mistakes aren't that big a deal. In fact, you might start viewing them as

instruments of discovery. A so-called slip-up could point the way toward a new

path that you didn't realize existed until now. "

 

 

Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha!

Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Games.

 

 

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/9/2007 10:47:54 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

jeffandrenetoro writes:

 

But generally, how do you deal with it, when people think you are stupid for

being a veg ?

 

 

 

 

It really makes no difference what anyone thinks. Support would be nice,

but as you stated there have always been problems. This is just something else

to add fuel to the fire. The best advice I can give you is " to thine own

self be true. " I've lived by this adage for many years and it has never failed

me. It's really pointless to try to defend yourself or go into the benefits

(health wise and planet wise) of being a vegetarian to people who don't have

a clue. Do what what works for you!

 

TM

 

 

 

 

 

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, Rene Toro

<jeffandrenetoro wrote:

>

.. But generally, how do you deal with it, when people think you are

stupid for being a veg ?

 

Blessings Rene -

 

It may not get any easier over time - because a lot of non-

vegetarians just do not understand that, for most of us, our

lifestyle is a conscience choice.

 

But, what does get easier is your self will and your ability to

explain your lifestyle choice and why. Now, at over 15 years as a

pescatarian (In my case; a primary vegetarian who eats freah wild

catch fish only).

 

I find that now my conviction of my choice is so strong that I can

tell anybody, why and also why they to should support and choose a

healthy, preferably vegetarian lifestyle.

 

For example, we were invited over for dinner at some new neighbors

the other night, and the wife was cooking " hamburgers " and was

totally offended - because I would not eat one, even though one of

the very first things I told our new nieghbors, when we first met,

was that I am a veg-head! And, that I did not eat " red meat " .

 

And, she would not let up - how I " should just go ahead and eat it "

and " I made this for you " and just crying about my NOT eat her

food - almost to the point of a confrontation. Fortunately, her

husband stepped in and " reeled in " his lady. I actually had to tell

her: " So... you think I should change how I have lived over the last

decade and a half - JUST to make you happy? " And she reponded yes!

This is ignorance - plain and simple.

 

Here's the silver lining though...some of the others who were there,

began to ask me questions about my lifestyle, most of my nieghbors

do not eat healthy and have issues from being a little overweight to

alot - diabetes, gout, stiff joints, the list goes on! All these

different health issues that revolve around eating and what we put

in our bodies!

 

So... it gave me an opportunity to share my way of living, my

holistic approach towards food and why I treat eating, as a

sacrement for my temple!

 

Not just for health only - but, also my personal convictions on " red

meat " in general, and how we as a nation have been sold a bill of

goods - which is a whole other story!

 

You see over the last fifteen years, (I became vegetarain for health

reasons, which has now grown to a personal conviction to the

treatment of the animals, most people call food!) even though I was

an organic gardener, and ate lots of veggies, we still ate meat, and

processed foods, HFCS, trans fats, all that stuff - I was 273

pounds - I'm 6'4 " so some didn't think I was that heavy - but I

weigh 198, and have been for many years now, and have maintained my

weight, and am healthier now and in better shape at almost 50 - than

I was at almost 35!

 

So, what was started out as a possible " Oh no not again " scenario -

ended as a positive one - because two of my nieghbors who were there

have come to me since then wanting to know more and how they can

improve their lives as well.

 

I believe now, that most people, when given the knowledge of how to

improve their lives, will if given the chance.

 

Have faith in yourself and believe in what you are doing Rene and

pretty soon your personal convictions in what you do in your

vegetarian lifestyle will be so strong that no one can shake you!

 

namaste' doc

[Guest guest]

Being vegan is a challenge overall, but it has been worth it for me. There will

always be people that do not understand and could never, ever consider the

thought of changing their diets. They simply are not open to change and/or they

do not have the willpower to give up the unhealthy foods.

 

It sounds like your family isn't going to change their perspective anytime soon.

They likely thought that you would simply take the meat off of the pizza before

you ate it. People that are not vegetarian don't understand the need for us to

have something that has not been cooked with meat. So, it is hard to say

whether they were just plain rude or they just didn't understand this. My

advice is to always take a dish to share that is vegetarian. Don't be offended

if nobody tries it, because they may or may not. The main point is that you

will have something to eat and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that

you have subtly tried to help them with their diet.

 

I have been very lucky in terms of my family's response. My husband was kind of

laughing about the change at first. After 6 mos., he now knows that the change

is permanent and he doesn't make fun of it. I have not pushed him to try

anything new, but he has increased his intake of salads and such because he

knows I will make one for him while I am making one for me. Sometimes, he will

taste something new and sometimes he will not. Of course, he doesn't realize

how many things I make for him that include ingredients such as soy milk,

organic eggs, etc. If I make breaded chicken for him, I use stuff like wheat

germ to coat it and I cook it in olive oil. I will cook meat for him, but it

has to be done in a healthier manner. So, he is healthier overall because of my

diet and he is beginning to realize that he feels better.

 

My hubby's family has been fairly good about this. I had just changed my diet

before last Thanksgiving. There were lots of questions about why I was not

eating meat and what I do eat, but nobody was rude. After that, his family did

begin to include more salads and veggies in their meals and I noticed that there

are others that are eating more of those things now, yet they never would have

asked for them before. Some of them, but not all of them, will try whatever I

bring to their meals.

 

My mom has been ultra supportive. When I visit her, she volunteers to make me a

salad or offers me whole wheat bread, etc. She is still eating meat at age 80,

but she has come to realize that some of her health problems were caused by her

diet, so she is now eating more good stuff. When I told her that her poor

health is one of the reasons that I am vegan (as a preventative), that sort of

opened her eyes. She doesn't want me to suffer the way that she has, so she is

all for me doing anything that I can to prevent problems.

 

Hang in there...It does get easier after you are farther along in your plan.

[Guest guest]

My family was like this till I gave them the following explanation.

I asked them whether they would be happy if I gave them a dog poop pizza and

told them to just scrape off the dog poop if they didn't want it. They said,

of course not, the pizza would still be contaminated. I said that to a

vegetarian, meat was as bad as dog poop, as far as the level of disgust at

eating it would be, and that's why you can't take the meat off a pizza and

expect them to eat what's left- there would still be residue of meat

contaminating it in the same way as the dog poop.

They'd never thought of it that way before and since then they have made a

much bigger effort to keep my food separate to theirs.

 

Cindy

They likely thought that you would simply take the meat off of the pizza

before you ate it. People that are not vegetarian don't understand the need

for us to have something that has not been cooked with meat.

 

 

" This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the

intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print,

or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has

misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. "

 

" Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is

subject to monitoring and auditing. "

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I like that answer!!!

 

Marilyn Daub

mcdaub

Vanceburg, KY

My Cats Knead Me!!

-

Underwood-Fowler Cindy

Tuesday, June 12, 2007 7:18 AM

Re: its really hard if you get little support

 

 

My family was like this till I gave them the following explanation.

I asked them whether they would be happy if I gave them a dog poop pizza

and

told them to just scrape off the dog poop if they didn't want it. They

said,

of course not, the pizza would still be contaminated. I said that to a

vegetarian, meat was as bad as dog poop, as far as the level of disgust at

eating it would be, and that's why you can't take the meat off a pizza and

expect them to eat what's left- there would still be residue of meat

contaminating it in the same way as the dog poop.

They'd never thought of it that way before and since then they have made a

much bigger effort to keep my food separate to theirs.

 

Cindy

They likely thought that you would simply take the meat off of the pizza

before you ate it. People that are not vegetarian don't understand the

need

for us to have something that has not been cooked with meat.

 

 

" This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the

intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print,

or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has

misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this

e-mail. "

 

" Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is

subject to monitoring and auditing. "