Family events and meals

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Submitted by mous on 9/9/08 10:11am
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I am not a vegetarian, but have a college age grandson who is. His philosophy has created much sadness and a break in our family that is heartbreaking. He refuses to attend any family holidays because other family memebers eat meat, even though we always make vegetarian food for him that he likes. We all are happy to let him do his thing, but feel the rest of us should be able to do ours, too, and still enjoy each others company. Surely this is not the way most vegetarians carry on their lives. Family times are very important to us and we feel so sad that this is happening. It makes us angry with the whole vegetarian lifestyle. How can we change this picture?


Comments

This isn't a vegatarian/meat

Submitted by vegetarian284 on 7/19/08 4:15pm.

This isn't a vegatarian/meat issue as much as it is a control issue. Your grandson is retaliating because he has voiced his opinion and while others have listened the result is that he hasn't gotten his way. He needs to wake up, act his age and respect other peoples way-of-life. Or he can continue to be selfish and only concerned with his own needs in which case he is better off not coming to the dinners. Although I am not counting out the possibility of there being some OTHER underlying issues that he may have with other people attending the dinners. In which case he may be using the vegatarion thing as a smoke screen, covering up the real reason(s) why he is uncomfortable with coming to dinner.

I have, albeit less, the same

Submitted by vegetarian364 on 7/22/08 6:56pm.

I have, albeit less, the same problem. I am the vegetarian who has drifted away. Family tie are important, but the convictions of a vegetarian lifestyle are strong. I no longer attend holiday functions as well do to food. I have found the middle ground of non-holiday visits. This seems to work best so far, though I do get little understanding. Good luck.

i also started to miss family

Submitted by vegetarian484 on 7/23/08 1:32am.

i also started to miss family affairs after i became a vegetarian. the reason for this the way people would react/reacted to my lifestyle. i usually can't eat anything in family affairs because they don't prepare or bother to ask me if i want them to prepare a vegetarian meal. they would obviously make fun of my decision (behind my back) especially if i tell them the reason for my new lifestyle. i live in a country where some people dont have a clue about vegetarianism and where animal rights is barely present. in short, our culture is faaaaarrr from being vegetarian friendly and animal-friendly.

I am not a Vegitarian but if

Submitted by vegetarian205 on 7/31/08 6:34am.

I am not a Vegitarian but if you get the vegitarian Pizza from Papa Murphy's he will come. It is delicious and it is my Favorite Pizza.

I have to agree with the

Submitted by vegetarian253 on 7/31/08 11:54pm.

I have to agree with the other post and say that this isnt a vegetarian issue. I became a veggie at the age of 16 and I am now 28. As long as my family respects my belief I respect theirs. The fact that you will make dishes for him is great. He sounds very selfish. If you think back I bet he has been selfish in many other situations. Please dont let his personal attitude turn you against our way of life. I would remind him that this way of life is centered on compassion and being mean to your family does not fall into that category and that Pushing your way on others only pushes them farther away.

Honor him. What's more

Submitted by vegetarian451 on 8/8/08 10:44am.

Honor him. What's more important, alienating your Grandson, who has good moral reasons that you've given him to go veg? Or putting your family to the challenge of giving him one holiday that he can enjoy meat free. Consider it a healthy meal that will allow your family to have another year together. FAMILY is so important. As the Matriarch of this clan put your foot down Nana and give up the meat for one family gathering. It will be fun.

dont worry im sure he will

Submitted by vegetarian260 on 8/21/08 12:27am.

dont worry im sure he will visit you when you end up having a coronary..my family and i dont get together for holidays. Makes it easy we live thousands of miles apart...to be honest..would you want to eat at a table with a dead dog on it that smells like its been dead for two days..thats how i see it..not only is it not hard to be a veggie..the smell of meat makes me so sick sometimes i almost pass out..Your son is supposed to sit with you if he feels uncomfortable..how would you feel having to sit with a family eating sushi or something nasty..youd get a migraine at the last moment..im a nurse..still waiting to read about how meat is healthier then eating veggies...you dont care about your sons health..

hi I just read your reply and

Submitted by vegetarian437 on 8/31/08 6:34am.

hi
I just read your reply and I really feel the same way.I've been a vegetarian for 3 years and I had the same troubles with my family and with other people.I also live in a country where vegetarians are very rare and I'm tired of people asking me why? Any advice?

I went vegetarian a year ago

Submitted by LasVegan on 9/19/08 12:01am.

I went vegetarian a year ago for health reason and never felt or looked better. It is very hard to live this lifestyle. People are quick to criticize because of the unknown. The American diet revolves around meat, what else is there, is their eyes. When you learn the toxic effects of what is in our food, no one wants to hear it, they imediately jump to defend. When I attend parties, gatherings or any of the such, I either bring my own food or eat at home before I go and nibble on the veggie stuff there. When they get a whiff of what I'm eating it usually creates interest. Then I remind them of how great I feel and bathe in the comments of how much weight I've lost(while there starving themselves on diet pills) I've gotten to the point of keeping my mouth shut when it comes to hearing about eveybodies illnesses. Diet is a MAJOR contributor to health. I have NO problem with meat, it's what's in the meat and injected into the animals that antagonizes my system. God gave us all the wonderfull things here to enjoy, chemicals, additives, preservatives and all the drugs they put in the meat and food are not part of it.

I agree with a lot of the

Submitted by aus_veg on 1/11/09 11:34pm.

I agree with a lot of the others here - I have been a vegetarian for about 7 years now. In the first few years I had no problem eating at the table with my family who eat a lot of meat but after a while I became very sensitive to it. The smell and look of it makes me feel physically ill to the point where I can't eat my food. How can you expect your grandson to sit at a table and want to throw up?
I think it's a great idea to invite him to a veg only family gathering - it wouldn't kill you and your family to have just one meal that doesn't require anything else to be killed.