Help! Thanksgiving!

[Robin]

Does anyone have any suggestions on handling the "I'm a Vegetarian" subject at Thanksgiving? I love my family, but they tend to make a big issues out of things that really need no argument. This is especially hard since I just became a vegetarian two weeks ago.

Is there a tactful answer I can give my family as to why I am not eating anything with meat without sounding preachy or cause a scene?

[Anita Karenina]

Hi Robin,
Just tell them you chose life over death. That should do the trick!!
love

[Brett]

When you think about it, it really isn't any different than if somebody turns down cranberry sauce because they don't like cranberry sauce. Even if you family doesn't believe or support your decision not to eat animals, you can make it an issue that you just don't feel like eating it. You're a picky eater! So what! right? When I made the jump from Vegetarian to Vegan, my mom would still try to push cheese pizza on me eventhough I told her I don't eat dairy anymore. I kept telling her, I don't feel like eating, like I wan't in the mood. I think she eventually got the point.

[Robin]

That's what my best friend suggested. I think I'll bring something I know I can eat, and if anyone questions I'll just be honest. I just didn't want to have my family make a big deal, but really they should know the reality about what they are eating.

[Anita Karenina]

It is true, mothers tend to do that. My mum, after years of being vegetarian when i went to visit them back in Portugal, told me to have some of their cod. I felt offended and really hurt inside, specially when she said that it would be alright because cod does not have a brain...She made me cry. Because i know she knows cod have brain. But i am not sure she was expected me to believe that and give it a go...how could she? The next time i went to visit them, i sat alone in the kitchen table having my cruelty free meal whilst they were all eating dead animals at the dining table. It was my choice and this time they did respect me. And my boss, futile as he is, comes and offers me his honey roasted cashew nuts and tells me " Don't worry, i do not tell anyone!".....no comments on that!!

[Brett]

I'd like to know how that works out for you. Any time i've tried to bring up the atrocities of factory farms at the dinner or lunch table, I get less positive feedback than I would any other time. It seems backward right? It seems the best time to tell someone what that turkey they are eating had to go through just as they are eating it, but I've only been ridiculed for my efforts.

[Robin]

Oh, I know my family would just turn it into the main topic, so I don't plan on going into it in depth at the table. If anyone asks I'll tell them to talk to me later about it.

[John]

If you've just been vegetarian for 2 weeks, the less said the better.
I can't speak for your family, but among the population in general, both from personal experience and frrom others' I've known, there is a strong liklihood that one or more of those present will try to wear you down, question you incessantly, try to shake your resolve.

I'm not saying you would necessarily give in to that, but it is just an unpleasant experience all around.

People who do this probably mean well. I think it just upsets them to see someone straying from what they've always known and always done without question. So they do their best to "save you" before it's too late.

My advice, if you can not eat any meat and somehow manage to not draw attention to the fact, it will be a more pleasant day for everyone.

By next year, you will have had a long time to break them in slowly and get them used to the fact that you've changed your diet.

My cousin and I still joke about how in those first few Thanksgivings, relatives we hadn't seen in awhile would always ask, "So, you're still on that 'no meat" kick, huh?"

They'll catch on eventually.

Good luck, and Happy Thanksgiving!

[Robin]

I've only been a veg 2 weeks, but was previously one for about two years long ago. I sometimes think the decision to go back to meat contributed to my bad karma, lol. In any case, I couldn't eat meat if I tried. I also work in a restaurant and yesterday saw a big bucket of cut up chicken just sitting there in water. Somehow I caught a wiff of it and I instantly had to throw up. I almost didn't make it to the bathroom.

[Zoe]

The holidays are hard for vegans and vegetarians. I don't want to be judgemental of others. Sometimes just by not partaking of the meat people seem to think we are judging them...
This holiday I am going hiking with orange county back pack and hiking group so I will avoid the holiday thing altogther. family is far away luckily.

My church, non denominational Law of attraction style center, is starting a vegan ministry because there are a few of us. It is center for spiritual discovery if any one lives in OC and wants to join us

Zoe

[Miranda [TerraFire]]

It sounds a bit over the top, but prepare a concise list or paragraph for reasons why you chose to be vegetarian that you can memorize and use to answer the question. Just do a little research beforehand so you can pop off answers to those stupid protein questions like nobodys business. It'll make things a lot easier even though it seems like way too much work. It will show the whole family that you are making this decision based on intelligent and informed reasons and that there's no reason for them to worry or continue to hound you with questions, unless they really are just genuinely curious.

[oudy]

hey u , just let them no that jesus was not celebrating chrismas by eating the other breathers= brothers, n fact they show him holding the lamb not biting it. laugh. also u can always ask them what the animals they eat ,eat. then compare how if the diet the animals eat keep them healhty enouugh 4 the humans 2 eat them y not just, by pass the animal and get it straight from the where the animals get it. now that would really b a birth of christ,,,,, sho ur lov.. chow,,,,,oudy

[Robin]

What always puzzles me is the Christmas ham. I personally don't think Jesus even ate meat, but if he did he certainly wouldn't have eaten ham~he was Jewish.