how do your families respond?

[rande]

i know i've read of some young raw foodists having a hard time with their families, since they dont buy their own groceries living at home and everything. just wondering what everyones experience is. i buy my own food when i'm away at school but i'm home for the summer. i have to say that my family is pretty much awesome! we've got a fridge STUFFED with greens right now and my mom just bought a whole case of young coconuts! she's pretty high raw which is really cool and my stepdad likes my smoothies :)

[MelonManiac]

My family thinks it's crazy and my mom insists I have to eat cooked food too but can eat a lot of raw with it :-\ ... I just wish they'd let me do my own thing liek your family ... I'm just starting raw and it would help to have my family support me instead of trying to force feed me cooked food

[Random Violin Guy]

Rande, it sounds like your family rocks.

My family's always considered me kind of... quirky. When I first went vegetarian, they thought it would be unhealthy, but they eventually got used to it. Then I gave up eggs and dairy (I forget which I gave up first) and they thought I was being extreme. Once again, they've gotten used to it with time. They definitely don't understand why I went vegan and gave up leather and wool and silk.

I think my mom is beginning to understand where I'm coming from on the vegetarian thing, though. I keep sending her articles from time to time. Yes, I'm working away at her until she eventually goes vegan. ;) Shh! Don't tell anyone. hehe :)

As for RAW, they know about it, but I didn't go raw until I was living out on my own again. They don't really see it day-to-day, so I don't really get any feedback or opinions or anything like that. I imagine they must think I'm barking mad because of it.

You know, if I told them I joined a nudist colony, they might believe me. Haha. I'd tell them I thought it was healthier for the Vitamin D.

[mattm]

My family are all SAD and my father has a very firm belief in the 'meat and 2 veg' way of eating and I don't see that ever changing....though, put simply, they are absolutely amazing and have always been behind me 100%. A lot of that support comes from the fact that they know how determined I am when I commit myself to something and they couldn't do anything to change my mind:D. Plus, they see the transformation I've undergone...the energy I now have, the happiness and confidence and all the ailments I've rid myself of and they've told me that they would support anything that does this for me. Also even though my parents will continue to eat SAD, they have taken on a lot of what I've said after seeing the benefits in me and my enthusiaam for nutrition...for instance they now always have large salads with their meals, eat virtually all organic, started our own growing our own veg and fruit in the garden, drinking (oh my god!!) juices after I've started over the holidays getting up especially early in the mornings and making them before they went out to work and (2nd oh my god) i've got my father (who smokes) into taking chlorella tablets every day (good, among so many other things, for eliminating heavy metals). Now I know they aren't going to be raw, my father is going to continue to smoke but I feel least I have given them something, I'm trying my hardest to help them as they done for me and continue to do so with so much love. I feel extremely lucky to have this support as I couldn't imagine how tough to have literally everyone around you 24/7 putting you down and exerting pressure...again this is why this forum is so important because for those youngins that do not have the support some of us are lucky enough to receive, they will always find it here in abundance.

All the best and great thread.

Matthew

[shooting star]

I'm still in the raw closet!


My parents live 300 miles away so they don't have a clue what I'm eating. Also as I'm 32, it's really none of their business!

However I still haven't told my husband yet! Still working on that one.

[Pipen17]

Basically everyone in my family is vegan, except for my mom who is raw with me... so that makes it so much eaiser!! But the rest of my family has been supportive all along and now that they are seeing some of the results they think it's even greater than before!!
When i go off to college i think it'll be easier for me because i'll know what to get and i will have been raw for a couple of years
-pam

[RawBecky]

My parents are very supportive and understanding. They agree with what I'm doing, but just aren't raw themselves. However, they are vegan.

[rawsurfer]

i was always the ¨"bottomless pit" to all of my family. i ate so much food (miraculously i stayed skinny).i was the most adventurous when it came to food, and family always told me that i was the most fun to go eat out with because of it. i think they were sad for themselves when i went raw, because a big part of our lives just ended suddenly. there was no transitionary vegetarian or vegan period, it was just i was interested in health for a couple of months but still tearin up all kinds of meat and goodies, and then bam i read alissas book and the next day i went raw and havent stopped since. they were resentful for a couple of weeks, and tried to pressure me into sad eating similar to the way old drinking budies will try to get you to drink again.
then i got on this evangelistic trip where i was trying to convert everyone i met and they got super exhausted, and i think they were just over it and possibly feeling guilty (since i was tryin to guilt trip them into raw)...

eventgually it just mellowed out and is really chill now. the whole time the still supported me even though i seemed like a nutter to them. for a while though they really thought i was hurting myself doing this. but ya they pay for all my organic food (i eat like 80 % org) and pretty much couldnt be more supportive. i couldnt imagine not having the homelife that i do, even though i have never really met too many people with aas good of a home life as i do. so i know i am really spoiled. its sweet thou

[RawChicky]

My family thinks I'm psycho but they pay for all my stuff cuz they know they love me

[silverundertone]

the family unit thought i was 'just going through a phase' when i became vegetarian at the age of 13....but by now theyve learned to deal with it..and sometimes even go through the effort of stocking their fridge with good organic fruits and veggies whenever i come over.

[magglepie]

Luckily my family has ALWAYS supported me. When I was 15 and first went vegetarian, my brothers would kind of jibe at me and be like "Oh come on, just eat one little slice of pepperoni," or something like that. Now, 11 years later, they are used to my eating habits. They respect that there are certain things I am just not going to eat! Sometimes I'll get the occasional "A little bit of cheese won't hurt" comment, but usually they are all cool. In fact my cousin has even delved into raw for a short period. I am hoping that I can get him in longer ;)

[Raw Mom]

My parents are the reason I am on this journey. They've worked at Hippocrates and Optimum Health Institutes for the last 20 years. And oh, the stories they tell.....Thanks folks.....

[Anastazia]

My family has heard me talk about health stuff for a long time, but not live it consistantly, & have seen my health problems progressively get worse, so though they support me as much as they can, & encourage me, i don't think they really believe it's making (or will make) a whole lotta difference...

...they have changed some of their eating habits, though! & I'm determined to show them it really does work (yea, when ya work it!)

My daughter loves it when i go raw, but she's seen me fluctuate so much she, too has a wait & see attitude, when it comes to my getting & keeping weight off! Thankfully, though, she LOVES raw food, & is willing to get free of her cravings & attachments to cooked & processed food~

It's interesting to see how different families respond!
~Anastazia~

[Elizabeth]

I'm still in the raw closet!


My parents live 300 miles away so they don't have a clue what I'm eating. Also as I'm 32, it's really none of their business!

However I still haven't told my husband yet! Still working on that one.


LOL!!! Somehow this struck me as funny...:o How do you manage that with your hubby?? I see you hiding in closets, furtively munching carrots...slipping greens into seemingly innocuous blended drinks...trying to approximate the color and texture of more "acceptable" shakes and frappacinos...:p

undercover Raw in a "cooked food world.."

my imagination gets the best of me sometime..'scuse me...:)

[Rawzula]

My family (or what's left of it) don't really care about my eating habits.

[Eva]

Elizabeth, I wondered the same thing! I have no idea how I could hide this from my husband!!!

[bodaflower]

My family doesn't really mind that my brother and I (who recently moved to Santa Cruz) are raw, but of course they think it's silly and like to make jokes about it...I was making a raw meal the other day and my sister asked me if she was going to need a gag bag before she tried it...It's good to have my brother and his girlfriend, who are both raw, support me and always be telling me that they are sending me good vibrations and to stay strong through these days, especially because of the way that my family feels.
I am trying to get my sister to feed her baby (14 months old) goat milk instead of cow milk. I'll gladly drive to the store and buy it, even though it is a little far away, i'd rather she be drinking goat's milk than cow's milk.

My family is on the south beach diet right now...yuuuuck :p
so much fat-free food and starches and meats and dairy..i can hardly believe it

but hardly anything I say is going to get through to them, because of course you need your meat for protein and breads and cooked vegetables

heaven forbid :rolleyes:

[bodaflower]

My family thinks I'm psycho but they pay for all my stuff cuz they know they love me

mine too :D

[Alba]

In the beginning I suspect them of suspecting me of having gotten some straange-ass ED - but they quickly understood that this was far from the case! Since then (one year in less than a month - WHOOOT:D ) they'v been amazingly supportive and have incorporated more raw into their own diets...
they pay everything and I dread the day (in two months time when I'm moving to Paris) that I'm going to pay myself!!:eek: :p
But I guess that's good to learn, ay?

Love alba

[littlemarie]

My mom thought I was killing myself at first, she was worried sick. But then my doctor said he couldn't be happier about my diet, since then she buys me tons of raw food. My dad is constantly telling me that soda pop and cookies are good for you, I haven't got a clue where he gets that idea. One of my mom's friends is so jealous that she convinced herself that the raw food diet is the Devil's plan to kill off the world. She even told my mom that social services would take me away from my home for being a vegetarian.The rest of family just thinks I'm nuts, which doesn't bother me since most of them have been hospitalized for their insanity.

[konmai]

My family worries. That's for sure. But then when I'm energetic enough to do various household things I'm not usually interested in doing, but simply have the energy and I just do it... they wonder. :p

[Priscilagj@mac.com]

um, I'm pretty sure my family thinks I'm nuts. Except for my mom, she says that you have to do what you have to do. And this is absolutely something that I need to do.
My brothers are kinda cool about it, they just think I'm a bit ridiculous.
As for my dad, I'm telling him today.......
wish me luck on THAT.

[bodaflower]

My family worries. That's for sure. But then when I'm energetic enough to do various household things I'm not usually interested in doing, but simply have the energy and I just do it... they wonder. :p


I have so much energy now that I got my mom to up my allowance if I keep the house clean...now I just need an actual job :p

[Mehrad]

Im kind of still in the Raw closet, despite living with my family at 15. Today I had an argument with my mother just because I didnt want eggs for breakfast, she thinks she knows what to feed me in order to play Tennis, yeesh wheres here PHD in nutrition..she even makes me eat fish now despite knowing I am a veggie (well I was to them). I didnt eat the eggs, instead I had an apple, a bannana and green tea but its so hard to let out my urge to become raw, I mean Im happy with 70% but I would like to make my own breakfast, I enjoy independance and privacy, even my life coach agreed that my parents control me way too much, I can even close my own door in my room! :(

I understand they only want the best but Im going to be 16 soon, shouldnt they give me some responsibility?

[JennaBoBenna]

My family pokes fun at me. Lol, my dad says I don't eat "real food". I just look at him and think "And what is it that YOU are eating??"
My mom is really cool with it. She'll try my "weird smoothies". I made one with sesame milk and she enjoyed it, but couldnt get past the sesame idea of it. She calls it "sesame crap" haha :rollseyes:
I had a "Cooked Food is Poison" bumper sticker on my car and my brother makes fun of it and is constantly bashing my diet. But whatever, I just let it roll off now. I feel good and healthy, and I look good and healthy, and that's all that matters :)

[Merat]

I just try be as Raw as possible. Because yes I am hiding in the Raw closet! My mum dosnt like me havin apples and oranges for breakfast. So I eat what she considers acceptable which thankfully is raw, dates! (I have no idea why) I pretend to have milk but pouring it in a glass then pouring it in the sink, So it looks like ive had milk. If im given money I buy raw food for lunch. At school if im given sandwhiches i throw em away and using the money im given for drinks (which is 1 pound) I buy fruit because fruit is bloody cheap! I cant wait for the time when im old enough to live by myself. I'll go 100% Raw! I use to eat meat, but in a day I cut out dairy and meat without any pain. Guess what, I felt great! Meat and dairy, and well cooked food made me ill, its why my digestion sucked and my appitite was cack.:p

[Mehrad]

I just try be as Raw as possible. Because yes I am hiding in the Raw closet! My mum dosnt like me havin apples and oranges for breakfast. So I eat what she considers acceptable which thankfully is raw, dates! (I have no idea why) I pretend to have milk but pouring it in a glass then pouring it in the sink, So it looks like ive had milk. If im given money I buy raw food for lunch. At school if im given sandwhiches i throw em away and using the money im given for drinks (which is 1 pound) I buy fruit because fruit is bloody cheap! I cant wait for the time when im old enough to live by myself. I'll go 100% Raw! I use to eat meat, but in a day I cut out dairy and meat without any pain. Guess what, I felt great! Meat and dairy, and well cooked food made me ill, its why my digestion sucked and my appitite was cack.:p


Yeah you've made me realise how I should go around being raw, by the way Merat here is my twin brother if you didnt know =]

Two brothers in one raw journey!

[Merat]

Yeah you've made me realise how I should go around being raw, by the way Merat here is my twin brother if you didnt know =]

Two brothers in one raw journey!

haha yeah its makes it alot easier when you go raw with somone. Im glad ive got a brother who understand my urge for a Raw Lifestyle

[Ginger]

I am very blessed with a wonderful family that is not only supportive of me, but also totally 'get' it! I told them about raw and it just clicked because it makes so much sense to eat this way.

[iamacranberry]

My family thinks I am crazy. But seeing as I haven't lived with them for 4 years, this is a bit easier to deal with. When I do visit, though, there is always tension, unfortunately. I think there always will be. My father, who takes medicine for his high triglycerides, and my stepmother, who takes meds for her heart problems, always try to advise me about nutrition. They even claim to have spoken to a dietician regarding my diet, who apparently concluded it was unhealthy...which is odd, since they really aren't aware of which things I do and don't eat anyways.

It's annoying, yes, but then again, this is one of many issues in my life my family has never approved of. My mother, on the other hand, seems to accept me for who I am...and guess who gets more calls home and visits from me as a result.

[Dylan]

they say they want to eat more like me, and then order pizza or chinese food the next day or the same day.

Just have to be patient, and love them anyway.

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

My mother knows and is very supportive. My dad doesn't know (they're divorced)

[subbacultcha]

When I was 12 I went vegetarian and my parents thought it was just a phase, haha! Since then (I'm now 16) I've cooked (or uncooked) all my own meals so its not really much to do with them. They just notice that I eat a lot of fruit and veg. I have to buy a lot of my own food but I don't mind. They haven't said anything about me going vegan or raw, and I don't talk to them about it... In fact I don't know if they've even noticed really. Basically, they just leave me to it!

[missthomas86]

My family doesn't know im going raw. I've been a SAD eater all my life. They knew about me going veg then vegan and thought it was a phase or something (did that a couple of months). After going back to SAD, i did not feel as good as i did when i was vegan. I am just now getting back in the swing of things and really don't care what anyone thinks about it. I asked God to help me and obviously this is what i am supposed to be doing for me and my health. I feel you cant worry about what people say, even your family. You gotta do what you know is right and what is right for your body.

[iamacranberry]

When I was 12 I went vegetarian and my parents thought it was just a phase, haha! Since then (I'm now 16) I've cooked (or uncooked) all my own meals so its not really much to do with them. They just notice that I eat a lot of fruit and veg. I have to buy a lot of my own food but I don't mind. They haven't said anything about me going vegan or raw, and I don't talk to them about it... In fact I don't know if they've even noticed really. Basically, they just leave me to it!

That's wonderful! I haven't lived at home for years and my dad still tries to tell me what nutrients he thinks I'm missing from time to time.

[lily]

I have the situation in reverse: I'm a mum with three grown up kids who I brought up vegetarian/vegan (which they still are), and now I'm raw they think I'm going through a crazy phase!!!

I'm just quietly persisting and hope the results are speaking/will speak for themselves.

lily

[alicia_2007]

My Mum (vegetarian) allows me to eat as I wish but she doesn't agree with eating only raw. My Dad (sad) pulls faces when people ask about my food and why I eat it raw so he definitely doesn't agree:p but he does allow me to bring my food and has said it's fine to bring it to christmas so it's not bad at all! I don't live at home though I left home when I was 17, I remember saying I wanted to be a vegetarian when I was younger and I got told that while I was under their roof I would eat as they wanted. Sorry incase that makes no sense my parents are divorced and I spent most of my time at my Dad's hence the last comment. But I totally get how hard it can be for people who live in a house with unsupportive family or unsupportive people in general. But just remember why you're doing it and it doesn't matter what other people think because really why should they care what you eat!:D

[emily]

Isn't it bizarre that people are so concerned about your wellbeing if you eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but don't question you at all if you eat lots of pizza, burgers, and candy? What kind of brainwashing is going on? Seriously... one of you up there said that your mom was concerned that you had an apple and orange for breakfast. Shouldn't they be thrilled? I mean... I understand where some of their fears are coming from, but to treat it like it's worse on the body than SAD to eat fruits and veg and nuts? Where does that come from??

[dread head vegan]

i've been raw off and on for about 2 years now.. when i frist took the 30 day raw food callenge.. they where ok with it for the first week then they thought i was kinda nuts, the third week they where kinda getting annoyed. they are all SAD exept my DH who is vegan. i'll never forget what my brother said to me.. after the month was up i slipped a little. i was making somethin non raw.. he looked at me and said " I thought You don't eat cooked food anymore" that was a wake up call. right now i am getting back into raw and i live 1,000 miles away from them. and i whant to suprise them when i got back to visit in May!!!

[magglepie]

Isn't it bizarre that people are so concerned about your wellbeing if you eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but don't question you at all if you eat lots of pizza, burgers, and candy? What kind of brainwashing is going on? Seriously... one of you up there said that your mom was concerned that you had an apple and orange for breakfast. Shouldn't they be thrilled? I mean... I understand where some of their fears are coming from, but to treat it like it's worse on the body than SAD to eat fruits and veg and nuts? Where does that come from??

I know what you mean. Everyone is so programmed to believe that the only way to be healthy is to fill your body with tons of sugar, bad fat and cholesterol! But some of the healthiest people I know are vegan or raw vegan!

[justinesmith]

Isn't it bizarre that people are so concerned about your wellbeing if you eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but don't question you at all if you eat lots of pizza, burgers, and candy? What kind of brainwashing is going on? Seriously... one of you up there said that your mom was concerned that you had an apple and orange for breakfast. Shouldn't they be thrilled? I mean... I understand where some of their fears are coming from, but to treat it like it's worse on the body than SAD to eat fruits and veg and nuts? Where does that come from??

This terrifies me. As a mother, I can have my children taken from me for feeding them raw foods but if they were "normal" kids who lived on french fries and chicken nuggets it wouldn't be an issue. Seriously, WTF is going on here?!?!? :eek:

[magglepie]

This terrifies me. As a mother, I can have my children taken from me for feeding them raw foods but if they were "normal" kids who lived on french fries and chicken nuggets it wouldn't be an issue. Seriously, WTF is going on here?!?!? :eek:

Isn't that horrible. Like sticking a chicken "nugget" in your kids mouth is healthier than giving them a banana! puhlease. You can bet that if I ever do decide to have kids, they are NOT eating even one thing from the SAD!

[Rawzula]

There was a case not too long ago where a couple's foster kids were taken away because they were being fed vegetarian foods.

[magglepie]

Oh that is so sad. People have just got to far to go to realize how unhealthy eating SAD is.

[Rawzula]

Here's the link to that case:

http://vegfamily.com/marriage-family/dumas-story.htm

[magglepie]

That is so frustrating!!!!!!!! Ugh. Vegetarians can raise kids just as well.

[norvegan]

Here's the link to that case:

http://vegfamily.com/marriage-family/dumas-story.htm

I am utterly amazed by the complete ignorance and stupidity present in some people.

Feeding your child an organic, vegetarian is considered abuse, whilst stuffing it with pesticides, hormones, toxic chemicals and drugs is the recommended practice. Is "logic" a concept, or does it merely exist within my mind?

"Nutrition classes"??? That's worse than a cow receiving lessons on how to be a cow by a rattle snake.

I am baffled and appalled. :mad:

My thougts go out to the couple for staying strong and not giving up.

[Dee1111]

If i didn't support myself it would be tough to make this sort of lifestyle change. You can't really expect someone else to financially support this decision (being raw is expensive!) You can however, make life choices to make yourself better equipped to handle the financial burdens yourself. Then mom can say all she wants and it just doesn't matter!

[RubyLeo]

I just decided to go raw today so haven't told my parents. I will tomorrow and I might post what their reaction was.
Although, when I went vegetarian 2yrs ago they laughed and said it was a phase. When I went vegan, they thought I was mad and would get really sick - a year later my immune system is stronger than theirs and I rarely get sick! :p Now they know i'm serious about it, even though they're both omnivores, they've accepted it and we share a vegan meal once per week.
However, I think telling them i'm going raw will make them flip out and think i'm going to die.
As for my non-immediate family, they're accepting of it and there's really no discussion between us about the food I eat.

[peace_istheword]

My parents absolutely HATE it!
I've only been going at this for a little over a week.
Everyone tells me I'm gonna die soon.
And I get called anorexic pretty much every day.

[RubyLeo]

Ok, well today I told my mum that I was going to try and go raw-vegan and all she said was..."That's nice, remember you have an appointment tomorrow".

I guess that reaction was better than what I was expecting (a long lecture about how i'm going to have to buy my own food, prepare my own meals, blah blah blah).

[Raene]

My husband hated it at first b/c we used to love going out to eat together. Now we can't b/c he likes Indian food and I don't prefer their iceberg lettuce salads. But over the 6 months that I've been eating raw, he's gotten used to it and every time I say I'm going to eat something cooked he tells me I'd better not, that he doesn't miss the old me. I used to eat a cooked vegan meal and be stuck at the table, all bloated and so tired I couldn't move. He doesn't want me to be like that again. I also had really bad mood swings. I'm definitely more sensitive now, but in a good way. :)
My mum thinks I'm too radical...that I always do the "all or nothing" thing and I should "balance" it. She doesn't understand that just ONE cooked food affects me negatively. My dad doesn't say much...he's always felt like I'm too thin so he probably worries about me, but he knows better than to speak up b/c I'm soooo stubborn. :D

[iamacranberry]

I don't tell most people, as a general rule. They know I'm vegan, and that's strange enough for them. That pretty much gives me the license to eat strange things all the time, though, all on its own....strange in their eyes.

[mongodelight]

i did an incredible job: i convinced my brother about it. He thirst thought i was nuts. Damn i forgot how i did it. He was 16 years old and stayed 2 months raw(didnt quit smoking weed and drinking:o) and now he knows the truth.
But he is eating junkfood all the time now and smokes weed and drinks. But he knows the truth about diet, thats the most important step.

My parents only believe people the status. They believe everything the TV or the newspaper says. But they let me do what i want. Before i was smoking weed all day long, smoking cigarettes, drinking untill blackout at weekends, benching tons of fast food and some other things they dont know. So if that eating habit goes together with stopping all the stimulants they re glad.

By the way i am 20(my mum i am still a child) and i do what i want since i am 14 years old.:D

10th raw day today. But it doesnt matter how long you re on, its predetermined if u fail in the moment you go 100% OR ITS NOT. Allen Carrs method works, last time i was 3 months 100% and fall of just because of mineral defiency(fruit diet) . Now i am eating 2 pounds of DARK green leafy veggies and i ve read the sunfood diet by wolfe. (allen carrs method works on all drugs,that doesnt mean that i cant fall into that trap again, i am just at zero like before, nearly the whole process was 3-4 weeks last time, when all my association were gone:))

Now its forever. I am 21 in november. But that doesnt matter anymore. Yeah i am going to still run marathons with 100:cool:

(edit: in germany its normal to start drinking like a hole at weekends at the age of 14, at 16 you can go into a club dancing and drinking untill you die(its also easy to get liquor with 14) - BUT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE TO DIE AT 12 O CLOCK XD

[dandelion106]

I've been raw for 6 months and my parents know about it. They were fine with it at first, but when I lost my period and a lot of weight they freaked out. I still haven't gotten my period back and I'm still thin so my mom is going kinda crazy, however, when I started raw I did it too fast and just ate anything that was raw. Now I think I'm going to bulk up on herbs and superfoods to get my weight back. Any ideas??

[berrymarymac]

My mom is okay with it...she's fully supportive of me and thinks it's great! She's a flexitarian, and fine with vegans and raw vegans, etc.

[krisw]

My brothers still think I'm a crazy hippie and poke fun at my "bird" or "rabbit" food but I actually managed to successfully convert my mother. I'm working on my aunt and grandma but I don't know if that will ever work. Ever try to convince a couple of italian women to give up bread and pasta? Let me just tell you now that it does NOT work. :rolleyes:

But otherwise everyone is very supportive if a little worried. They still wonder if I'm going to drop dead at any given moment from not having any meat in my diet. It's amazing how much controversy is created over something as simple as what food we choose and don't choose to eat.

[oai]

they throw out the "you're going to die" comment every now & then. hm... my brother says when he has kids, he doesn't want them visiting me, b/c i'm weird. :rolleyes:

[rawstrength]

I've been a vegan for 3 years and a raw vegan for a year. I've been making my own food since I went vegan. I transitioned to raw without telling my family. They know I'm raw now, but they don't really care much. We never talk about food!
My family still eats mostly microwave foods, restaurant foods and take-out. When they sit down to eat a family, home-cooked meal, it is almost always steak, baked potato and broccoli (at least there's the broccoli, but it is microwaved).

[LotsaRaw]

My mom is okay with it...she's fully supportive of me and thinks it's great! She's a flexitarian, and fine with vegans and raw vegans, etc.


I had to google "flexitarian" - pretty funny

Labels do amuse me...I kinda fit that one - maybe "raw flexitarian" LOL

[Lady Green Jeans]

My family is all back east and I've lived in California for quite a few years. They have always felt I live in the land of fruit, nuts and twigs and that seems to not have changed much.

[graham]

haahha people always ask me if i get enough protein! besides that, everyone is really supportive, but they seem to forget im ONLY a raw food eater. my family is constantly offering me cheese, soups, breads, casseroles, lasagna, chicken, couscous, eggs, stews, every cooked food they can think of.. probably happens three times every day. i have been offering my mom a lot of raw food lately and she takes well to it.. cole slaw, raw chocolate, green smoothies, collard wraps. she liked them all, but she would never eat anything above 50% raw.

[jurence]

When I was vegetarian: " damn I have the heart of a vegetarian, but I love meat too much"

When I was vegan: "Damn I have the heart of a vegan, but I love chocolate milk too much"

When I was raw: "damn"

[shortehh]

that's cool your parents are catching on.
ya my parents are kind of getting used to me eating raw. They always used to tell me that i need to eat REAL food. like hot food, get the feeling of being full. My overprotective mom especially became worried that i would become anorexic or something. or not be big and normal, whatever. you know stuff like that.
and i told them well maybe you're addicted kind of to your food. maybe you aren't even hungry! bla bla. the scientific healthy thing.
i'm supposedly "schizophrenic" so after they read online that it was good for sensitive people to eat non-processed foods, they think i'm a genius and are proud of me! i guess i'm regular donnie darko.
there's no way my parents will catch on haha. they are definitely to addicted to their sugar highs and stuff. though submissive, they are very open minded people. so they understand my desire to evolve myself spiritually through whatever way possible. yip skip jump.

[iamacranberry]

When I was vegetarian: " damn I have the heart of a vegetarian, but I love meat too much"

When I was vegan: "Damn I have the heart of a vegan, but I love chocolate milk too much"

When I was raw: "damn"

That's why there's raw vegan chocolate : )

[czpinky]

my family doesn't seem to care much. they asked me loads of questions when I went vegan...I haven't really told them about being raw though. my dad is a butcher which creates plenty of conflict sometimes...but I let it go. he doesn't understand and I just don't care anymore. I'm going to live my life in the best way I can and create the most peace and love as I can.

[channyl]

Both of my parents are overweight/obese and they don't understand it at all. I had to practically get on my hand and knees to beg for a book I've been wanting for months about eating raw & food combining. My dad thinks that its unhealthy, but I'm not really comfortable taking either of their advice. :mad:

[berryfairy]

my Dad is convinced I am starving myself
he is crazy! he just doesn't understand how nuts and seeds can be sustaining
I tell him, I am soooo full right now! I just ate the biggest salad ever {with like a whole avocado in it}
and he just glares at me.. and says "all you ate was a salad..."
it's so annoying! :mad:
I annoy him by eating salads and he annoys me by not believing they are filling...

[SweetTangerine]

I'm keeping this raw journey quiet for a while. My family is supportive of everything I do, I just want to send them a picture in a few months (I live in Washington and they live in Michigan) and say "look at what I have been up to." :D

[RaeVynn]

My DH is the most supportive, adventurous, tolerant person!
I keep making raw stuff, and he keeps eating it :p
He does also eat non-raw stuff... at this point, mostly just bread and peanut butter... but he's drinking green smoothies for breakfast, loves wheatgrass juice, and will stay away from tortilla chips as long as I keep cranking out the dehydrated veggie chips! :)

He told me that, the other day at work, someone asked him about the wheatgrass juice:
"Oh, [moo] I think it tastes [moo] great, and it [moo] really hasn't [moo] affected me [moo] at all [moo]."

[queenkel]

Mine are trying to be supportive, but they're skeptical as well. I hear all the usual complaints, "not enough protein not enough carbs!". But they'll catch on. I'm determined to convince them to at least increase their intake of raw foods.

[rftm0115]

Mine used to say I look like I'm dying. It was genuine concern, and it did put heavy doubt and fear into my mind. As time goes on though, they seem to be incorporating the methods I've used towards becoming healthier in their own lifestyles.

I'm currently going to start a regimen that may freak them out, but I'm sure they'll come around. I'm so lucky to have my family. :)

[Cerellia]

I don't live with my mom, anymore, but every time, she sees me, she wants to talk it out of me :-( (It had been the same when I went vegetarian, 12 years ago)

She is fairly health-conscious in a way (as for eating only whole-grain bread, lots of salads, vegetables ect.), but she still thinks that some cooked food and even meat is healthy :-(
Her first reaction (when I only told that I quite dairy products and processed food) was "good heavens!" I tryed really hard to explain the scientific backgrouend of an ideal diet to her, but she wouldn't listen.

The next time, I saw my family was at a barbecue party. I'm used to bringing my own food on such occasions, so I brought a variety of vegetables with an avocado dip, a sproud and vegetable salad which I completed with wild greens from the garden and a lot of fruits.
My grandmother was elated but all the others made fun about me eating weeds. My mom also panicked about fox tapeworms because of eatig wild plants :-S

What I find especially annoying is, that they look at my diet as if it was an eating disorder. Yes, I have lost a few pounds, but I'm still perfectly normal weight, according to BMI. I'm not intending to loose, but if it happens, I'm fine with it, as long as I don't get too skinny.
My sister even said, I should be put into a hospital, if I loose any more :-(
The only one who was defending me was my grandmother. She said, as long as I feel good the way I eat, I should go on with it. (I feel very good and I believe other people can see this: I used to be pail with circles around my eyes, now I had more tan than anyone else, I was much fitter than all of them together and it was the first year that I have neither caught a flue nor suffered from hey fewer). It must have been very obviouse that I felt good. but my mom said: "Tut, she doesn't know, what is good for her!" This really hurt me, because I have spent so much time researching what would be the best diet and now she said, I would not know what was good for me :-(

[LotsaRaw]

Mom called to apologize about getting me a vegetarian cook book for my birthday - said she did not find a raw one (but I am welcome to regift it to my sis!) - but she's keeping her eyes open! Since it's Mom, I'll send her a wish list! Sis in Law DID find a raw uncook book, so I was pleased.

[Tenuho]

haha this is a good thread....

my parents think theres something ''wrong'' with it....but theres nothing they can do as they know im not going to listen to them lol....

ive been eating raw on and off for awhile....when i first started...it was hard because my mum would buy alott of junk food and the amount of raw food in the house wasnt enough to last....also it was pretty boring stuff....

now i buy my own stuff and my mum buys some more stuff for me....

when thier going to the shop i'll jus shout get me a mango or sumthing....but for the more exotic types of raw food i'll have to get it myself...

at first it kinda pissed me off.....

i told my mum when i was younger....just dont buy me any food.....then atleast i know id have to get my own food...atleast id come home with food rather than gettin home to find ive got nothing to eat(which happend plenty of times)...and i think she continues to get me stuff out of guilt or something lol....

[Gaius]

My parents think I'm slowly killing myself with my new lifestyle, and they even go so far as to openly discuss that I may need to be put in a psychiatric ward to "deprogram" me. They try to offer me really decadent, rich foods whenever I visit, like roast beef sandwiches, fried rice, pizza, beef stew, chowder, etc.

I come from a shame-based family, where feeding each other is one of the only ways we show our love. I've gotten nothing but teasing, belittling and attempted sabotage from my parents, so I've sort of started to be even less present in their lives due to my new lifestyle.

[Shoney]

let's see, Dad thinks it's cool, Mom thinks I'm weird. My siblings have brushed it off because I keep coming and going with it.

For the most part I don't tell people, not yet anyway, although I did make a comment on MySpace about being a raw girl again.

Thankfully, I live thousands of miles away from them, and am old enough to buy my own groceries.

I am so happy for you young'uns whose parents are supportive!!

[LilacLavender]

My parents and friends don't know...most freaked out when I went vegan, let alone anything beyond that.

[RaeVynn]

Note that the post above mine is a SPAMMER -- do NOT go to the website listed.

Reported to Mods. Thanks.

[MellyBelly]

my mum encouraged me going raw because i had reaaly bad eczema on my face and body...which is embaressing because i'm a check out chick - and in highschool (everyones judgemental of physical appearances)

she supports me by buying more vegies and fruit so i cant complain :)

ive only been doing this for 4 days and ive seen much improvement

i hope all goes well with your rawfoodism
good luck

:p

[rawfoods]

My family doesn't care what I eat, but they think I eat this way because as a young girl they think I think I'm fat... and I'm only 110 pounds so I really don't care about my weight. They're always trying to get me to eat what they cook, along with junk food, and it's sometimes hard to resist. But the hardest thing is explaining to people why I eat the way I do. It's nothing to do with WEIGHT it's all about HEALTH