i have a problem

[dread head vegan]

i don't know why. but i am having trouble telling people (some friends and family) that i am raw. i guess i have some bad experences in the past. ever sence then i have been kinda scared about telling people. any one everhave this problem? how do i tell people? how did you tell people?
thaks,

[Nayeli_Raw]

i don't know why. but i am having trouble telling people (some friends and family) that i am raw. i guess i have some bad experences in the past. ever sence then i have been kinda scared about telling people. any one everhave this problem? how do i tell people? how did you tell people?
thaks,

Oh yeah. My parents gave me so much crap for being an Ovo-lacto vegetarian when I was pregnant with my son, if I tell them I going raw-vegan during this pregnancy they will poo their pants.

[Bananna]

lol...I'm a closet raw vegan too!

..even though I'm only half way to raw at this point. I've started letting people know I'm vegan now. They already know I'm vegetarian. Nobody has said anything so far really, accept they forget and offer me food I don't eat, constantly. It really is an accident though, and then they realize and wonder what the Hell I do eat.

The other day I got right upset for the first time in a restaurant about their pathetic menu options. I consider this progress on one level. :D

[Nayeli_Raw]

lol...I'm a closet raw vegan too!

..even though I'm only half way to raw at this point. I've started letting people know I'm vegan now. They already know I'm vegetarian. Nobody has said anything so far really, accept they forget and offer me food I don't eat, constantly. It really is an accident though, and then they realize and wonder what the Hell I do eat.

The other day I got right upset for the first time in a restaurant about their pathetic menu options. I consider this progress on one level. :D

I feel you. Last night a friend had her birthday at a restaurant and every salad option had meat in it. The only vegetarian thing was a portabello sandwich with cheese. (I hate mushrooms, they taste like dishwater to me.) Silly restaurants.

[Bananna]

Normally I can take it...this particular time was at a chinese buffet and they only had chicken fried rice for rice options...so I complained because that left me with a lot less choice, plus one of my kids is vegetarian too, but not raw. When I complained they told me I could order a veggie rice and we had this big fight about why I should have to now spend my buffet ticket on one dish and only eat one thing. So I took a menu and stomped off. Then they offer to bring me some veggie rice for free ten minutes later...so I said ok...and Then it had scrambled eggs all through it, lol.

I just laughed at that point...it amazes me that people have such trouble distinguishing what's vegetable and what's animal.

I've just become Really disenchanted with restaurants as of late. Oh how I Wish they were more vegan friendly...then people would inadvertantly eat more vegan as they realize they have choices...cuz right now, they truly don't. It's a side salad or starve...I feel like starting a movement or something...but everyone around me is still a meat eater. lol...ehehehe...ehe. :(

dread head, maybe you could just tell people you're vegetarian..and if they don't freak out then say, well actually I'm vegan and if they still don't freak out, then tell them you're raw vegan...then they'll just laugh because you're being funny.

[Raspberry4]

It has been my experience that the people I have tried to explain this too don't really 'get it'. So now I just say that I eat more fruit, veges, nuts and seeds than anything else. They seem to get it then. Good luck to you.

[Nayeli_Raw]

I've just become Really disenchanted with restaurants as of late. Oh how I Wish they were more vegan friendly...then people would inadvertantly eat more vegan as they realize they have choices...

I really agree with this. And I wish vegetarian and vegan things weren't always named, Veggie.... or Vegan... because when a SAD eater sees a sandwich or pasta named Dirty Hippie Rabbit Food.. it tends to turn them off. And then they turn around and ask their vegetarian friends.. WHAT DO YOU EAT?? As if everything in the world that has flavor has chicken in it.

[GlimR]

dread head vegan~
You only have to share what information you choose to. If you feel you need to tell people fine, if not just live. The bottom line is that what anyone else thinks about your choices are only important if you let them be. If raw veganism is what works for you, what makes you feel your best and it is your choice to live this way, THAT is what matters most.
You can label yourself a raw foodist or say you eat more "natural" foods. I find that most people only make a huge, weird deal of what I eat if I put too much focus and draw too much attention to it. Otherwise I just go along and do my thing. Best of luck to you~

[Eva]

I really agree with this. And I wish vegetarian and vegan things weren't always named, Veggie.... or Vegan... because when a SAD eater sees a sandwich or pasta named Dirty Hippie Rabbit Food.. it tends to turn them off. And then they turn around and ask their vegetarian friends.. WHAT DO YOU EAT?? As if everything in the world that has flavor has chicken in it.

LOL LOL, "Dirty Hippie Rabbit Food"??

[Eva]

i don't know why. but i am having trouble telling people (some friends and family) that i am raw. i guess i have some bad experences in the past. ever sence then i have been kinda scared about telling people. any one everhave this problem? how do i tell people? how did you tell people?
thaks,

I often don't tell people. When it comes up, I DO make an effort to throw something in there about the ulcer I had and the digestive issues that I needed to fix, was able to fix, and don't intend to deal with again. Seeing it in the light of it solving my personal health issues, it's not generally something that would put another person on the defensive.

Funny thing is, why should MY diet put someone else on the defense about THEIR choices. C'mon, we're adults and free to make whatever choices we make. The last thing I would do is sit around judging someone else's choices, but for some reason a lot of us humans get this idea that the world revolves around each and every one of us.

In any case, you don't have to tell people about your choice -- but if you do, I would just be careful to let them know it is simply a choice you made that fits with YOUR lifestyle and that you're not interested in converting them...

Unless you are.

Then I don't know what to tell you! ;):eek::D

[freshlight]

i don't know why. but i am having trouble telling people (some friends and family) that i am raw. i guess i have some bad experences in the past. ever sence then i have been kinda scared about telling people. any one everhave this problem? how do i tell people? how did you tell people?
thaks,

don't tell them anything at all if you don't want to :) I don't talk about it either if it's not necessary.

But if you do,-it's like a mirror: if you feel good about yourself, everyone else will be impressed and if not, that won't bother you much either.

Just relax and be proud of yourself ;)

[Nayeli_Raw]

LOL LOL, "Dirty Hippie Rabbit Food"??

When a meat eater sees a veggie sandwich called a Vegetarian Sandwich they are turned off by it and all they see is the negatives they associate with it. So if it had a different name, like how burgers are named weird things like the Whopper. Name the veggie sandwich the Sunny Sandwich, or I have no idea, I am not a sandwich namer by profession, but do you understand what I'm saying?

[Eva]

When a meat eater sees a veggie sandwich called a Vegetarian Sandwich they are turned off by it and all they see is the negatives they associate with it. So if it had a different name, like how burgers are named weird things like the Whopper. Name the veggie sandwich the Sunny Sandwich, or I have no idea, I am not a sandwich namer by profession, but do you understand what I'm saying?

I totally understand. It actually gave me quite a laugh. I like the "sunny sandwich" sort of name... I think they do that because vegetarians need to know what is veggie and it sure makes it clear... But you're right. My husband loves his green smoothies and has made many changes since I went raw... but if you find us in a restaurant, I end up with water and a salad, my own dressing (thrilling, I know!), and he avoids the veggie stuff...

Although -- I am coming back to the USA in a few weeks, and we are driving my car from Martha's Vineyard (New England) to FL. For a bit of fun, we (my husband and I) are going to hit up Grezzo in Boston, meeting up with a veggie friend at Quintessence in NYC, Java Green in Washington, D.C... and from there I think we're just going to be eating fruit. I dunno. We might go through the Atlanta area. He was wondering what he would be able to eat at these places, and I gently reminded him how much he loves when I make zucchini pasta or pizza or calzones or whatever. So, he will be "fine." Sheesh!

[Moretta]

I will only tell people if I'm actually forced to, otherwise I do not volunteer any information about my way of eating.

[Veganforlife]

I DON'T explain to folks. If they ask, then I will explain to them, but I don't voluntarily announce it. I personally don't care what others think. I know how I've healed myself and to me, that's all that matters!

[Pug Ugly]

Now I'm brand new to raw living but I've been vegan for quite a while.. There are always ways around telling people, easiest of all just not mentioning it. If someone asks, tell them you're a strict vegetarian or tell a "white lie".. "I think I'm developing a dairy allergy, my stomach hurts when I eat it.." or just say you're trying to eat more vegetables and you prefer them raw as opposed to cooked.. It's when you put a label on it like "Vegan" or "Raw" that people start inexplicably losing their minds about it.

[ShelShel]

Just smile and say, "I eat like a bird!" :p That's what my hubby says when he looks in our fridge and sees all the nuts and seeds. Teehee.

I don't tell unless asked and then I judge by their face if it's a polite question and they really don't care or if they sincerely think it's something that could benefit themselves.

And my quick answer: fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. That's it. Smile. walk away. LOL