Bad Influences

[simone_24]

I`ve been wanting to go raw for a long time but the problem is that my roommate eats nothing but junk food. My friends consider McDonalds part of the major food group and family get togethers are even worse. The question is, how do i handle social gatherings without alienating myself from others? Right now everyone thinks i`m weird and are too afraid to invite me to gatherings that involve food, due to my lifestyle changes. Has this ever happened to you guys? If so I would like to know how you handled these situations.....[COLOR=Magenta]undefinedundefined

[k-lee]

I've had very similar experiences. My approach was to make some kind of gourmet raw entree, like raw avocado quiche or something equally tasty and impressive. Then I bring enough to share, not forcing anyone to try it, but letting them take as much as they want if any. Then, when they offer me their dead food, I just tell them that I'm too full to eat it because I ate so much of the raw stuff, but that generally I don't eat dead food anyway, so it's all good. When they ask you why you eat raw, tell them it's a privilege that you get to enjoy, not something you're forced into. To each his own. Let them eat their Mickey D's, and you eat your goodness, and leave it at that. If they're still pestering you, just stay at home next time. No need to expose yourself to unsupportive people. After you miss one or two family functions, chances are that they'll miss you and would be glad to have you come eat a salad while they eat death.

[simone_24]

Thanx for the advice. I think i will look on the recipe section to bring something to thanksgiving dinner. I better anyway cause everything at family din din will problably be dead...

[michigan roman]

i always tell family and friends hosting dinners or partys etc that dont worry about feeding me i can eat at home and quite perfectly enjoy the gathering without eating .

then when someone insist on feeding me , like my ma on special occasions , the standard request / reply is always salad fixins . then i bring a bottle of my own homemade raw dressing .

[k-lee]

Good luck, let me know how it goes.

[mschele]

Although I am newly raw (not 100% yet), but have been a cooked vegan for many years, I have always been considered an outcast due to the way I eat. I just make sure no feels they have to go out of their way for me. Always bring something for myself to eat (a salad, fruit platter) that will be appealing to someone else and above all do not discuss my diet unless questioned (with a true genuine interest). I try not to make what I eat who I am (if that makes sense) b/c then thats how people will view you. Just act normal and don't even focus on what everyone else is eating.

[DavidZaneMason]

I eat before I leave the house so I am not hungry when I show up. If its a party or something...then I bring fresh cut fruit trays (like pineapple). If it's a restaurant or wedding or something (and they don't have fresh fruit)...then I simply do not eat...and simply inform my loved ones that I'm there to spend time with THEM. I don't answer questions...I simply say I'm not hungry.....or I'm on a special diet...both of which are true! Ha! ha! No worries!

-David Z. Mason

[RawFoodieMom]

I agree with David... try not to discuss it, it usually just ends up making you feel like you're defending yourself. I've started to just tell people I'm on a special diet or not hungry, like David. A friend of mine who I've told I've gone raw has been really driving me crazy because he keeps referring to my new lifestyle as "YUCK", and he doesn't even know what it is. He asks me if there's tofu or soy in my food and he asked me today if there's eggs in my brownies... grrrrrr... The more I try to explain it to him the more annoying the whole conversation gets... sigh.

So, from now on for me it's "special diet" or "I'm not hungry" or "I already ate" or whatever...

Maybe when I've been raw longer I'll be able to better talk to people about it but right now I don't need the stress... I just need to stay raw for a while!

Debra

[rawpriestess]

You know this is a tough one, there are so many ways to look at this issue.

I suppose it depends on if you are committed to being 100% raw or not.

If you are committed to being 100% raw, then NOTHING will keep you from being 100% raw, but if you are wavering or looking for excuses, then you will be able to find them, it's only this once, it's just a bite, they prepaired it just for me, it costs so much, it's free, their feelings will be hurt, etc.

I find that going out is the easiest way to stay raw, as there is always a new thing to try on the menu, or the hostess will have thought outside of my box and will usually come up with some weird and cool concoction for me.

I always bring a fruit plate, (everyone loves these) or a large salad, and by that I don't mean wilted lettuce and rubber carrots, I mean
dehydrated grapes from my arbor, fresh baby greens, from the organic market, chopped and sometimes dehydrated and seasoned nuts, mmmmmmm
fresh apples dipped in lime juice to preserve the white color and add zest, lemon or lime zest, orange segments, chopped jicama for that added crunch, weird and cool mushrooms from my yard, wild foraged leaves--people will often not recognize these "weeds" but love to eat them, etc.

and then I will make a dressing of fresh raspberries and lime juice, maybe a hint of basil or maybe I'll add celery flakes to the salad for some salty goodness, I have wild mountain celery that grows in my garden, came up last year, now I have alot of it, so I'm dehydrating it to use instead of salt, works great. and the deer love it alot. LOL pretty big critters, they also love my lettuce, and strawberries, and almonds, and well, the deer love it all. LOL