Feeling attacked by family - switching to vegan

Dragonwolf

I'm going to be honest with you- I had an ex-boyfriend who's entire family were gluten-free vegans except him (vegetarian) and his dad (omnivore).

Not only was his sister one of the most boring people imaginable, because she had absolutely nothing to talk about except being vegan, but they were some of the unhealthiest people I have ever known. The sister was terribly under weight (possibly the criticism for this is why she felt she had to constantly tell everyone how great she felt and how great it is to be vegan).
There was an event where their whole family could eat only one thing- chips/fries. The whole family sat there and gorged on traditionally made, deep-fat fried chips because there was nothing else.

These things are what your family is worried about. Being a healthy vegan is extremely hard work (both diet-wise and not becoming the kind of person who has nothing to say apart form "hello, I'm vegan"). Best of luck with it.

What an idiot reply, so you know one person who is a vegan and id boring and underweight and your using that as an argument to not do it?

I know plenty of meat eaters who are underweight and boring, so does that mean everyone that people should eat meat either?

You can be perfectly healthy while being a vegan, the same as you can be perfectly healthy eating meat or whatever, it just takes a little forethought is all.

Lots of people have this idea that veganism is unhealthy, but im sure when your family see that you arent wasting away or whatever they will stop harassing you. I know a few vegan bodybuilders so its deffinately possible to gain muscle on a vegan diet! Good luck x

Pretty sure they were referring to the fact that the family was a) evangivegans, and b) binged on crap when such an opportunity presented itself and that is what the OP's family is probably afraid of. Coming from the outside, especially if the vegans you know are "soy thumpers" (as one person put it), finding out that a family member wants to go down what you perceive to be the same path is going to be off-putting. The issue here is not being vegan, but having your entire world revolve around you being vegan.

To the OP - it's not just a vegan thing. People will often attack others for making healthy choices, and the farther removed one's diet is from the rest of the family, the stronger a reaction you'll likely get. I faced the same thing from my husband's family when I told them I was going Primal/Paleo. I even got some snide comments from his grandmother, the person I least expected! They've eventually gotten over the initial novelty and just accept that I won't be eating the bread or other grain-based foods. My mother-in-law has even started taking my dietary choices into consideration when we're visiting. It just takes a little time and patience.

Give it some time, don't pick fights (and don't continue ones if they try to pick them), but answer their honest questions, and they'll eventually get over the novelty. It might also help if you offer to cook some meals, or parts of meals. That way, you know there'll be food you can eat, and you can start exposing them to some good vegan dishes.