JenniferHughes and MDVegan: Omni to veg*n convert approach?
JH and MDV (and anyone else who's had success)...
The thread that Wendie started about non-vegetarians who aren't shy about voicing their disapproval of vegetarianism got me thinking about how you've both managed to convert a few family members and/or friends to veg*nism. I am absolutely amazed by your success. Can you share with us your approach? Was it seriously just sharing with them your fantastic cooking? Was it educating them about the health, environmental or animal welfare aspects? I'm trying more and more to educate others when I bring a dish to an omni gathering rather than laughing about the "fake sausage" or "fake cheese" in the dish like I once did. At social functions I attend, people are very open to trying my dishes (alongside their ribs and hamburgers), but my family members are another story. (20 years of veg*nism here - zero converts to show for it :()
my family is slowly turning into vegetarian/vegan/raw food. I guess they all have their own reasons for changing. I think the effect I had on this was showing them how to make tofu, how awesome juicing is, how to make seitan and just showing them how good vegan food is. Now they (mainly my parents) are showing 'the light' to their brothers, sisters and parents. My aunts, uncles and grandparents certainly wouldnt listen to me about this sort of thing. i'm the weird hippy relative.
I am a omni to vegan convert, but that was just more of a random epiphany. BUT I have gotten my mom to consider going vegetarian. One day she called me to tell me that at the store she saw a sign informing customers that if they had purchased any beef from the store it was being recalled and that she immediately thought of me when she saw it. I find you can't just preach veg*nism, but taking a broader range of topics is very helpful. For instance, pointing out that Americans are eating larger and larger portions and how disgusting it is. Now she rarely buys beef because of my continued assertion that there is some biological reason humans keep getting sick from eating beef that maybe it's a message we aren't suppose to, and that she realizes now how much beef is in those packages and there is not way that her and my dad can eat a 3 pound package of beef in a meal.
Just last night my sister and I came home for winter break (she's a vegan also) so my mom cooked us a fantastic vegan dinner, and even she enjoyed it! Not only that but she also said she would covertly make the stuffing and mashed potatoes vegan for thanksgiving without telling the rest of the family! She also just bought her first canvas shopping bags last week after I had told her for years how bad plastic is for the environment! SO, I have had success preaching about more general topics. Just keep being persistent! Also, some people just aren't open to veg*nism and there really isn't anything you can do about it.
Although I have had success with my mom (who was initially very hostile veg*nism), my dad is a TOTALLY different story... :-\
Yes, sometimes it is as easy as showing someone how to simple it is to swap soymilk for cow's milk in a recipe.
BUT the very best thing to do is READ, READ, READ... the more you know, the more (correct) information and stats you have at the tip of your tongue to share.
I haven't converted anyone really, my mom and her parents were vegan in the past (for religious and health reasons) I think they switched religions several years ago and veganism was sidelined. Seeing me do it (and talk about it non-stop ;D) probably gave them a kick in the pants because they knew it was the right thing all along. Also they realized they can do it for reasons other than religion (my mom always felt 'forced' to do it, but now she's happy about it as a choice.) I was able to share updated products with them and it was easier for them than ever before! My grandma, still gets confused about Veggie Slices (they contain casein) and buys them by mistake all the time. :(
The other people in our family who have at least made minor changes (switching to soymilk and earth balance, or simply not eating cheese and red meat etc.) have done so because of information we shared with them. We try to stick to what interests the particular individual. (For example, I don't mention AR things to my FIL, he just wouldn't care. :()
If they grab onto a certain aspect or detail in a conversation, we really go with that and tell them more info about that topic in particular and eventually recommend a book that is written from that perspective. Hook them and reel them in LOL ;)
I have a book list that I wrote a little description of each book I'd read and based the description on the intended audience. I know it's not super accurate but it works for me to glance at and say to myself, "Oh yeah... John Smith would go for THAT book!" Some of the books aren't even vegan but are books that DH and I found reinforced our choices. Many of the books tend to at least touch on all the issues and even if they read a political expose they'll see the inhumane side of things.
I am sure you've read a lot of them, but here's my list in case you want to see it. I also have given the entire list to some people who are self-described "very interested" so they can jump around and choose books for themselves. I usually list my favorite cookbooks at the bottom too. :)
But again, I think it's key to note what interests or intrigues the person about veg*nism and then have the info ready to share so you can hook them on finding out more.
Fast Food Nation Eric Schlosser
A social and political expose of the meat industry. Touches on topic such as, meat contamination and government tampering, labor issues, advertising ploys etc. I haven't seen the movie, but highly recommend the book over the movie. The book is full of information that is too important to miss.
Eat To Live Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
A diet plan and lifestyle based on mass consumption of vegetables. Also, quite a bit of information on disease and disease prevention based on diet. Contains recipes.
Disease Proof Your Child Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
Much like Eat to Live, (more lifestyle/less diet plan) less wordy, less annotation, geared toward children's eating. Still a great book for adults to read. Contains recipes.
The China Study T. Colin Campbell, Thomas M. Campbell II, John Robbins, and Howard Lyman
The study determines that all humans have cancer cells in them. Animal protein is what "switches on" the cancer. In effect animal protein is like the fertilizer that makes the cancer grow. It conclusively demonstrates the link between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Politics of nutrition and the impact of special interest groups in the creation and dissemination of public information are also discussed. A lot of INFO, very concentrated.
The Great American Detox Diet Alex Jamieson
This book is a little lighter than Eat to Live or The China Study. Discusses why and how Americans need to detox from their typical diets. Girlfriend of Morgan Spurlock who detoxed him after his SuperSize Me documentary about eating at McDonald's for 30 days.
Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America Morgan Spurlock
The guy who did the documentary SuperSize Me (he ate only McD's 30 days and documented the outcome on his health and life.) This book covers the school lunch program and how fast food's advertising is directed at kids. If you have children you should read this one. And I DO recommend watching the documentary SuperSize Me, which is not the same as the book.
Diet for a New America John Robbins
Heir to the Baskin & Robbins Ice Cream Company. I haven't read all of it, but I'm pretty sure this book focuses on animal rights and how animals are tortured, housed and killed in inhumane ways before they get to your plate.
Skinny Bitch
I would recommend this book as the first book anyone should read about veganism. It focuses on health and briefly mentions political reasons behind dairy and meat industry campaigns and contains a brief chapter on animal cruelty.
Natural Cures (...They Don't Want You to Know About) -Kevin Trudeau
Basically, this guy is a crazy nutjob... But that doesn't mean he's wrong about most of the things he talks about. His book is filled with all kinds of information about chemicals that we encounter daily, in food, water and and why not minimize that exposure, right? Has nothing to do with being Vegan, more about organic.
The Twinkie Deconstructed
Follows the path of how a Twinkie is made, from the source of the ingredients. The writer isn't anti-Twinkie he doesn't have an opinion on the manufacturing just documents it. Has nothing to do with Veganism but is very interesting and will make you think twice about eating things from a package.
Thanks for the book list, jenniferhughes!
I'm going to read a bunch of these over my winter break and "accidentally" leave them sitting out on the coffee table at my house for my omni family to stumble across ::)
When I started eating soy ice cream (I had been a vegan sans soy ice cream, sad, I know), my mom tried it. She looooooves ice cream, she eats it practically every day, and she actually wound up liking soy ice cream better because she can eat more of it without feeling yucky (haha!). but now that i'm not around as much (college), she randomly switches from dairy to soy to dairy. she still likes the soy, but we've yet to have an equivalent of one of those half-gallon tubs of vanilla ice cream with random junks in it (chocolate swirls, caramel swirls, marshmallow creme, chocolate-covered junk, etc). she loves the random junk.
(i'd rather eat chocolate)
my brother considered going vegan when we were growing up because, since i was vegan, i got to have all the "special vegan food" and he got everything else. my sister has gone vegan for weeks at a time for "dieting" purposes (she's one of those people who diets on one diet two weeks at a time, then switches to the new fad).
'cause my mom hates cooking and my sister is... not very good at it, i get to cook holiday meals. fortunately, i'm a good cook ;) and it's all vegan and they all like it.
close as i get...
Ok guys. I've got a good one here.
My roommate kind of went off on this little mini-tirade the other day while we were discussing shellfish. She thinks it's absolutely disgusting that they are boiled alive and refuses to eat all fish/seafood.
Of course I don't really see a difference between those that eat shellfish and those that eat cow/chickens, but I didn't really feel like arguing such a confusing argument. I've noticed that she gets REALLY upset over mistreatment of animals, and kind of freaks out about situations that are out of her control that have to do with animals.
She went home this weekend, and her family (who has never met me) asked about "her vegan friend" and how my Thanksgiving was...(?) She said that her mom was kind of like hating on me and my choices and she ended up defending me. We got into the topic of the seafood again and I suggested that it would be good for ALL those animals that she cares about if she stopped eating them. Her response was kind of like this "I can't be vegetarian because YOU'RE vegetarian."
I know how superficial and weird it sounds. BUT I kind of get what she's saying. A little. Like if she bought a shirt I liked, I probably wouldn't go out and buy the same shirt. But it's not the same thing, I know that. I like to think I wouldn't think of vegetarianism in that way, but I was much less serious about it when I first started in on it, so I kind of see where she's coming from.
I just get aggravated because I see that she REALLY loves animals and I think that she could do it, she doesn't eat a lot of meat right now. I just don't really know what to say that's light-hearted and not pushy, but would still get my point across.
Now I know what you guys are thinking
And no, I will not say "Get the f**k over yourself"
;)
Any advice?
hmm... it seems like too superficial of a reason; like there's something else (doesn't think she can do it, family pressures, etc). though i guess most people's reason (convenience) is superficial too. i'd just be supportive of anything veg*n she does, if you can cook, cook for the both of you, make some chocolate avocado pie, those kinds of things.
duh, i forgot to mention non-family peoples. my first roommate went vegan by osmosis and my second went vegetarian same way. with the first one, she was already vegetarian, and we talked about it sometimes (she was interested, and was into "liberal causes"). with the second, the funny thing is i hardly *ever* talked to her. we didn't seem to like each other much... i would leave leaflets when i ate lunch (at the dining commons), in the bathroom stalls, etc... and one day she came home with one (and she knew i was the distributor). and that was that.
(watch out, current roomie! i don't even have to try anymore! mwahaha!)
i guess its like how people are afraid of someone's "gayness" rubbing off on them or their child. my veganness will rub off on you and all your offspring! watch out!
Woohoo! I have an omni success story to share!
I was meeting a friend to go shopping earlier this week, so we decided to just stop at the grocery store for a snack. I got avocado sushi, we decided to split some cooked carrots, and she got a tub of chicken wings. We sat down, are chatting, and eating, and two bites into her chicken wing, she stops and pushes it away and covers the tub with a napkin. I'm cheerfully munching on carrots and give her a quizzical look. She replies, "I keep thinking about your shirt that says, "Wings are for flying, not frying," and I'm so disgusted I can't stand to even look at them!"
We happily finished the carrots and I told her I was very proud of her. Inside, though, I was dancing a Jiggity Jig!
I have another friend with really high cholesterol, and I'm working on him to just have "Vegan Mondays," I've showed him four dishes, so that got him through a month. Now per my suggestion, he's trying "vegan lunches." Only breakfast and 6 more dinners to go!!