How to defend my new vegan diet?

For the past six weeks I have completely cut out meat and dairy from my diet. As much as I respect the beliefs of vegans who do it for the sake of the animals, my diet is purely for health benefits at this point. I have lost weight and feel so much healthier! Most of my family doesn't know about these changes and I know that they are going to make fun of me and ask lots of stupid questions over the holidays. Do you have any suggestions for what to say? Any witty responses?How to defend my new vegan diet?
I don't know how old you are...that would make a difference. However, I'll just speak from personal experience. I was a senior in high school when I gave up eating animals. My family was not thrilled, to say the least. What I did was educated myself about the health benefits as well as recipes. I then told my family about my choice and carefully explained why I made this decision. I also made it clear that I was not going to try to "convert" them. I also allowed them a chance to ask me any questions they had. I gave honest answers to all I knew. If I didn't know something, I was honest and told them it was a good question and I would look into it. I then made sure I found the answer within a day or two and got back to them. I also offered to make dinner once a week so they could see that I was serious about eating healthy, delicious food. After a while, my dad had requests and my mom enjoy having as many nights off from cooking as I could cook. Then, years later, due to health problems and doctor recommendations, they gave up eating meat, too.

I think clear explanation and showing you respect their choice to eat meat and letting them know you want respect for your choice is the best way to go. And be sure to include what you stated here, that you feel so much healthier and how losing weight has made you feel.

Good luck.How to defend my new vegan diet?
The simple fact is that you do not need to defend your diet to anyone. What you choose to consume is entirely your own concern.



Just don't discuss it. If someone asks a question, answer it in the shortest possible way, without being rude. (Q "Why did you give up meat?" A "I feel much better now." or "I have more energy.")

If anyone becomes antagonistic, ignore it, then excuse yourself to go make a phone call, or get a drink.

When you return, start a new topic of conversation.

People soon give up when they see that they aren't bothering you.
well my doctor said that a vegan diet is completely healthy as long as I make sure to get enough calcium and b12. She wasn't worried about protein and the other stuff because it is easy to get. A vegan diet is completely healthy because you are forced to eat vitamin rich foods IF you care about your health. Vegans who don't care will end up malnourished. Therefore, it is only common sense that you would start to lose weight. Just make sure you are eating enough, getting all of your vitamins, and exercise and dieting go hand in hand so I suggest you exercise if you don't! Good luck :)

EDIT: oh I probably should answer the question! Just tell that your new commitment helps you make the right choices and it is really none if their business. You feel great and that is all that matters :)How to defend my new vegan diet?
i just tell people i'm conducting an experiment and i'm the guinea pig.
since i've tried almost every type of eating there is(from paleo to raw vegan) for an extended time, i'm actually telling the truth and when i change i tell people the experiment is over.
you might be one of those unfortunate people who has an underlying health problem and the vegan diet will make it worse. you are in the "honeymoon period" of the diet so it's pretty standard to feel so much healthier at the start but you'll just have to wait and see.
I understand how you feel. I don't want to exaggerate, but I feel like a social pariah when it comes up. People seem to have such a negative view of vegetarians.



I feel like telling them that I'm not 12, and I don't have to "eat all my broccoli, or I don't get dessert!" The time for other people's input on my diet is over. Yet, as soon as you confess to being the Big V everyone will chime in with their opinion on the matter. "We're supposed to eat meat! We evolved to do it! You're depriving yourself of something your body needs!" As if they're the first people to say these things to me. I swear, it's worse than when I used to smoke!



So... basically, good luck!How to defend my new vegan diet?
some people that go vegan to lose weight usually have eating disorders and are trying to mask this by calling it veganism or vegetarianism. the fact that you are hiding it from your family already is a good bet that you are just being anorexic. a doctor or dietitian would never tell anyone to go vegan to lose weight, just so you know.
Try not to make it an issue or push your views on others, some people have set ideas on why we should eat meat and then theres the protein myth. Remember you dont need to justify your food choices to anyone and you dont need their approval.
The best way to defend your strict vegetarian (the diet part of veganism) is to not defend it. People get tired of making a big deal out of it pretty soon if you don't make a big fuss.
you don't owe anyone an explanation for a decision that you made for yourself that will help you. Good Luck and Happy Holidays! Enjoy those veggies.
Simple don't defend it just say it's your life and you are still healthy even though you choose not to eat meat or dairy
tell them to **** off.
idk