1. Speak from the heart.

Tell your family honestly why you are making the decision to eat differently than you did before. Use “I statements” like “I saw  a video about how animals are raised for food and I was horrified. I just don’t want to support this cruelty.” Or “I found out it’s actually healthier to be vegetarian, and I really want to try eating more veg foods.”

2. Don’t pressure them to change.

Nobody likes to be judged, pressured, nagged, or told what to do. Just like you don’t want your parents to tell you what to eat, don’t tell them what to eat. Share your reasons for going veg once or twice and leave it at that.

If they want to learn more, they’ll ask you. This goes for siblings, relatives, and friends too. This low-key approach isn’t just good for family harmony; it will make your family members more open to changing their diets as well.

3. Make it as easy as possible on the chef of the house.

Since they may not want to prepare a whole separate meal for you, it’s a good idea to try  learning to cook and  prepare some meals for yourself. Meanwhile, chow down on the side dishes the whole family is having—things like pasta, potatoes, vegetables, rice and beans, and so on. You can also keep satisfying snacks around the house for when you need something quick, like microwave burritos, granola bars, canned lentil soup, and nuts.

4. Make what’s important to your family important to you.

Your parents’ opposition to your going veg might seem heartless, but you can help ease their concerns if you listen and respond respectfully. Are they worried about your health? Thank them for caring, and get a book on veg eating to show them you’re taking their concern seriously. There are also plenty of resources online to  educate yourself about nutrition .

Whatever your parents are worried about, let them know it’s an understandable concern and then take steps to address it.

5. Stay positive and lead by example.

Strive to be a happy, healthy, positive, and compassionate person. That will not only be great for you and animals, but will also make you a wonderful advertisement for veg eating. It may take a while for your family to fully accept your new way of eating. But if you’re patient with them, eventually they will.

Want more?  Click here for four things that might just get your friends to go veg.

1. Watch a Documentary Together

Watching a documentary about animal rights or veganism was the number one reason people moved toward a vegan diet. Here are some of the standouts:

•  Earthlings: This 2005 documentary narrated by famed actor Joaquin Phoenix explores our relationship with non-human animals, including those used in food production.

•  Cowspiracy: Released in 2014, this documentary explains how our meat-heavy diets impact everything from climate change and species extinction to land and water wastage. Your friends will never look at meat the same way again.

•  Forks Over Knives: This 2011 film details the health benefits of a plant-based diet, such as reduced risk and even reversal of most chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

2. Share Undercover Investigations

Most people have no idea how brutally factory farms abuse animals to bring us meat, dairy, and eggs. Sharing undercover videos is an effective way to expose friends and family to the truth and inspire change. Check out some of our most powerful investigative footage:

•  Farm to Fridge: Narrated by James Cromwell, this powerful 11-minute film gives viewers an eye-opening look behind the closed doors of the nation’s factory farms and slaughterhouses.

•  What Cody Saw: One man’s search to uncover the truth put his life on a course he never expected. This film features a former MFA undercover investigator.

3. Visit a Farmed Animal Sanctuary

Many people are inspired to go veg after connecting with an individual  farmed animal and realizing all animals are just as deserving of compassion as the dogs and cats we all know and love. Take your loved ones on a trip to a farmed animal sanctuary to meet the amazing animals who live there and hear their moving rescue stories. This is sure to be an experience your friends and family won’t soon forget!

4. Share Delicious Vegan Food

Most people have no idea how delicious vegan food can be or that there is such an abundance of mouthwatering  plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy, and eggs.
If you want your friends and family to consider veganism, they need to know that they can still have all of their favorites dishes. So get cooking!  Click here for a list of savory vegan recipes even meat eaters will love.

The animals are counting on you. Good luck!