Coming Out Vegetarian/Vegan

Hi Steemit Community,

I had a thought while browsing through some posts the other day and wanted to share my experience as a vegetarian in the process of going vegan. One factor that seemed to really stand out for me was the support or the abuse and lack of support that happens to people when coming out to family and friends that they are deciding to give up eating animals.

So I grew up on a farm, largely eating vegetables anwyay, but also once in a while the animals we kept. Fast forward to adult me I still had a fairly plant based, but which included the occassional animal. The level of animal in my diet went up and down according the how much of a fuck I gave about things. While living in Russia I finally decided to go vegetarian with the support of my partner, Alexandra.

Now to the main point of my story. The reactions to such a choice were mixed across the friend and colleague group.
Many people did support my choice others kind of stopped including me in things or stopped trying to find ways to connect when they realised we couldn't eat the same things together like we used to. Kind of reminded me of drinking "buddies" who disappear when you are not drinking, I guess that made us "Meating buddies?"

Funnily, i suppose that is what to call it anyway, my partner's parents would still try and sneak things into our food when we would come for dinner. Convinced that we were on the brink of imminent death at all times as a result of not eating any animals.

My family was generally quite accepting. Mom and Dad were always quite alternative anyway, but I still find mom trying to talk me into eating some fish or something once in a while. Maybe she just needs to convince herself. I don't talk to my brothers so often, but I suppose that our tradition of devouring piles of chicken wings will have to be replaced with... oh... I don't know conversation!!!!!!!! I suppose holidays will always be a little tricky for catering, ok one big old turkey and what about for the vegan guy......

Although I am quite up for the challenge of introducing friends and family to things that challenge their eating habits like awesome vegan baked goods, sausages, and cheese!

Going vegan has been fairly easy on the surface, when we started making our own nut cheeses there was really no turning back. But I am still far away from eleminating everything like leather shoes, and dairy when away from home. not to mention that all kinds of other challenges come into play like the use of fish in beer, WTF!! The use of animals in glue, WTF!! The use of animals in spray on fruit in some supermarkets, WTF!!

Now compared to my partner and her traditional family, I think I had it fairly easy adapting to vegetarianism.

The reason I wrote this post today was to get some feedback and hear some other peoples stories about the acceptance and support or lack thereof that they received when "coming out"

The following people are tagged because I am keen for their insight! But please everyone get involved!
@lunarjess @teamsteem @veganic @clairevoyant @leopotato @vegetarianbaker @ko-kahuna @natashahall @ardas @yogi.artist @rebeccaryan @rhedrick32 @tmendieta