I'm officially vegetarian!

[Adloud]

I ate my last duck today.

I am transitioning into veganism and the hardest part so far was trying to convince my family that this change in diet isn't as extreme for my health as they think. I do have health problems, so I do understand their concerns. Food is also something that we bond over, so I am afraid to lose a part of that, I suppose.
How did you deal with all the social pressure from family? Is there something I should do or remember as I'm taking the final steps towards veganism?

[VeggieSeek]

Congratulations! You don't have to lose that bond completely. Can still share meals with them though you're eating different food. Despite being non vegan they could eat vegetables and fruit along with plant based products. This part of the meal you could actually eat with them. Talk to them and just suggest some vegan foods to go along with y'all meals. As for health I would take their concerns to heart, I know when I first started and even before being vegan I was at a point where I wasn't eating enough. I was making the transition eliminating food but not adding food as replacement. Important to ensure eating enough variety getting all the amino acids for protein. Well as vital vitamins from either reinforced food or supplements. Being vegetarian keep doing what you can in your transition and take your time as needed to carefully get to a vegan diet figuring it out.

Not much you can do about social pressure other than communication. Especially with family and friends. When needed give it some thought and speak up. Long as you're respectful and not rude about it, they should be able to understand you're just trying to live what you believe. I'd say understanding in these situations is important from everybody including having a forgiving attitude. Not easy trying to reconcile different perspectives and life choices which tend to oppose one another.

[Adloud]

Despite being non vegan they could eat vegetables and fruit along with plant based products. This part of the meal you could actually eat with them. Talk to them and just suggest some vegan foods to go along with y'all meals.

That's what I'm doing! I will also consider providing my own source of protein (beans or tofu and occasionally the pricier fake meats). They agreed to make a separate, vegan batch of their meals and that is something I'm very grateful about, considering meat is the centrepiece of almost every meal. They even said they are willing to try new things, like tofu!

As for health I would take their concerns to heart, I know when I first started and even before being vegan I was at a point where I wasn't eating enough. I was making the transition eliminating food but not adding food as replacement. Important to ensure eating enough variety getting all the amino acids for protein. Well as vital vitamins from either reinforced food or supplements. Being vegetarian keep doing what you can in your transition and take your time as needed to carefully get to a vegan diet figuring it out.

Thank you so much for the advice! I already have bought a stack of B12 and D3 and will try to remember about every other important nutritional "rules". I am slowly consuming all non-vegan products in my pantry and getting used to looking for the 'V' on products.

Not much you can do about social pressure other than communication. Especially with family and friends. When needed give it some thought and speak up. Long as you're respectful and not rude about it, they should be able to understand you're just trying to live what you believe. I'd say understanding in these situations is important from everybody including having a forgiving attitude. Not easy trying to reconcile different perspectives and life choices which tend to oppose one another.

Very well put. I'll try to get through people's preconceived notion of veganism and try to get used to negative reactions. I'm sure I'll manage, even with some difficulties along the way.

[brimstoneSalad]

Wow, congratulations! And it sounds like your family is pretty cool, I'm glad they're so open to it, not everybody gets so lucky.
Looks like you already got some great advice so I just wanted to show support. Sorry I'm like a month late I missed a lot of things in December.

[Adloud]

Wow, congratulations! And it sounds like your family is pretty cool, I'm glad they're so open to it, not everybody gets so lucky.
Looks like you already got some great advice so I just wanted to show support. Sorry I'm like a month late I missed a lot of things in December.

Thank you so much! I actually went vegan since that post (well, I have some non-vegan food in my freezer and pantry I have to clean up but that's just cleaning up after myself )
My close family is very sweet about my going vegan, they don't really get it but are trying their best to learn how to cook vegan food and are overall very supportive. My other relatives don't understand the concept of veganism at all, but that's ok, it still is a bit weird for me too.
(I'll get to our lovely canine discussion soon, I'm unfortunately in the midst of finals-frenzy right now)