Okay, I’ve put up with many questions and some ridicule over the years when I became vegetarian. People even went so far as to tell me I needed meat while I was pregnant in order to have a healthy baby (which of course I didn’t listen to). I’ve commited myself to making a major change in lifestyle, I’m absolutely loving how good and healthy I feel since I’ve been eating primarily raw foods. I haven’t told anyone (even my husband-who supports my vegetarianism whole-heartedly), I think because I’m afraid of people’s reactions, I know most won’t understand. How did you tell your loved ones and friends, how did they react, and how are they today? Thanks so much for your thoughts! Shelley
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Wow Zoe, that is awesome!
Honestly, I just don’t tell people. I only tell those closest to me, whom I eat with on a semi-regular basis. At this point, only my in-laws, my best friend, and of course my husband and two kids (who are raw with me) know I am a raw foodist. Other people notice I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, but just assume I am very healthy. When I eat somewhere else, or if I’m invited out, I just order a large salad and a fresh fruit plate. People just assume you’re a health addict or on a diet, and I let them assume as they will.
I’ve noticed that people especially get worried about you if you have kids, afriad you’re creating “malnourished” children. Haha – these are the same people feeding their kids flesh and twinkies. But, they are the status quo, so I don’t bother fighting them. Those who seek understanding will receive it; those who are antagonists aren’t worth my time and energy to fight and argue.
it’s amazing how sensitive we are about food, even when we’re comfortable and happy with the personal choices we make. people who claim not to take much of an interest in issues related to food have expressed real concern at my being raw, and assume that i’m “punishing” myself, or have taken on the raw mantle only to hide a fear of food, or an eating disorder. for the most part i’m not bothered by it, because i do make an attempt to explain why i’m making this choice, and many of my close friends are receptive to it, at least in part. more recently though, i’ve found myself becoming more and more angry when people shift their eyes to me when we talk about a restaurant or are making plans, because they assume that i can’t eat and make other people at the table uncomfortable. is this just a learning process? could it be any more obvious that the same government who could care less about it’s people would actively be responsible for the poisoning of our food supply? my friends are liberals. why are we so close-minded when it comes to the politics of food?? i flipped out on my mother the other day - who has been tolerant, if not moderately understanding - because she planned an easter meal that i couldn’t contribute to, around cooked, animal based foods. i began to feel that she was subtly trying to change my habits, by not addressing the issue directly, but by putting me in a position that would have been extremely problematic. sigh. why should we ever have to feel shamed by a personal choice? i suppose the only person who can change that is me, but recently i’ve just been so put out by many of the reactions or faces i receive from people. i’m ready to adopt Skyspice’s M.O. and keep quiet—but i don’t think that’s a position we should have to be put in. i live in new york city…it’s not as though there aren’t a fair share of raw-foodies around.