deannac

This topic is near and dear to my heart as I too, live in a rural farming community where beef rules.  I'm the only vegan that I know (not including online vegan friends.)

I wrote an article on this subject - just a google doc.  Please read if you're interested.  Here is the link: https://goo.gl/MA0202

I think what has worked for me is being inconspicuous.  The bottom line is that I want to succeed and stay on target with my diet of choice. I feel like fighting about it does not encourage my success, but makes it harder to succeed.  

I also think that the less preachy we are, the more people are open to trying our food. 

Another thing that has helped me is some meal recipes that I've developed that are all-inclusive - meaning you prepare one meal for everyone, and the meal has the raw and/or vegan part and the "regular" part.  That way I only prepare one meal for everyone, we all eat together, and we're still enjoying the same basic flavors.  This has been a lifesaver for us!  

Let me know if you are interested in some of these meal plans - I'd be happy to share.  This has also helped me stay social with my family and friends, because I can still invite them for dinner and everyone can enjoy the meal together.  

Good luck!  I really wish you the best with this - fighting over food is no fun.

 I just joined this forum so my answer's a little late . . . but wanted to give my two cents!  I started out being raw and was raw for three years.  Best and easiest way of eating and losing/maintaining my weight ever!  For whatever reason I decided to try regular cooked vegan and struggled with appetite control and weight gain for the next two years.  Needless to say, I came back to raw!  The reason I love raw is because I don't feel tortured by food, i.e., lack of control over appetite and also feeling sluggish and battling cravings for all manner of food.  Has anyone else experienced this with a regular cooked vegan diet?

No other way of eating allows me this kind of freedom except raw.

I would love to hear how your raw food journey is going, now that's it's been a couple of months.