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Crystal Gable provides invaluable tips for easing your family into the vegan lifestyle after you've decided to make the switch.

Transitioning Your Family to Vegan
From Crystal Gable, MainStreetVegan.com
January 2025

Photo from Canva

Going Vegan can be one of the most exciting and wondrous periods in your life. Trying new recipes, attending veggie fairs, and meeting other conscientious individuals are just a few of the positive activities that you may experience during this time. But when you live with other family members, like a significant other and/or children, you may struggle with how to weave together your new food choices with their ideas on what is and is not sustenance.

When I went Vegan 14 years ago, I did it overnight with extreme gusto after an evening watching Dr. Neal Barnard speaking about the perils of meat and dairy. I ditched animal foods without a second thought and never asked my family if they wanted to come along for the ride. Looking back, I can see this may not have been the most strategic plan.

Thankfully, I’ve learned a few things about compromise over the years, so let me share some tips on transitioning your family to a Vegan diet.

Crowd Out Animal Foods

Just because you made the decision to go vegan doesn’t mean your loved ones have. Lead with love and if everyone in the household isn’t on board with this new way of eating, try introducing them to delicious vegan food over a period of time rather than immediately.

If you’re not a great cook, take the family to a popular vegan restaurant. If you are the next Chloe Coscarelli, build excitement by planning Meatless Mondays and serve delicious favorites like Beyond burgers or pineapple fried rice. Make meals fun with delicious world cuisine and play music to create a lively atmosphere. My family loves hearing Maria Callas when we eat spaghetti with marinara or Buena Vista Social Club when we enjoy potato and guacamole tacos.

Make It a Learning Experience

People are more apt to buy into Veganism if they understand it’s more than just a diet. Animals today are facing horrific conditions on factory farms and industrial feedlots. There are so many persuasive, educational documentaries to help people understand what’s at stake.

Plan a movie night and stream Vegucated, The Game Changers, or Food Inc. If you don’t have access to streaming services, visit your local library and borrow a Vegan film on DVD.

If you feel your children are too young to view these types of movies then read them a Vegan themed book like V is for Vegan: The ABCs of Being Kind or That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals.

Be a Shining Example

Sometimes one member of the family is particularly stubborn when confronted with change or a new ideology. If this is the case, it might be easier to give them some space and lead by example.

If you are happy, vibrant, and living your best life, you will be so magnetic that over time that they won’t be able to resist wanting to follow your lead.

Younger children may fear that things are changing too quickly or believe that established family traditions will somehow be forgotten. Reassure them that your family’s love will never go away and explain how these new, healthier foods can be woven into traditions like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Carol Adam’s book, Living Among Meat Eaters, points out that sometimes the most resistant person is actually the closest to changing. I like to remember this when an annoying co-worker is taunting me with their double bacon burger at a work lunch. They might just end up being the next Vegan activist or influencer.

We are all capable of change. If we lead by example, we will ultimately create positive changes in those who surround us. I’m lucky enough that my family joined me on this amazing journey.

By Crystal Gable, trained and certified as a vegan lifestyle coach and educator by Main Street Vegan Academy, www.MainStreetVegan.com

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: February 26, 2025
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