I am having a problem with trying the vegan diet. It's costing me
peace at my home. I read the book disease proof your child and the
china study and decided that vegan was the way to go. Both my wife
and I decided to do it gradually. We started to eat more veggies.
But I was so put off by dairy and meat I stopped eating it
alltogether.

But a few weeks into it she didn't want to do it anymore. She said
she likes meat. She refuses to read the books I read and says that I
act like I am part of a cult. She acts like she doesn't care about
all this new information. Help!

I feel so trapped. Every time we talk about food she tells me she is
tired of talking about it. Every time she buys something that I
disaprove I mention it and she gets upset "Don't eat it" she says.

Ok, she tried reading the introduction of the book and said it was
poorly written. So she stopped.

We fight about other things because of this change in our diet. Did I
make a mistake? How should I have made the transition?

I don't know what to do. She told me before that we are going to die
anyway and should "enjoy life" so "eat what you want"

Need some advice...

pdirennteaer wrote:

> We fight about other things because of this change in our diet. Did I
> make a mistake? How should I have made the transition?
>
> I don't know what to do. She told me before that we are going to die
> anyway and should "enjoy life" so "eat what you want"

Back off and let her eat what she wants. She's not stopping you
from being vegan; stop trying to force your decision on her.

Serene

It is very hard when first switching over to this diet to resist talking
about it every chance you get when you have so much information that you
want to share with others and they are not interested in even listening to
you it. I would suggest that you continue eating the way that you want and
ask your wife if she would agree to compromise on some things. She can cook
meat for herself and ask her if she could switch some of the side dishes to
vegan so that you can both eat them. This would entail switching your
butter to something like Earth Balance or what ever is available in your
area. It would mean using an egg replacer when baking and using almond or
soy milk etc.
I am the lone vegan in a family of 4 and do all the cooking so it is
somewhat easier for me. I cook meat for the rest of the family, but all
side dishes are vegan and enjoyed by all. They have come to accept the fact
that when I bake it is vegan and they can't tell the difference if I make a
sauce with soy milk or cows milk. Pancakes are made vegan etc. I only make
vegan soups. Most times, you can't tell the difference if it is a chicken
or vegetable stock anyway.
In regards to the comment about we are all going to die anyway, I ususally
come back with the fact that I would like to increase my chances of living a
full life without chronic illness. Most seniors today do not have a high
quality of life in their later years. Many spend the last part of their
lives in nursing homes or unable to travel because of health conditions etc.
It is not the amount of years so much that you live, but having excellent
health and quality of life while you are here.
Good luck.


"pdirennteaer" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I am having a problem with trying the vegan diet. It's costing me
> peace at my home. I read the book disease proof your child and the
> china study and decided that vegan was the way to go. Both my wife
> and I decided to do it gradually. We started to eat more veggies.
> But I was so put off by dairy and meat I stopped eating it
> alltogether.
>
> But a few weeks into it she didn't want to do it anymore. She said
> she likes meat. She refuses to read the books I read and says that I
> act like I am part of a cult. She acts like she doesn't care about
> all this new information. Help!
>
> I feel so trapped. Every time we talk about food she tells me she is
> tired of talking about it. Every time she buys something that I
> disaprove I mention it and she gets upset "Don't eat it" she says.
>
> Ok, she tried reading the introduction of the book and said it was
> poorly written. So she stopped.
>
> We fight about other things because of this change in our diet. Did I
> make a mistake? How should I have made the transition?
>
> I don't know what to do. She told me before that we are going to die
> anyway and should "enjoy life" so "eat what you want"
>
> Need some advice...
>

pdirennteaer wrote:

> I am having a problem with trying the vegan diet. It's costing me
> peace at my home. I read the book disease proof your child and the
> china study

Both are a complete waste of time.

> and decided that vegan was the way to go.

Why do you make decisions on the basis of rank propaganda? The China
Study is by a board member of PCRM, a vegan activist group (its name is
misleading -- their focus is entirely on veganism). I'm less familiar
with Fuhrman, but after looking through his blog I noticed that he's not
totally devoted to the vegan cause (he says some animal foods are
acceptable, though I disagree strongly with him about fish).

> Both my wife
> and I decided to do it gradually. We started to eat more veggies.

There's nothing wrong with that. I think the problem, though, is in
misinterpreting findings and concluding -- erroneously -- that if a
little is good then a lot must be better. And the same goes for the
opposite if something is "bad" -- it doesn't necessarily mean that zero
is better.

> But I was so put off by dairy and meat I stopped eating it
> alltogether.

Put off why?

> But a few weeks into it she didn't want to do it anymore. She said
> she likes meat.

That's her right. Why would you deny her something she enjoys?

> She refuses to read the books I read

Good for her. You wouldn't want someone forcing shit down your throat
like that. You should be ashamed of yourself.

> and says that I
> act like I am part of a cult.

Yep, you are.

> She acts like she doesn't care about
> all this new information. Help!

It isn't "new" information. Most of it is totally misleading
(propaganda) from animal rights activists. It's political BS wrapped up
in studies to make it appear more rational than it really is. Too bad
you can't see what your wife does -- much less respect her right to be
left alone.

> I feel so trapped.

Then crawl out of the trap you've put yourself.

> Every time we talk about food she tells me she is
> tired of talking about it.

Yeah, just like people get tired of Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses
ringing their doorbells. You're lucky she hasn't cut you off from
marital relations yet, jackass.

> Every time she buys something that I
> disaprove I mention it

Stop doing that. Idiot. Let her enjoy her food even if you're going to
be an irrational sissy about yours.

> and she gets upset "Don't eat it" she says.

She's right. If you don't like it or want it, don't eat it. But don't
ruin her day by ragging on her.

> Ok, she tried reading the introduction of the book and said it was
> poorly written. So she stopped.

She's right.

> We fight about other things because of this change in our diet. Did I
> make a mistake?

Yes.

> How should I have made the transition?

Alone. It's your personal decision. Don't expect anyone else to agree
with you or to go along for the ride.

> I don't know what to do.

First, get some counseling for your eating disorder. Second, get some
for yourself -- you clearly don't understand that you're not the center
of the universe yet. Third, get some for your marriage because you've
really started to **** that up.

> She told me before that we are going to die
> anyway and should "enjoy life" so "eat what you want"

She's right.

> Need some advice...

Are you open-minded enough to follow it? Clearly not, especially since
you make life-altering decisions on the basis of activist propaganda and
let all of that interfere in your relationships. Your marriage is doomed
if you can't let your wife enjoy herself (and her meals) and if you
can't stop badgering her with the propaganda you've chosen to believe.