How's the situation for you at home?

[FitMOmmyOf2]

Just curious to see how many of you are the only vegetarians / vegans at your household or not. 

If you are the only one, would you mind sharing how you feel and if you're being supported by the rest of the family?

Personally I'm the only vegetarian (almost vegan) at my family, though my DD is making more and more statements of wanting to become vegetarian and not eating meat anymore. DS is rarely eating meat as it is, he just doesn't like it..

As far as support goes.., from DH while being vegetarian yes, but as soon as I declare of wanting to go 100% vegan he doesn't act as supportive (it's "too extreme" in his opinion and he can't imagine how it's going to work for us as a family -even though I already pretty much cook all meals vegan as much as I can!) and clearly can't understand me why I feel the way I feel!.. It often makes me very sad and feel quite alone!.. Just wondering if I'm the only one in this situation?.. 

[j.e.n]

I'm the only one in my house too. My DH is "mostly" vegetarian but loves to eat bacon on the weekends and if we eat out he will order meat. Our older kids (4 & 2) don't eat much meat because I'm typically the meal provider and play food police. However, they do eat some of the weekend bacon and here and there chicken tenders and turkey subs when we eat out.

I giggled when you mentioned that you want to go completely vegan and your DHs response. Not because it's "funny" but because it is slightly similar to my house! I also want to make that leap - but I find there may be a bit of resistance eliminating dairy. Especially since my DD1 & DS love quesadillas and cheese pizza!! Plus, my DH thinks it's a good plan in theory - but in practice I don't know how he'd feel. He already feels stuck any time he may want to grab "fast food" and the only options that I really feel are viable are two places that have fresh ingredients with vegetarian options - and it's always the same ones back and forth. 

I feel I'm supported for the most part, it's just baby steps. Like if my kids want a snack, I will take the time to offer a fruit or vegetable "how about some strawberries?" - whereas DH often finds it too laborious to wash and cut stuff, when he could just easily offer a string cheese. (sigh) I will admit that there are times that I wish he was a bit more passionate like I am. He always teases me about how healthy I eat. I guess it's just part of my personality. Once I make up my mind about something, I don't follow through half-@$$. :o) I strive to be a practice-what-I-preach kind of gal. Emphasis on "strive"!!

I get tired of extended family get-togethers though that only have a main meat dish and a few side options that are less than appealing to me (think GMO corn).

I noticed it says your location is Sicily ... does that make you feel more alienated or is it a non-issue? I grew up in an Italian family and there was always some type of meat in the meals!!

[FitMOmmyOf2]

Jen,

thanks so much for your response! It's so good to know, I'm not the only one in this kind of 'boat'!

My kids (actually our entire family) love(s) pizza and enchiladas etc., so going cheese-less would be quite hard indeed!.. But overall I'm like you too, the 'practice what you preach' kinda person, which is why I'm feeling quite torn with my current situation!..

To answer your question regarding living in Sicily, Italy, and my feelings, I'd say it plays a big role, yes. See, I'm a German Native (but haven't lived there for the past ~16 yrs. in Germany) and would know where to get vegan or vegetarian things in Germany. I don't know how 'popular' veganism is over there, but I know it's less of a struggle of finding things than here! I can't even get regular normal tofu here!!! [It certainly doesn't help that I don't speak much Italian; definitely not enough to communicate properly to find out where I can get vegan things!]

Already when DH & I are going out sometimes for dinner, I often get looked at as if I'm crazy for being vegetarian! It's like in the movie "My big fat Greek wedding", where the one aunt says "What do you mean, no meat?... How about some lamb?" 

Not that I want to have much processed stuff.. I try to stay away from all that anyway.. but I can't even get a soy coffee creamer here! *sigh* And when I thought I'm being 'smart' and get cashew nuts to make my own 'cheez', well.. cashews aren't something easily found either and if, I'd pay an extreme amount of $, already due to the exchange rate to the Euro!..

Anyway.. thanks for your reply! I appreciate it!!!

[askew]

I am an lacto/ovo vegetarian. I used to be vegan but went to eating eggs from the neighbors to bake with, and we eat dairy. My kids are both like me. DH eats fish, but only at restaurants. At home we all eat the same, but then again, I do all the cooking. 

DH says if we travel he wants to eat the food of the land we are in. I am not sure how I feel about that. DS asks about meat, but then tells everyone he is a vegetarian because he loves animals. DH and I have agreed the kids can choose for themselves once they are teenagers. Until then they are vegetarians. 

[Nicole730]

I am a vegetarian (I eat eggs and dairy) - I do think about becoming vegan, but I don't know if I'm mentally there.

My children are the same as I am.

My husband eats meat.  Pretty much only lunch meat, unless we are going out to eat, then he'll eat some sort of meat.  

My husband is another one who thinks being a vegan is "extreme" and gets really upset when I try to talk about it.  He is mostly okay with the kids being vegetarian for now.  He has asked my son (3 years) if he wants to try fish every now and then.  It's fish my dad caught, so I'm somewhat okay with it.  Fortunately, DS has always said No thank you, I don't eat animals. 

[Ragana]

My DD1 is a vegetarian and the rest of us are omnivores. I have asked her this question, and she admitted that she would be happier if our family was all vegetarian. We have an agreement that we won't "gross out" over each other's food, and we do always provide her a vegetarian option. Actually, DH and I used to be vegetarians, and we still make quite a few vegetarian and vegan meals. (Some things just "stuck" and I prefer the vegetarian version: lasagna, Indian dishes, Thai curries, spaghetti sauce, etc. plus we all like tofu.)

[FitMOmmyOf2]

Thank you all for your replies! It's very interesting to read, please keep the answers coming!