It's going to happen. Someone will take it upon themselves to make things difficult for you, whether it's on a daily basis with your family or the occasional friend-of-a-friend with a bad attitude. I've found that the best course of action is to always be polite but firm. You'll be amazed at how well this works: if you keep a straight face, you'll find that people will back off and they'll often have a complete turn-around and actually compliment you on your dedication!
As far as family goes, the same rules apply: firm but polite. It's harder with people you live with and see every day, but the only thing that will show them that you are serious about your beliefs is if you show them that you really are dedicated---and unfortunately that will only come with time.
Your parents don't want you to be vegan? Tough luck for them, isn't it? :-) I really can't emphasize this method enough: be firm, polite, and persevere---show them that you're serious and that this little "problem" isn't going away.
They may not want to buy you "special" vegan products like faux meats or soy milk, but (being the educated vegan that you are) you know that these are luxury items and that there are plenty of common foods in omnivore households that a vegan can make a meal out of. You can make specialty vegan items into something of a treat, I.E. save up and treat yourself to a package of vegan burgers on a special occasion.
If they really buy little to no vegan food (I've been in homes that have little to no food in the house at all, as the parents would bring home takeout every day) then a few hours of baby-sitting, dog-walking, or a part-time job at the movie theater is all it takes! Check out the Broke Vegan Guides on this website to see how little you'll actually have to work in order to maintain a vegan lifestyle!
Your parents will very very likely loosen up and start buying more vegan food for you when they see what you're having to put up with---and hey if they don't that's fine too, the reward you get from knowing you're not hurting animals is incomparably more valuable than a Boca burger.
Your parents cannot legally physically force you to be a nonvegan.
But another related issue is parents threatening to ground you for your beliefs (which is rare, but not unheard of), again perseverance will win them over eventually. It's better to stick up for your beliefs and abstain from hurting animals than it is to watch Friends on Thursday nights.
And never forget that any amount of hardships and ridicule we go through in no way compares to the amount of suffering animals are forced to endure---we are never the victims, animals are the victims.
As far as family goes, the same rules apply: firm but polite. It's harder with people you live with and see every day, but the only thing that will show them that you are serious about your beliefs is if you show them that you really are dedicated---and unfortunately that will only come with time.
Your parents don't want you to be vegan? Tough luck for them, isn't it? :-) I really can't emphasize this method enough: be firm, polite, and persevere---show them that you're serious and that this little "problem" isn't going away.
They may not want to buy you "special" vegan products like faux meats or soy milk, but (being the educated vegan that you are) you know that these are luxury items and that there are plenty of common foods in omnivore households that a vegan can make a meal out of. You can make specialty vegan items into something of a treat, I.E. save up and treat yourself to a package of vegan burgers on a special occasion.
If they really buy little to no vegan food (I've been in homes that have little to no food in the house at all, as the parents would bring home takeout every day) then a few hours of baby-sitting, dog-walking, or a part-time job at the movie theater is all it takes! Check out the Broke Vegan Guides on this website to see how little you'll actually have to work in order to maintain a vegan lifestyle!
Your parents will very very likely loosen up and start buying more vegan food for you when they see what you're having to put up with---and hey if they don't that's fine too, the reward you get from knowing you're not hurting animals is incomparably more valuable than a Boca burger.
Your parents cannot legally physically force you to be a nonvegan.
But another related issue is parents threatening to ground you for your beliefs (which is rare, but not unheard of), again perseverance will win them over eventually. It's better to stick up for your beliefs and abstain from hurting animals than it is to watch Friends on Thursday nights.
And never forget that any amount of hardships and ridicule we go through in no way compares to the amount of suffering animals are forced to endure---we are never the victims, animals are the victims.