Yes, I’ll admit, sitting around the dinner table with my family while they all enjoy my mom’s mouth-watering chicken wings or my dad’s infamous spaghetti and meatballs is not exactly fun as the only vegan in the house. And yes, I still get the tiniest bit jealous when they jokingly rub in how delicious it all is. After going from pescatarian to vegetarian and now to vegan in the span of about 3 years, I have quite a bit of experience holding my ground when constantly surrounded by 5 meat-lovers. And though my efforts to inform my family members of the environmental sustainability behind going plant-based are virtually futile, I do catch them occasionally stealing food from my plate. Here are a few of my tips!
- Sharing, not shaming.
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Personally, I love cooking and baking for others, and that hasn’t changed even though my diet has. Even though 9 times out of 10, the answer is a solid “no,” I still offer to make extra vegan meals for my family members. If they like it (and they usually do), I know it’s something I can make for everyone. Sharing with others also helps them keep an open mind and realize that veganism isn’t just salads and weird health foods. Shaming, on the other hand, only pushes people away.
- Pick your pantry staples.
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Having a few pantry staples around keeps cooking simple and balanced, and in my case, keeps away the temptation to snack on all of the non-vegan food in the house.
I always have a reliable protein that I can easily add into any meal – a can of beans, tofu, lentils, tempeh, maybe a combination.
I try to keep a small supply of frozen vegetables to throw in the oven or frozen fruit to throw into a blender.
Spices, spices, spices. Even if you’re not a fan of anything spicy, adding spices to your dishes is one of the easiest ways to make your meals pop. Cinnamon, ginger, Tajín, and red chili flakes are some of my favorites.
- Try to find a common ground.
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Maybe there’s a side-dish that happens to be vegan, or can easily be made vegan, that your whole family loves. By finding recipes that we all enjoy, my family and I can share a meal together and no one misses out.