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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have you converted anyone?

157 replies

justlookatmenow · 05/01/2019 17:45

have you managed to convert anyone to become vegetarian/vegan?
Or has someone converted you?
If so how?
(I'd like to convert someone, can't see it happening though)

OP posts:
Pachyderm1 · 05/01/2019 17:55

I didn’t set out to convert my DH but he’s mostly veggie now because I do most of the cooking. He used to always choose meat options when we went out but he rarely does now.

People don’t respond well to being actively converted. Just live by example, answer questions if they have them, and if they want to they will make the decision themselves.

MamaLovesMango · 05/01/2019 17:58

Ugh FFS leave them alone. What makes you so sure you’re so much better than them that they have to change the way they live on your say so?

LeilaDarling · 05/01/2019 18:00

I initially thought this was going to be a JW thread!
Intrigued by the Nestle comment though.....

MamaLovesMango · 05/01/2019 18:01

Nestle are scum, it’s true but impossible to boycott 100%

cariadlet · 05/01/2019 18:03

My daughter's converted a couple of friends and teachers at her school to veganism. She didn't push it down their throats but they were already veggie and she just answered their questions when they asked why she was vegan and what she eats.

Original poster
justlookatmenow · 05/01/2019 18:04

My goodness, seem to offended many of you....
Just that I've been vegetarian a very long time now, recently trying vegan (I am struggling to be honest, it's hard)
Maybe 'convert' is the wrong word.
The only reason I'd like to 'convert' (sorry) is because he's a fab cook and I'm missing out on his making dinners.
Truly have never pushed my views on anyone in 31 years of vegetarianism, so don't intend to now.
I will cook meat for loved ones and also have to do so for work. So please don't think I'm being entitled here.

OP posts:
Spookyspoonmcginty · 05/01/2019 18:04

I am a vegetarian but I only go into it in any depth if someone asks about it. I wouldn't try to convince someone to be a vegetarian as you really need to do it for your own reasons. It's the same with any big change, in my opinion, such as quitting smoking or losing weight.

My dad is vegan and seems to think that I'll suddenly become vegan too. But it just doesn't work like that. I am a vegetarian because I find meat really disgusting and I really don't enjoy eating it.
I don't find dairy or eggs disgusting so I don't feel driven towards a vegan diet. It is quite annoying when someone pressures you into making a big change that you don't feel that you want to make.

WorraLiberty · 05/01/2019 18:06

I haven't seen a single offended person on this thread Confused

Irritated, yes but not offended.

Thesmallthings · 05/01/2019 18:07

I have.

I told them how much fun it was. And it didnt taste as bad as they first thought.

Yup. I converted my best friend into drinking and enjoying tequila.

Disfordarkchocolate · 05/01/2019 18:08

Nope, noty thing. If he's a fab cool I'm sure he can learn how to cook vegetarian/vegan. I'd mention why I buy free range/welfare/reduced plastic but only if someone asked.

thecatsabsentcojones · 05/01/2019 18:08

Yeah I have, my husband (then my boyfriend) desperately wanted me to stop smoking so we traded him giving up meat for me giving up fags. That was twenty odd years ago and he's never wavered.

I think it only works if someone is already considering it to be honest. The reason why veggies and vegans get so much grief is our mere existence makes people think about why, and they don't like that. I've had so much crap over the years from meat eaters that it's now just deeply boring. So I think many attempts at converting go the other way.

Buddytheelf85 · 05/01/2019 18:10

I’ve sort of converted myself to vegetarianism recently because I’m pregnant and I’ve found it hard to stomach meat or fish.

Not what you were asking, obvs.

Notacluethisxmas · 05/01/2019 18:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BluePepper · 05/01/2019 18:11

No offence. I’ve been both vegetarian and vegan at various points, I now eat meat. I think maybe I used to think like you, I cook so many lovely vegetarian foods so why don’t you cook for me? But I’ve lived with a vegetarian family member as a meat-eating adult and, actually, I just wanted meat on the rare days that I wasn’t eating vegetarian. I was happy to make some veggie meals but I wanted to enjoy my meat-based meals too.

Biancadelriosback · 05/01/2019 18:11

Nestle, one of their many sins, was going into third world countries, persuading new mums that formula was the best thing for their babies, giving them loads of free nestle formula (enough for their own milk to dry up) then start charging them extortionate prices for it and leaving them with no choice.

Bracknellite · 05/01/2019 18:11

poutysprout. How did you do that?

I’ve been doing the Nestle boycott for 28 years and I get nothing but piss taking from friends and family

sackrifice · 05/01/2019 18:12

I haven't converted anyone but my OH has hardly eaten meat since we started living together 13 years ago, as I cook and I don't cook meat. Or fish.

Apart from that, no I prefer to try and persuade them NOT to eat all the veggie food that is put out at buffets as otherwise it all goes first.

GlitterStick · 05/01/2019 18:14

Assuming this isn't a wind up, YABU.
How about leaving them alone?
You're one of those who give vegans a bad name.

BlancheM · 05/01/2019 18:14

You want to convert someone to veganism because you want them to make your dinner 😂
Make your own supper you chancing mare!

GenerationSnowflake · 05/01/2019 18:14

I have raised my kids to be meat-eaters, and when my daughter tried to become a vegetarian, I converted her back. Does that count? Grin

jessstan2 · 05/01/2019 18:14

No, I wouldn't dream of it. It's a personal decision. If asked, I would give my point of view but it's not my place to convert anyone to anything. An exception might be persuading someone to give up a life of crime but I don't know anyone (that I know of!), who lives that life and anyway I might not be suitably equipped and qualified to advise them.

Original poster
justlookatmenow · 05/01/2019 18:14

Ok so now 'offended' is the wrong word
Sorry to of irritated you.

Truthfully, I am not against any person who eats meat, I've ate fish and dairy up until recently so the last thing I'm doing is judging.

Also the plan is when retirement happens, we'll be off somewhere self sufficient, living off the land as they say. I think I'd be inclined to try and maybe eat animal produce that we have raised (when I tell people that that are outraged) I don't agree with not eating meat, I disagree with the industry. I don't judge or am offended that people eat meat. Hope I've somehow clarified I'm not being a knob

OP posts:
GenerationSnowflake · 05/01/2019 18:16

he's a fab cook and I'm missing out on his making dinners
technically humans are omnivore anyway, if he's a friend why can't you ask him to prepare a few meat-free dish, and meat on the side so everybody is happy. You don't need to be a vegan to prepare a vegetable dish.

Bracknellite · 05/01/2019 18:16

mamalovesmango Impossible yes.
Accidentally ate Nestle twice since boycotting (turns out they own Maggi)

PoutySprout · 05/01/2019 18:17

Nestle boycott:

www.babymilkaction.org

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