this was my beloved (insert dripping sarcasm here) sister-in-law (my husband's sister) as she observed my darling husband's plate at Christmas dinner. I have been with my meat eating husband for 11 yrs-7.5 of which we've been married- and I never pressured him to go veg.  HOWEVER, just by being with me, eating my food, watching Food Inc with me and finally, having me read many excerpts from Eating Animals, ON HIS OWN he now rarely eats any meat and has given up chicken and red meat alsmot 100%. He I believe has the occasional turkey sandwich when he's at work...but even there he mostly has salads and veggie burgers. He has told me he never wants meat in our house again and is very happy to raise our 3 monsters, er, children! vegetarian. When he goes out for steak dinners with work, he gets fish He says red meat makes him feel sick now.

So anyway, at his mom's house on Xmas he fills his plate with (non-vegan) mashed potatoes and asparagus and is happily eating when his sister feels compelled to scream to the entire table of 18 that MATTHEW HAS NO MEAT ON HIS PLATE!

His other sister had to join in making fun and making snide remarks about my influence on him...

Now, I just want you all to imagine if it was the opposite If I opened my mouth to scream at everyone OMG YOU HAVE AN INHUMANELY SLAUGHTERED AND UNHEALTHILY RAISED AND TREATED DEAD COW ON YOUR PLATE! well, you cannot imagine it because I never would say it. It still blows my mind how uncomfortable it makes people feel when you do not consume meat

Not to mention, frankly it was rude of his sister to point out to their mom that part of her meal was being eschewed! I sat quietly and smiled, seething on the inside!

(it goes without saying I bring my own tupperware of vegan delights-and despite their sheer terror of veganism they always relent to how great it looks and smells....)

share your IL stories here!!! or even family ones!!!!!

I was so frustrated on Christmas when my brother in law decided to inform everyone at the table that plants feel pain.  He doesn't engage in any conversation just blurts out stupid tidbits.  Then the conversation changed to animal experiments for drugs, I stated that I did not feel that my life was more important than any other living creature and he said, yes it does because we are the top of the food chain.  I told him to get in a fight with a shark and let me know who wins. 

Why all the stupid, unnecessary comments???

Kim, LOL re: Shark comment! This proves my theory! People are so intimidated that we have made a mroal choice and so they try to make themselves feel better-the plants feel pain is him saying, you're not better than me! WE DON'T THINK WE'RE BETTER-we are doing what feels right for us!!!

Yeah, you know there always seems to be someone at a gathering who has to take issue with someone making healthy and kind food choices- but how awesome that your husband has decided on his own to start flirting with being veg!  yay for him and yay for you for exposing him to the better way of living!  my hubby has back tracked a bit lately but hee hee I signed him up for the PCRM vegan kickstart!  He loved it when he did it last year, so hopefully this will get him motivated to do better again.

I thinik it is so amazing that you have influenced your husband for the better! I truly think people get offended when someone in their family stops eating meat. In my household whenever I am around my siblings the discussion always seems to be about eating meat and bbq! I try not to engage in the arguments they constantly try to pull me in to. I have resorted to just walking away from them and limiting my visits to only must-attend situations. For instance this past xmas my brother in law was persistent that I hear his plans for bbq a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in who knows what else! It is true what you said veganpilatesmom WE DO NOT THINK WE ARE BETTER! Just be glad you have your husband by your side in this journey.

My fiance has recently decided to go vegetarian too! I managed to convince him to read Skinny Bastard and now he says he cant even think about eating meat! He proudly declares to friends and family that he's a vegetarian now :) Im going to get him to read The kind diet next so he feels even more empowered to be vegetarian (and hopefully vegan soon!) 

Im on a crusade to influence all my family and friends to read The Kind diet, Im positive that when people know the truth about what they're eating they wont ever put another piece of meat in their mouth again! 

i often get into this with my husband -  he is a meat eater but has spoken with other vegans and feels that we are condesceding with our "holier then thou" attitude......he applauds me, and is fine with raising our son veg, but he is not going to change his diet.  and i don't pressure him, he's 37 and a big boy who has researched it and knows the details but is just not ready (fearful) of change.  he can't stand other veggie folks he meets that look down on him and talk to him differently then i do about it......i know we can't force people to do anything, we can only lead by example and hope its sinking in rather then attack  with facts.....it only gets their back up. 

that being said, my MIL is old school and can't understand me......loves me (i'm her fave kid in law) but just doesn't get it......we've been staying with her for a week now while our house is getting renovated, and she can't believe her son is allowing me to raise her grandson vegan.  my husband ALWAYS defends me, so i do have an ally........even last night at dinner, i heated up some baked beans and threw it over brown rice and steamed kale- one of my baby"s (he's 17mos) favorite dishes-while she and hubs had take out of a chicken parm sammie and a shrimp wrap and she kept insisting i give him some of the fries, a bite of his chicken, etc., until she realized  how happy he was :)