Hi All,

I am brand new to the raw foods lifestyle, and I am scared to death that I am going to go off of it due to family pressure to eat cooked. Does anyone have any ideas? I would really appreciate the help. Elizabeth

find out why they are pressuring you

and work on it from there

Yes.

Opinion:

-YOU bring food to family gatherings. Fresh cut fruit, veggie plates & dip.....whatever YOU like. Eat only from the food you bring.

-You can always stuff a couple of apples into your pocket when you know you are being invited to your local Italian Bistro.

-If anyone asks you to eat something else, just simply say, "I only eat fresh fruits & vegetables." Do not eleaborate unless it's one-on-one....in private....and some one asks you respectfully.

-If you go OUT...and the food in unacceptable....simply ask for water....say you are not hungry......and say I'm here to spend time with friends & family - not to eat."

-Just some suggestions which have worked for me.

-David Mason

Peer pressure is very strange. It's like they know really that what they are eating is bad for them, but if everyone is doing it, it's easier on their conscience. Once someone comes along and starts eating healthily, they start to feel guilty. If they manage to get you to eat their cooked food, it somehow eases their guilt. I'm not sure how that helps us, but it's good to understand the psycology of it.

Rob

--
Rob Hull - Funky Raw
My blog: [www.rawrob.com]

I don't really talk about my eating habits, I say I am a vegetarian but I don't really elaborate. A lot of people don't understand or don't want to understand and there is no use trying to explain. iF someone asked I would say well I like to eat mainly raw food, fruits and vegetables but just don't give anyone some definition of your diet so they can attack it.

tell them that this is how people ate a long time ago. people werent born 100's of years ago with pots and pans... they had fire, and yes they ate meat, but im sure they didnt eat stirfry or fried potatoes thousands of years ago. tell em your going back to your roots. way back


lauren

you could tell a knock knock joke a la Trailer Park Boys...

You: Knock knock.
Them: Who's there?
You: F*#$ OFF!


But seriously, other people don't know how to think, at all, so if someone attacks you, tell them they can email you their thoughts or write out their reasoning in a prepared manner, at which point you will read those criticisms (and perhaps choose whether or not to respond).

Hi,
My experiences with other people's reaction to my diet causes me to agree with Rob. People trying to dissuade you from eating healthilier do not have your best interests at heart.
I have been looking for opportunities to socialize with people in ways that deemphasize food - working on neighborhood issues, volunteering, going to museams and concerts.
Family pressure is particularly insidious. They know how to push your buttons better than anyone else in the world.
I know this is not a solution for everybody, just talking about myself, but both my partner and I agree that it has been easier to maintain raw because both of us have no or limited contact with our families of origin (due to family abuse issues).
Also that we are doing it together, although it also creates stress on our relationship because we are each other's only in-person support for raw.
Chickory

Thanks for each of your wonderful suggestions! I'll let you know. Elizabeth