Helping Others Go Veg

by Thomas Scott
www.beahealthyveggie.com

In this day and age, the need to convince others to go vegetarian is greater than ever. Raising livestock for human consumption is taking a serious toll on our environment, and consumption of meat has been linked to heart disease, obesity, and other diseases. Eating a well-balanced vegetarian diet, and saying goodbye to meat on your dinner plate can do wonders for your health and for our planet. The simple fact of the matter is that we need more people to go vegetarian.

I’m not one to force my ideas on others if they’re not interested in listening to me; I don’t really think that would accomplish anything anyway. Nevertheless, there are sometimes circumstances where the opportunity to suggest a vegetarian diet comes up, and when that happens I do my best to promote a healthy and happy vegetarian lifestyle.

I think, as vegetarians, one of our main weaknesses is our ability to really make a solid case for vegetarianism. Far too often I see or hear of conversations where a veggie tries to defend their decision to abstain from meat, but stumbles because of a lack of information. I think we need to take it upon ourselves to develop a strong case for a vegetarian diet.

Here are some guidelines I think every vegetarian should follow when speaking to others about becoming vegetarian.

• Always show compassion and understanding – The ability to really, sincerely put yourself in someone else’s shoes and try to understand their position will open up many doors for you. It really pays off to develop the ability to sympathize with any non-vegetarians you talk to, and to try to understand where they’re coming from. Think about it: if you don’t know why someone thinks a certain way, how much harder will it be to convince them away from that line of thinking? It’s easy to assume that someone simply hasn’t heard the wisdom of what you have to offer, and that as soon as you share your insight, they’ll renounce all of their beliefs and follow any advice you give them! Unfortunately, that’s not realistic and isn’t likely to happen. You need to learn those you speak with think, and why they think that way.If you get the opportunity to share the joys and wonders of vegetarianism, I say go for it! But be sure to do it in a gentle way. People might reject the idea of vegetarianism for many different reasons, and no matter what the reason, you should at least try to be sympathetic. Making your non-vegetarian friend look like an idiot by dismissing their thoughts or feelings outright can end the conversation quickly, and can ruin any opportunity you might have had to convince them to change their ways.
• Do your research so you know your stuff – I think this is a crucial point in determining how successful you will be in convincing anyone of the wonders of vegetarianism. There are many horrible misconceptions making the rounds in our society that suggest that it is somehow difficult, or even impossible, to be healthy as a vegetarian. Of course this isn’t true, but many people think that it is! It’s your job to convince them otherwise.I’m not suggesting that every vegetarian go out and get a degree in nutrition. But I am suggesting you learn the most common objections to vegetarianism, and memorize the answers to those objections as best you can. People are going to ask where you get your protein, or where you get your calcium. They might ask where you get your supply of vitamin B12. You should do your best to have an answer prepared for these kinds of objections.
• Admit you don’t have all the answers – Of course you might get thrown a curveball and someone will offer an objection you’ve never heard, or at least do not have an answer to off the top of your head. In those circumstances I find it’s best to admit that you don’t know, and then offer to find out the answer for them so you can share it with them at a later time. An admission that you don’t know everything, while caring enough to find a solid answer to their objection, might actually win you a lot of respect with your non-vegetarian friends. You do want to know your stuff as best you can, but you’re not trying to be arrogant about it. You won’t know everything, and it’s okay to admit that.

All in all, I think any vegetarian trying to convince others to take the plunge and “go veggie” should do so with compassion and understanding, and do their best to know the facts and do the research to strengthen their case. I think as vegetarians we should be constantly learning more, and doing our best to develop a stronger and stronger argument for going vegetarian, not only to convince others, but for the sake of our own health too! We need to do our best to set an example as happy, healthy, and knowledgeable vegetarians to convince others that vegetarianism is indeed the way to go! It’s an ongoing process and we may never have all the answers, but the process of learning more and becoming more patient and loving with people will only strengthen our efforts.

When talking with others, I try to position myself as the happy, healthy, and enthusiastic vegetarian that anyone can comfortably talk to, no matter what’s on their dinner plate. I don’t want to close off the channels of communication with anyone if I don’t have to. This way, my non-vegetarian friends know that if they’re ever interested in learning more, I’m there willing to listen, without bullying them or trying to make them feel guilty. Ultimately, if you’re trying to guilt someone into doing something, even if you succeed the results probably won’t be long-term. You know that vegetarianism is a source of joy and happiness; be sure to give off that vibe when talking with others!

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