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4 Gentle Ways To Introduce Veganism To Family And Friends

2 young women discussing veganism and eating veggies

How do you introduce veganism to family and friends? We have some simple suggestions.

Since you’re reading our blog you’re at least curious about the benefits of a vegan diet—but what about your family and friends? Do they understand your decision to switch to a plant-based diet? And are they open to following your lead and sharing this lifestyle choice?

If the people in your life haven’t seen the light yet, you’re probably looking for ways to introduce them to veganism.  Preaching to them probably won’t work (it rarely does), and is likely to alienate them, which is completely counter-productive. Instead, try taking the gentle approach!

Here are some suggestions.

#1: Prepare a delicious vegan meal

You know how delicious plant-based foods are, but your family and friends might need a little convincing. The answer? Cook them a delicious meal and perhaps veganise their favorite meat dishes so you can serve them a meal that is familiar.

You could try our wonderful Shepherd’s Pie recipe or No Compromise Pesto, for example, or any of the other recipes that you can find on this website.

Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash

#2: Take them out for dinner

Many people assume vegans have a limited choice of food to eat at restaurants, but that isn’t true. Particularly since many places offer many vegan food options (and more every day) —it’s not just salad and potatoes! 

So, look for those restaurants that have a great selection of plant-based foods or take your family and friends to your favorite vegan restaurant. Then recommend foods you think they will like based on your knowledge of their preferences.

#3: Have a movie night

Movie nights can be great fun as they are an opportunity to sit down with the people you love and have a shared experience. Any movie will do but you could check out our list of Movies That Inspire Veganism if they’re vegan-curious and maybe they’ll want to discuss the movie afterward. 

Of course, no movie night is complete without snacks so, regardless of the movie you choose, make sure you have plenty of vegan snacks to go around. This is an easy way to introduce them to a vegan diet without the work of a full-on meal.

#4: Give them a vegan gift

A creative, special, way to introduce veganism to family and friends is to give a gift. It could be a vegan cookbook or a book that teaches your friends and family more about the environment and how plant-based eating affects it. You could consider organic cosmetic or vegan clothing products that have been made sustainably. If you enjoy getting busy in the kitchen, you could also make them a vegan cake, especially if it is their birthday.

Check out our Vegan Gift Ideas if you need a little inspiration. 

Finally

These are just a few of the ways to introduce veganism to your family and friends without them feeling lectured in the process. We hope our ideas were useful to you and if you have any other suggestions, please leave us a comment in the box below. 

Husband and wife, father and mother, working adults – Greg and Georgia formed Full of Beans to share encouragement, inspiration, and tips to get you started on, and maintain, a plant-based vegan diet (even if you think you don't have the time/money/skills/energy). See the About page for more.

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