Hosting the family

Hosting the family
Serve up traditional meals that you grew up loving and know your family likes, but simply make them with plant-based ingredients. Check out our comfort food recipes for inspiration.
Dinner parties

Dinner parties
If you’re eating at a friend’s place, you can help make sure things run smoothly by calling your host in advance and offering to bring a dish or two to share. The bonus with this plan is that everyone at the dinner will get to try some of the tasty plant-based food you love.
Share good food

Share good food
It’s true that the quickest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Nothing busts myths and sparks positive conversations quite like sharing great plant-based food. So share your favourite dishes with friends and family – we’ve got loads of crowd-pleasing vegan recipes for you to try.
Make it personal
When talking to others about your new way of eating, describe your own reasons for reducing or cutting out meat, in favour of plant-based foods. Be enthusiastic and sincere. Focus on why it excites you and makes you feel good, not on trying to ‘convert’ people or make them feel bad.
But don’t take it personal
For some people, the idea of not eating meat can be new and even challenging. The occasional person may find the easiest way to handle this is to joke about it or get defensive. While it’s not the response we’d hope for, it’s often a sign that your thoughtful choice is challenging them to reflect (possibly for the first time) on their own choices, and sometimes it can take people a little time to process this. So don’t take it personally and try not to get defensive.

Put yourself in their shoes

Put yourself in their shoes
Keep in mind that like your family and friends, you (probably) once ate meat too. Not only do you care about your health and the planet, but you’re clearly a compassionate person. Approach conversations about plant-basedvegetarianvegan eating with empathy and patience and try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
Let the facts speak for themselves

Let the facts speak for themselves
Remember that the facts are on your side. An abundance of evidence shows plant-based eating is better for our bodies, the planet and animals. Don’t bury your friends and family with statistics, but if they are interested in hearing more, consider sharing a good book or documentary with them. Or you could order them a free Veg Starter Kit.
Don’t forget...
Practise Patience
Nobody wants to feel judged. If they want to learn more, they’ll ask. So there’s no need to push the issue. Simply by being a kind and understanding person, you’ll open hearts and inspire those around you to make kinder choices over time.

Make it easy
Make your choice to eat meat-free as easy as possible on the chef in the house. Offer to help with the cooking – there’s a wealth of simple, delicious plant-based recipes for you to try. Some family favourites can easily be made veg-friendly by substituting in veggie burgers, dairy-free cheese, meat-free ‘chicken’ and so on. You might also like to keep satisfying snacks around the house for when you need something quick, such as crackers and hummus, toast with avocado and mixed nuts.

Listen
If your friends or family have questions or concerns about your new way of eating, listen to what they have to say and try not to get defensive. Thank them for their interest or concern and share what you’ve learned about the benefits of plant-based eating, making it relevant to what they’ve said. You can find some great information and resources in the other sections of this website.

and always...
Be yourself

Be yourself
Don’t underestimate the influence you have on those around you simply by being the compassionate, approachable and empathetic person you are. Some people will warm to your new lifestyle quicker than others. But stay optimistic. If you’re patient, and stay kind, in time they’ll come around.

Always remember your choice to eat plant-based is creating a kinder, more sustainable world. That’s something you should feel great about!