Lifestyle
How do you respond when family questions veganism?
Short answer
Calmly, briefly, without converting anyone at the table. Facts (B12, protein, the definition) beat a sermon. Parties and weddings are a separate food-logistics topic.
The Vegan Society advises staying calm: a lifestyle change often triggers jokes or fear that “the family broth was rejected”. One sentence is enough: “I do not eat animal products; I eat legumes, tofu and food I like”. Protein and B12 answers live in the FAQ — you do not have to recite them at a holiday table.
You do not have to win every exchange. “This matters to me” closes the topic without a moral ranking. If someone asks in good faith, name a dish you can bring. The “that is extreme” jab confuses kindness with asceticism: veganism is a shopping practice, not a monastery.