Vegan with a Black southern family
Like the title suggests, I come from a very traditional black southern family.
The type of family where meat is involved in quite literally every dish. From the cabbage to the green beans. I can't think of anything on our Thanksgiving plates that didn't involve animal products. ATP I'm expecting it to be in the damn drinks.
I've recently went cold turkey vegan (which surprised me too) and when I told my family/friends they were pretty taken back and asked why. For me it's both an ethical and health thing as I find meat and dairy both make me bloated and gassy.
They started asking "well what can you eat" and "why" and when I told them they rolled their eyes and scoffed. I got the usual "I ain't eating no nut cheese" and "I don't want no greens without meat" right off the bat but I explained I can just eat before gatherings or make my own food.
I guess I'm just asking for advice on people who may have very anime product dense traditional foods and culture and how you navigate around the social aspect. I do have two friends who don't eat meat but everybody else pretty much can't even have vegetable soup without pork neckbones.
Thank you.