How to convince my parents raw paleo is okay?

[nurture]

My whole family is worrying to death about my current new 'fad' diet with raw meat and they're constantly badgering me about not eating raw meat with all the bacteria and parasites. However, i know that what I am doing is good for my body as this uncooked meat is nourishing and my body responds very positively.

[invisible]

It's not possible. If they say 'you are going to die or become extremely sick you have to stop!' just politely reply 'I can understand why you think that' and go about your business.

[pc701]

Maybe you can show them some youtube clips of Aajonus eating raw rotten meat or some audio clips/interviews of him, or just say that the eskimoes eat it and their fine. But if that stuff doesnt work then i would agree with invisible and just ignore them. Your health is more important that worrying and stressing about others opinions.

[van]

  sometimes it's just much easier to not to try to convince them, adding fuel to their thoughts.  Changing the subject, reflecting back to them that you understand, suggesting after listening carefully to what they say that you will investigate further.   Basically buy yourself time.  Let their energies settle down, and allow them to witness over time that you are still with them, that you've haven't died, and indeed are doing quite well.   Make sure you are getting plenty of good fats.  Otherwise you might not do so well.

[TylerDurden]

Your parents are , I suspect, more against this diet, not out of concern for you, but to protect their own anti-raw beliefs. I've noticed this among my own acquaintances. They initially reacted badly saying I was going to die. Eventually, after they realised I wasn't dying, after many months, they just kept quiet and accepted the status quo.

[SkinnyDevil]

You've heard those "...is the best revenge" quotes, yes? Living well is the best revenge....success is the best revenge...blah, blah.

Just do your thing. If it works for you, it will become apparent in weeks or months to everyone around you. If it doesn't work for you, you'll switch to something else whether they talk about it or not.

[nurture]

thank you guys for your replies but the thing is my mom is pretty over-protective and almost crazy and she worries and stresses herself out over everything. I would like to lessen her fear in some way because she thinks that if there is something bad happening to me, it won't show up right away and that when I get hurt it will be 'too late.'


I keep telling them that this is the best that I've ever felt on any diet, whether it be raw vegan, fruitarian (which pretty much ruined me for a few months) and they don't seem to accept my personal intuition as valid. I am just at a huge loss as to what to do. They think bacteria is the devil or something.

[livingthelife]

Raw meat is not uncommon in foreign and gourmet meals.

Carpaccio and sashimi (fish, shellfish and beef) are common even in US restaurants. Heck, they even sell fish sashimi in the supermarkets any more.

Perhaps you could redirect your mother's interest in your diet toward helping obtain quality raw foods as a refinement. Pay attention to presentation. There are lots of photos of raw foods on the internet, especially in blogs of restaurant reviews.

Carpaccio, for example:



This was one of dozens of google image hits.

Also, many people eat very rare meat, so that could be a talking point.

I hope this helps

[Raw Kyle]

You could show her this forum of people that practice raw meat eating and don't seem to have much in the way of food poisoning problems.

[SkinnyDevil]

thank you guys for your replies but the thing is my mom is pretty over-protective and almost crazy and she worries and stresses herself out over everything.

Are you living at home?

[nurture]

Yeah, unfortunately I am living at home and last night my mom had this really dramatic breakdown where she was hysterically crying  because of the fact that I eat raw liver, fish, beef, etc. This is getting sooo ridiculous. I said I would stop but I know for sure cooking meat is toxic. I am just gonna have to go incognito until I can afford to move out. ugh.

[RawZi]

    Sounds like they are psychologically ill.  It's sad when parents put their ills onto their children.  They need help.  You have to take care of you.  If they would be eating raw fish and raw chicken their nerves would calm with healthy strength and they could better interact with family.

[majormark]

It's kind of useless to throw something like that to conservative parents. One 'small' step of the time is probably the best approach.

There was another person with about the same problem here.

[nurture]

    Sounds like they are psychologically ill.  It's sad when parents put their ills onto their children.  They need help.  You have to take care of you.  If they would be eating raw fish and raw chicken their nerves would calm with healthy strength and they could better interact with family.

Yeah, my mom does have some really weird mental issues. I'm just going to have to keep it a secret from now on. Shes really, really paranoid...

[RawZi]

Hi Nurture,

    Yes, crying hysterically when threatened by their child's good health, health that isn't even here yet, hm.  Of course it would be best if everyone can be open with each other at all times.  Sometimes, somewhat unfortunately, we have to deal with who we live with, rather than how they might be if they were well.  I wish I could tell her this hurts you.  She has her own trip though, and everyone deserves to have the basics.  Best to you.

In health,

RawZi

[nurture]

Thanks for the kind words, rawzi. I'm only hoping that in the future they'll be able to see that my diet is in fact improving my health and not the opposite.