Should I Serve My Non-Vegan Parents Plant-Based Meals Without Telling Them?

A 29-year-old woman is trying to keep peace at weekly family dinner, and it turns into a full-on kitchen betrayal plot. She’s been vegan for two years, and her parents, both in their late 50s, have never stopped rolling their eyes at it, calling it a “fad” and acting like her meals are some kind of health punishment.

Last weekend, she did what most people would consider a power move: she cooked a hearty vegan curry with rice and veggies, served it to everyone, and even had the audacity to be proud when her parents asked what it was. Her parents scoffed, demanded “real food,” and ordered non-vegan pizza anyway, then later got blindsided when she revealed the curry was vegan.

The family dinner did not end well, and now she’s asking Reddit whether she’s the bad guy for serving vegan meals without warning them first.

Original Post

So I'm a 29-year-old woman who has been following a vegan diet for the past two years. It's a personal choice that aligns with my values and health goals.

For background, my parents, who are both in their late 50s, have always been traditional meat-eaters and have never really understood my choice to go vegan. Every time I visit them for our weekly family dinner, they make snide remarks about my veganism, calling it a 'fad diet' and 'too restrictive'.

Last weekend, during our family dinner, I decided to cook a delicious vegan meal for all of us. I put a lot of effort into preparing a hearty plant-based curry with rice and veggies.

When my parents asked about the food, I proudly mentioned that it was vegan. Immediately, they scoffed and said they wanted 'real food' and proceeded to order a non-vegan pizza for themselves.

Feeling hurt and disregarded, I served them the vegan curry without mentioning its true nature. They loved the taste and even complimented how flavorful and filling it was.

It wasn't until after dinner that I revealed it was actually a vegan meal. My parents were shocked and a bit upset, accusing me of deceiving them.

They argued that they deserved to know what they were eating and felt betrayed by my actions. They left in a huff, refusing to speak to me since.

So, Reddit, after feeling disrespected for my dietary choices, WIBTA if I continue serving my parents vegan meals without informing them in advance?

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This is similar to the OP who served vegan dinner to a family that hated it.

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After years of snide comments from her parents, she finally swings back with a curry that tastes like it belongs on the table, not in an argument.

The moment her parents order non-vegan pizza while praising her curry, the dinner goes from awkward to straight-up disrespect.

Then she drops the reveal after dinner, and her parents react like they just found out the “real food” was missing from the whole situation.

Now that her parents stormed out refusing to talk, she’s stuck wondering if the next vegan meal should come with a warning label or not.

What's your opinion on this situation? Join the conversation!.

If they’re going to order pizza like it’s a protest, she should stop pretending the curry is the real issue.

For another vegan dinner blow-up, see how a host got backlash after serving steak-lovers meatless. AITA for not warning them?