I attended a local raw food meetup last night mainly to get support, try new dishes and have fun with like-minded people. I was expecting a lot of high fat dishes, but to my delight it was set up like a salad bar with individual bowls of one particular vegetable, nuts and fruit. Surprisingly, there were no desserts.
Everyone made their plate and sat down at a large dining room table. The people were very warm and polite. Now, the interesting part - we get on the topic of 'what brought you to raw foods?' The conversation was going well and everyone had a story of their journey...fine. The turning point came with the question changed to "How often do you eat meat?" I'm thinking, 'What?!!! Are you kidding me?!'
Most everyone still ate meat! Some ate it every day, every other day, once a week and the reasons mainly were that they didn't know where else to get their protein or they enjoyed the taste. Best one was the belief that if you eat meat every now and then, it won't hurt you. OMG! Are you kidding me?!
So, I interjected and told them that I hadn't had meat in over 11 years and I stopped 'cold turkey'. I added that I became vegan 8 yrs ago, have been transitioning to raw food for the past 2 yrs. and was currently on Day 11 of 100% raw. The looks on their faces were one of total amazement and awe. My thing was, I shouldn't have gotten that response because I'm at a RAW FOOD meetup! Am I missing something here?!
Well, I was so disappointed. I understand that everyone has he/her own journey and no one is to judge another. I guess I was naive to think that if someone joins a raw food meetup that they actually ate raw vegan food or at least cooked vegan. I would've understood that. At this point, I kept my composure and remained respectful. However, I soon began to feel 'out of place' and decided to leave early.
I'm not sure how to interpret and process this experience or what to do about attending future events?
Your thoughts?
Replies
Thank you, everyone for sharing your experiences and offering support. There has not been another meetup gathering scheduled since this one. It's just so hard always being different at social or corporate events. As soon as I decline to eat what's being served, it feels as though all eyes turn in my direction and then the 'Why' questions start.
My mother who lives in the rural south (US) even asked me last week, "Is there anyone else you know that eats the way you do?" Of course, I told her 'Yes, there are many people that eat like me." She came back with 'No!, I don't mean on the d*mn internet. I mean REAL people you know personally." I had no response.
Oh, Boy! It just gets frustrating at times.
I completely understand your dissapointment. Over the last year I've attended a couple of raw vegan meetups hoping to meet other 100%ers like myself, and I have met quite a few, but it does seem like many of the attendees aren't 100% raw. Some of these individuals, similar to what you experienced, still eat large amounts of cooked food, drink alcohol and are still getting their daily caffeine fix. I will give a few of them the benefit of the doubt in that their actively striving for 100% HCRV, which I think is teriffic, but with some of them I'm just not seeing it.
raw food isnt just eaten by vegans :)
confession:
i ate raw food before i was vegetarian and then vegan :)
its what actually led me into becoming vegetarian, and a month after into going vegan :)
I've experienced something similar at a raw food meetup. Lol, all the people were hogging the deserts before they even ate anything! it was insane. similar thing about people eating animals, a woman was talking about a fish that she consumed in new orleans and it made my sister and i very uncomfortable. it's funny how people pretend so much.
I dont think most people understand what RAW Food means. I went online to get some recipe ideas on these so called RAW Recipes only to discover they were ruining good nutritious food with oils and spices and MEAT. Very Frustrating!! I personally think that these people do not have a clue, this lifestyle involves hard work, preparation and time management, its soo easy to just pick up a supermarket ready prepared food item than it is to prepare it yourself.
I think that this group that you attended should change its name as it is misleading to all us RAW foodies out there that may attend such groups.
I feel sorry for you that you wasted your time and was made to feel like the odd one out.
This is a good example of why the video you posted about raw leaders uniting isn't an idea possessing much potential for a successful outcome, people use catch-all terms to promote different, incompatible things. You went to a "raw food" meet up and apparently you were the only one who ate raw food. A "united raw food movement" would result in the same thing, many people using the term and referring to themselves as "raw fooders" when the truth would be otherwise. It takes meaning out of things. Its a phenomena, read "Political Ponerology" for more info on this phenomena, systems/movements become "infected" and the original intention is distorted and individuals use the movements for personal gain.
You can be a light for them. They may just need some information.