Fond Family Memories Could Deter Meat Eaters From Going Vegan, Study Suggests

Family Tradition Weighs on Meat Eaters Considering Going Vegan

One woman in a new Scottish study still cooks a turkey every Christmas, even though, as she put it, “nobody particularly likes it.” The turkey stays because it always has.

That small admission sums up what University of Stirling researchers found after interviewing 24 regular meat eaters about going vegan. Published in Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations, the study found that attachment to meat-heavy meals often had more to do with family memories than with the food itself.

Taste still played a part, since participants often described vegan food as less tasty. Most had also never thought through what going vegan would involve before the interviews. After an exercise asking them to consider living as vegans, most warmed to the idea and saw a chance to explore new foods. Thinking about a change is not the same as making one, though, and the study did not follow participants afterward to see whether anyone altered their diet.

Interviews With 24 Meat Eaters Revealed Why Going Vegan Feels Hard

Researchers Agnieszka Marta Kosla and Carol Jasper interviewed nine men and 15 women who regularly eat meat and other animal products. Participants came from diverse national and cultural backgrounds and were recruited through personal contacts, referrals, social media, and posters. Because many came from the researchers’ own networks, no demographic details, including nationality, were collected, to protect privacy.

Interviews lasted about 45 minutes, online or in person. Participants talked through childhood food memories, family gatherings, and how they thought life would look if they went vegan. Recordings were transcribed by hand and reviewed for recurring ideas. The two researchers came at the topic from opposite sides, which they say helped limit bias: Kosla eats meat, while Jasper has been an ethical vegan for over a decade.

Shared Memories Often Matter More Than the Food Itself

Comfort came up again and again. Traditional meat dishes stood for home and family. One participant said cooking a dish the way their dad did keeps them “connected with kind of your roots.” Another said his mother’s cooking left him feeling “comforted, safe, free from cares.”

Most surprising was what participants were actually nostalgic for. Many pointed to the setting, not the dish. One said chicken soup is “not going to taste the same” cooked alone midweek instead of on Sunday, because Sunday is special. Another said, “it’s more memory attached to it than the food.” Memory also flatters the past. One participant allowed that a sunny memory of the past can be “a slightly rose-tinted view,” recalling constant squabbles with a brother.

Others felt the loss more sharply. Some described “frustration, a little bit? Sadness? Probably anger” at gatherings without nostalgic foods. One went further: “I think if I ever wanted to torture myself, that is when I would be a vegan.”

Family Tables Pose a Bigger Hurdle to Veganism Than Friends Do

Spending time with friends seemed less daunting to participants. One said there are “so many vegan places nowadays” that going vegan would cause no concerns. Another saw the spread of vegan options as a sign that going vegan would mean “swimming with the tide, rather than swimming against the tide.” Most participants believed vegan food is costly, yet none thought a meal out with vegan friends was extravagant.

Family gatherings felt riskier. Some doubted their relatives would accommodate a vegan. One participant said, “I don’t think my mom ever cooked a vegan meal in her life.” Another, Matias, predicted how a family Christmas would go: “You go sit in the corner.” The authors say that fear may stem from a wish to avoid exclusion or being seen as difficult. Some participants were already close to vegan, though. The same woman who cooks that Christmas turkey said most of her food is “either fully vegan or its 90% vegan,” suggesting the switch could be a small step for some.

Most participants also used the terms vegan diet and vegan lifestyle interchangeably, even though veganism reaches beyond food. Both researchers said they were surprised by how widely the two ideas were mixed up.

Recreating Family Dishes Could Make Going Vegan Easier

Community cooking classes and nutrition workshops are among the authors’ suggestions, giving people a place to rebuild familiar dishes without animal products while still gathering around a table. Marketing that highlights shared food memories might also clear up misunderstandings about veganism. Both ideas are proposals, not tested remedies, and not everyone was convinced swaps could work. One participant who had tried vegan Indian and Chinese food found it “okay,” but said of childhood dishes, “I don’t think you can replace them.”

Any push toward plant-based eating may fare better by protecting the family table than by arguing over the plate. For many participants, the bigger worry seemed to be losing a seat at the table when the turkey arrived, not missing the meat.

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Disclaimer: This article summarizes one small interview study and is for informational purposes only. It is not medical or nutritional advice, and readers should consult a qualified professional before changing their diet.

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