Comments on: How can I deal with family gatherings and be vegan? http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/ Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:59:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Super Supper http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2930 Super Supper Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:49:57 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2930 You will be such a pain in the a**, everyone will effing hate you. They will think you're trying to lose weight, or just making yourself seem different or special in some way. You will offend your friends and family. Your friends and family are more important than the "poor innocent animals". Enjoy the meat. You will be such a pain in the a**, everyone will effing despise you. They will reckon you’re trying to lose weight, or just making yourself seem different or special in some way. You will offend your friends and family. Your friends and family are more vital than the “poor innocent animals”. Take pleasure in the meat.

]]> By: Hannibal the Cannibal http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2929 Hannibal the Cannibal Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:46:38 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2929 Here's a novel idea: MAKE A DISH AND BRING IT. Seriously, is it that hard for some people to cook? Here’s a novel thought: MAKE A DISH AND BRING IT. Seriously, is it that hard for some people to cook?

]]> By: fishhead_oh http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2928 fishhead_oh Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:41:20 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2928 when u r invited to a wedding dinner u could ask yr fren or family if they r inviting frens that is vegan or vegetarian. if the ans is yes then u could si with them. for christmas eve n thanksgiving u could cook so vegan dish to the gattherings and do not let them use the spoon they r eating with to touch yr dish. when u r invited to a wedding dinner u could question yr fren or family if they r inviting frens that is vegan or vegetarian. if the ans is yes then u could si with them. for christmas eve n thanksgiving u could cook so vegan dish to the gattherings and do not let them use the serve they r eating with to touch yr dish.

]]> By: prettysmartideas http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2927 prettysmartideas Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:25:41 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2927 Take your own food. I do not recommend that you tell them all about your values (that just makes you sound annoying to most non-vegan people -- they probably don't care a whit about your food-related values, and they should not have to) If where you are going is going to be a sit-down affair, you might, in advance, inform your host/hostess that you are following a specific allergy diet, and that you need to eat non-animal source foods. Quick! What allergy is that? Otherwise, you could just say that, for the time being, in your allergy diet, you can only eat things like salads and vegetables) If the affair is being catered, you could ask if a vegan dish could be included -- depending on where you are, caterers might be prepared for miscellaneous vegans popping up. I find it easiest to just tell my host or hostess that I am on an allergy diet (which is usually true, in my case), and ask if it would be okay if I bring something tasty (that I can eat) to share with everyone. If my hostess is preparing the food, and/or if it is a buffet-type affair (always good), my offer is usually accepted. Then I have to put together my most popular dish, take it with me, and supervise it all the way to the table, in order to be sure it does not accidentally meet with heat (I am a raw vegan). I meekly eat a portion of it myself, and say nothing. If people ask me, I just tell them I am on a very restricted allergy diet (yep! I am allergic to animal products and cooked food!! but I don't say that. Most people are too polite to ask me what is wrong -- if they do, I just demur and say that it's a long involved story best not discussed over dinner) If my dish is offered to others, and they track me down as the source of the dish, i.e., they like it and want to know more about it (today, 6 people did want to know my recipe), then I answer their questions as far as the questions go (usually how is it made?, and/or what is the recipe?). Remember that you are not there to proselytize about your dietary choices and beliefs -- you are there to socialize and share in the camaraderie. Take your own food.
I do not recommend that you tell them all in this area your values (that just makes you sound annoying to most non-vegan people — they probably don’t care a whit in this area your food-related values, and they should not have to)
If where you are going is going to be a sit-down affair, you might, in advance, inform your host/hostess that you are following a specific allergy diet, and that you need to eat non-animal source foods. Quick! What allergy is that? If not, you could just say that, for the time life, in your allergy diet, you can only eat things like salads and vegetables)
If the affair is life catered, you could question if a vegan dish could be included — depending on where you are, caterers might be prepared for miscellaneous vegans popping up.

I find it simplest to just tell my host or hostess that I am on an allergy diet (which is usually right, in my case), and question if it would be okay if I result in something tasty (that I can eat) to impart with everyone. If my hostess is preparing the food, and/or if it is a buffet-type affair (always excellent), my offer is usually accepted. Then I have to place together my most well loved dish, take it with me, and supervise it all the way to the table, in order to be sure it does not fortuitously meet with heat (I am a raw vegan). I meekly eat a part of it myself, and say nothing. If people question me, I just tell them I am on a very restricted allergy diet (yep! I am allergic to animal products and cooked food!! but I don’t say that. Most people are too polite to question me what is incorrect — if they do, I just object and say that it’s a long involved tale best not discussed over dinner) If my dish is offered to others, and they track me down as the source of the dish, i.e., they like it and want to know more in this area it (today, 6 people did want to know my recipe), then I answer their questions as far as the questions go (usually how is it made?, and/or what is the recipe?).
Remember that you are not there to proselytize in this area your dietary choices and beliefs — you are there to socialize and impart in the camaraderie.

]]> By: luna:] http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2926 luna:] Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:31:30 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2926 let them know ahead of time that you are vegan, explain what exactly vegan is because they might not know. usually, i take my own meals just because i dont trust other people making my meals. :]] let them know ahead of time that you are vegan, clarify what exactly vegan is because they might not know. usually, i take my own meals just because i dont trust other people making my meals. :]]

]]> By: Traumer http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2925 Traumer Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:37:16 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2925 At the gathering, simply eat what's not meat. Just get rice, corn, potatoes or whatever your family cooks. I'm sure they dont cook just meat by itself. At the gathering, simply eat what’s not meat. Just get rice, corn, potatoes or whatever your family cooks. I’m sure they dont cook just meat by itself.

]]> By: DeeNice http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2924 DeeNice Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:19:40 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2924 Your family should respect your choice and support you by serving dishes at family gatherings that you can eat. You should also prepare a dish or 2 and introduce them to different foods. If it's a catered affair there is usually an alternate choice for non meat eating guests. My family is made up of both and that is the way we compromise. There are many vegetarian and vegan recipes that are delicious even to the meat eating palette. Your family should respect your choice and support you by ration dishes at family gatherings that you can eat. You should also arrange a dish or 2 and introduce them to different foods. If it’s a catered affair there is usually an alternate choice for non meat eating guests. My family is made up of both and that is the way we compromise. There are many vegetarian and vegan recipes that are tasty even to the meat eating palette.

]]> By: blueeyes http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2923 blueeyes Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:49:06 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2923 dont worry, even if your family doesnt understand your decision at first, they will come around. definitely dont compromise, it will only show your family that you arent serious. as far as family gatherings and holidays go.. call the host before hand and tell them youre vegan and offer to bring a dish or two. if its at your house, offer to help the cook and ask if some dishes like grilled veggies can be made vegan (without butter and stuff) and just keep butter on the table for anyone who wants it. if youre going out somewhere with family (like a wedding) its a good idea to eat before hand and maybe sneak a few snacks into your purse in case there isnt anything you want to eat there. and if its at a restaurant, look on their website if they have one, and call ahead to double check if dishes can be made vegan for you. dont worry, youll get the hang of it. oh, and make sure to do lots of research on being vegan before you tell your family, it will help when explaining your decision to them and answering theyre questions. (look up what things you need to be eating to get all of your nutrients) dont agonize, even if your family doesnt know your choice at first, they will come around. certainly dont compromise, it will only show your family that you arent serious.

as far as family gatherings and holidays go.. call the host before hand and tell them youre vegan and offer to result in a dish or two. if its at your house, offer to help the cook and question if some dishes like grilled veggies can be made vegan (without butter and stuff) and just keep butter on the table for anyone who wants it.

if youre going out somewhere with family (like a wedding) its a excellent thought to eat before hand and maybe sneak a few snacks into your purse in case there isnt anything you want to eat there. and if its at a restaurant, look on their website if they have one, and call ahead to double check if dishes can be made vegan for you.

dont agonize, youll get the hang of it.

oh, and make sure to do lots of research on life vegan before you tell your family, it will help when explaining your choice to them and answering theyre questions. (look up what things you need to be eating to get all of your nutrients)

]]> By: Vegan4life http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/comment-page-1/#comment-2922 Vegan4life Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:52:06 +0000 http://www.thesaladbowlinc.com/how-can-i-deal-with-family-gatherings-and-be-vegan/#comment-2922 Try to let the cooks know ahead of time that you are a vegan. It is not that hard to make one little meal that's vegan! If they will not do that, bring food. That is what I do. But them again, it's your family! They will probably respect you! Try to let the cooks know ahead of time that you are a vegan. It is not that hard to make one small meal that’s vegan! If they will not do that, result in food. That is what I do. But them again, it’s your family! They will probably respect you!

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