What do you do when your going over some ones house whose serving meat?!
What can i do without being rude?Thanks =)
Answers: I'm vegan,and I'm going to see old family next week.I havent seen them in awhile,and they don't know about me being vegan.My culture is filled with meat dishes/meals so it wont be a surprise for them to serve meat.
What can i do without being rude?Thanks =)
I'd call ahead of time and let them know that I am now vegan and explain what that is if necessary then offer to bring my own food for everyone to try. Fortunately with so much information about how we need to eat healthier and the abuse of animals becoming more widely known people are actually more curious and open about alternative ways of eating than they use to be.
Eat the other items and do not offer an explanation unless they ask. If they ask, politely tell them you are a vegetarian and leave it at that.
Simply tell them - before you go - that this is your choice. When my sister became a vegan and told me, I simply made extra dishes that suited her choices. If it's family they should understand.
Simply say "no thank you" and pass in the meats. If they ask, tell them the truth, if you dont think they will take it well and make fun, let them know that your stomach is upset, or pick out an ingredient in the meat dish and say you have an alergy to it...of course that could blow up in your face cause they may offer to serve you another meat dish. I just tell people politely that I no longer eat meat. Or you could say that your doctor told you to cut meat from your diet because of the Uric acid in it is causeing you to have kidney stones...that is true though, eating too much meat causes stones. Whatever you say should be just fine, they shouldnt jusdge you by your choice not to eat meat. Good luck!
I was vegan for 3 years and the first time you tell people you are going to get all sorts of reactions. Like what the hell is that and why the hell and thats so weird and thats stupid!!But dont worry they just dont understand. So what you should do is call before hand and let who ever will be cooking. Say...you dont have to make anything special for me ( you can bring something for yourself) just tell them you wanted to let them know. this way it's less of a "scene" when you show up. And when people ask dont push it on them just tell them how good you feel, how much weight you've lost, or just how much you care about it (for animail rights reasons) and they will be happy for you. So good luck!
You should just tell them that your are a vegan, since they are family you would think that they would understand. Besides they could always prepare other meals that does not involve any meat.
I suggest telling them before hand if possible. I want to know my guests & families needs so they & I are comfortable for their visit. If you are going for several days take some foods you can eat. Especially Breakfast foods. If it's just for a dinner, ask if you can bring a lovely dish to share with everyone. That way you know there will be 1 thing "safe" to eat.
Slainté (to your health)
As a vegan, I generally tell the host, and let them know I'll bring something for me to eat. In Texas, the vegetables are usually cooked with meat, topped with bacon, or have butter on them. Rather than conduct a pop quiz regarding each item, (which inevitably leads to questions regarding my dietary choices- inappropriate discussion for the dinner table)
I'll make a casserole and bring it.
Just call them. Tell them you're vegan, and state specifically what you can and cannot eat. If they're concerned that they cannot accomodate you (or if they flat-out refuse), be cooperative and cheerfully offer to bring your own food.
Best of luck!
Before you go, tell them what you do and don't eat, but make sure you tell them you aren't expecting them to do a vegan dinner for you.
I usually ask if there will be any side dishes suitable for me, then offer to bring something.
I would definitely tell them you are vegan ahead of time. You can also bring a really delicious vegan dish so that you can share it with your family. I had a wonderful spinach lasagne the other day made with soy cheese and cashews and a slightly spicey sauce. The cashews made it taste really rich like real cheese. As an added bonus, you will have something to eat if they don't believe you/care/support your choice. My mother was notorious for putting butter in things and claiming they were vegan. Not on purpose, she just didn't understand.
phone them, let them know, help them understand what "vegan" means, give them examples of what you're happy to eat.
Thats not rude, its polite to let them know before hand.
If you don't get the feeling they cannot accomodate you, offer to take your own food or do without.
Meeting up with family is about seeing them, i'm sure you won't die if you have to skip the food.
Adam T, with so much anger in all your answers you want to be careful, it'll affect your health. If veggies are such a problem for you why do you even bother posting here ?
Let me try to help you:
Many people are veggie for moral reasons, it would be against thier core values to eat dead animals. Its unlikley to be against a meat-eaters morals to eat a carrot or 2.
If you cannot see that, i give up.
The questioner is not "expecting" the hosts to cater for them, they just want to imform them of thier diet so the hosts have the opportunity to cater for them if they wish to. Thats not selfish, thats perfectly normal polite society.
im vegetarian and my family is the same way. usually what i do is bring liek one of those amy's frozen meals or something and pop it in the microwave. if they have any sides that you can hve, by all means, have some. this mainly shows that you arent like dissing on their cooking and that you appreciate the meal. you could also make a nice vegan dessert for everyone to share and bring it along with you. thats usually what my mom does when we go to her friends houses (liek people i dont know all that well). you could also tell them aheadof time and offer to bring a vegan dish for everyone to share. hope this helps =] andie
I don't hang out with meat eaters they are immoral.
Bring some of your own food, and explain to them, that you are a Vegan, explain what that means, and that you are not trying to be rude, but that this is how you are, now. also, don't be typical Vegan, and go overboard, and saying that people who eat meat, are wrong for doing so.
I would simply bring a vegan dish appropriate to substitute as your main dish as a hostess present. When the hostess greets you just say "I brought this to share. I hope you don't mind. I didn't know if you know I'm a vegan and I do know it is hard to plan for special diets and I so wanted to come. Please enjoy."
take some of your own dishes and say that you wanted to help out with the cooking!
So now your family will think you are being nice, and you can still eat your own food and not starve!
I used to be veggie and when we had invites out I would say to them that I was veggie, on the one occasion I did not the host was so embarrassed that she had cooked meat and no veggie substitute that I felt it far better to tell them in advance.
It would be polite, rather than rude, to let them know ahead of time that you are vegan. Otherwise you'll just be turning up and refusing their food, which may give offence.
They are likely to ask what they can provide that will be acceptable (most people are tolerant and polite even when they don't fully understand) and you can help out by suggesting something really simple.
You could offer to take a dish along yourself to share, depending on whether it's a sit down meal or a buffet.
I've always found people to be polite and accommodating, realising that it's a matter of principle.
Tell them the truth that you are a vegan. True friend will never judge you.
people (like my parents) get all wigged out about cooking vegan and vegetarian foods. The problem with vegan is that you can't eat butter, and that is in lots of side dishes.
lol eat before you go.
I know how you feel, it sucks when you make other people feel uncomfortable about your lifestyle....I feel this way sometimes.
I think that you should just show up, eat what you can, eat it with bread if you have to....that's not rude (but it will draw attention to you)
and normally that is unwanted attention, I went to a family party, everyone was having fondue (they had about 12 fondu pots)....everyone was eating meat and fish, they set me up in the kitchen alone to eat my veggie fondue....I was sitting there all alone listening to them laughing in the other room haha then my sisters came and sat with me, thank goodness they love me lol
Eat the veggies and the salad and bread....you'll be happy and they'll be happy.
EDIT: Adam, I don't know any veggies that expect anyone to cater to them, we mostly don't want to make our hosts uncomfortable. Why are you a hater?
Allergic?
Diet study for Science in school (cut out animal products)?
Diet?
Cutting back on meat?
Bad belly?
New pills make you nauseous?
I can understand your hesitance in just putting the whole "vegan" thing out there. I still dont tell somepeople, because I realize how it can come off rude, and I know that some people will take it offensivley, or want to spend the whole week asking me WHY, and telling me the health problems that can happen (all which I already know, and know how to prevent) which can get frustrating. So sometimes I want to skip all that and just enjoy myself.
Good luck.
=)
what is your culture and i will find you a recipe to make and take with you - maybe something everyone will like
just tell them that you are vegan before you go, and you will be bringing a vegan dish for them to try out. tell them you don't want to offend them by not eating their meat, you just don't do that anymore. they will probably have a salad or something there that is vegan as well.
i know it sucks! vegan lasagna always wins people over, though!
BYO - or ask them if you can cook them dinner for the night