Request for food...do you think this is fair?!


Question: Request for food!.!.!.do you think this is fair!?
Cinco de Mayo is coming up and my family (my father especially) loves eating Tex-Mex fare!. When I ate meat, I used to fix a lot of different types of food for our family's celebration!. The dishes included dairy (cheese, cream cheese), beef, chicken, fish/seafood, etc!. As a vegan, I don't eat that anymore (obviously)!. My parents have asked me to cook some of my "staples" for CdM this year!. They are well aware of my dietary choices, but they've asked anyway!.
Do you think it's fair for them to ask me to do this when they know I don't eat it!? What would you do in this situation!?
(Just to add a detail, I don't think a compromise is going to work!.!.!.they are not open to faux meats and soy cheese!. Making a vegan version would literally upset them)!.
Thanks for the help! I love you guys!Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Eeww!. Poor you!. You obviously made good Tex-Mex food, and they look forward to having it again!. I can understand that (if my sister stopped making her apple pie, I think I'd faint!)!. But then you are vegan, and that means you don't want to have anything to do with animal products!. If you can stand it, knowing they eat animal products anyway, then cook them some this year!. But don't act very interested in it, and make them one of your new vegan recipes to get them used to it for next year!. If you were a good cook before vegan, you're probably a good one still!Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think it is fair for them to ask, but it is also fair for you to tell them "no"!. Tell them your opinion on eating meat and animal products and that you don't feel comfortable cooking them!. Offer them menu alternatives, and allow them to accept or refuse them!. That way they have made the decision, not you!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

If your family loves your food, take the compliment and cook them some food!. Dont be selfish, and if handleing the meat is what bothers you, ask one of your relatives to help so you dont have to touch it!. (it obviously wont hurt you, youre still here and did it before)Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think its kinda disrespectful!. I do not cook meat, and if family or friends ased me to I would be very put off!.

Can you say that your are very busy this year!? - or can you give them the recipes to do it themselves!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

You can say, yes, you'll do the cooking for CdM, but it will be vegan!. They have a choice: They can eat the food you cook or they can make their own animal-filled dishes!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You can say no! It is your parents though! And Cinco De Mayo is a great celebration of when the Mexican people kicked Frances ***!!!!Www@FoodAQ@Com

I don't prepare meat for anyone!. They are always welcome to bring their own meat dish when invited over to my place!.

I'd get yourself some good Mexican/Spanish Vegetarian cookbooks!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Heya

I think they must really like what you cook!. They should really not have asked you though and this shows that they dont respect your vegan lifestyle!. I would not cook the food!. =] xxxWww@FoodAQ@Com

If you were a good cook why shouldn't they ask you!. You can always say "I will not cook for you heathens!."Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think it's fair for them to ask you and more than fair for you to decline!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

well I would say buying the stuff and making it is worse than eating it!.

since your giving money away to a cause you dont support!. tell your family you buy vegan foods only!Www@FoodAQ@Com

It only means that they *love* what you cook, if you can face it, do it! And *definitely* take it as a compliment!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Well!.!.!. I don't know if this helps or not, but I have an alcoholic friend who hasn't touched a drop in 30 years!. He hosted a NYE party that I attended, and yes!.!.!.!. he did have various alcoholic drinks available!. It did not bother him one bit, and he doesn't try to push his (wise) choice on others!.

Another friend is diabetic and invited us for dinner!. Sure enough, she controls here diabetes solely thru diet but she made a lovely boston cream pie for dessert, which she did not even taste!.

In an earlier time, I was on the Atkins diet!. Very successful but I grew tired of so few fruits and veggies (and ice cream!)!.!.!.!. but during this time, I had no problems baking cakes and other goodies for family and friends!. I just wouldn't eat what I made!.

I don't know if fairness comes into the equation that much!. Life is what it is and sometimes we all need to compromise!. But!.!.!.!.!. making a substitute version when you know it won't do is merely insulting!. Your choices are to either agree and bring what they would like!.!.!.!. or to make and bring nothing!.

Best of luck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I'm a vegan as well and I still cook for my family!. The way that I see it is that I don't buy it, I don't eat it and therefore, I don't technically partake in it!. All I do is make my family happy by helping them out!. I bring over my my vegan friendly meals (or my mother has a stash of Amy's vegan microwave meals in the freezer) and we all have a mutual understanding!. Sure, there are jokes thrown about and it's all fine and good, but really, I don't see a problem with it!. I think it's a compliment to you that they want you to make everything!. It shows that you are a good and capable cook and they enjoy the way that you cook, just like my family!. The only thing I won't do is touch the meat directly!.!.!.I wear rubber gloves!.!.!.that I get made fun of for, but to that all I have to say is, "Do you want to eat or not!?" and they shut up!.

And by the way, I have been breaking my family in!. I'll throw in a vegan side dish to have them test it out and most of the time they love it!. So, it's a nice way to get them to see that being vegan and vegan food is pretty much the same as what they eat, just with out all the junk (don't call it junk!) ;)!.
Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com

I see alot of "FAIR" in the answers but Fairness is a 2 way street!.
This is tough decision!. Do you love your family enough to make this sacrifice!?
If you say YES, make some of your regular dishes & also some Vegan style ones!. You could also tell them that you will not do it the "old way" next year!. But will come up with some great new dishes!.

I live with a spouse & a adult male "child"!. They are not Veggie or Vegan, I as a Raw Vegan do some cooking for them!. They also eat some of my uncooking!. LOL I am the SALAD QUEEN!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Well, I don't think it's unfair of them to ask!.!.!. often non-vegetarians simply don't "get it" that veg*ns do more than just abstain from meat and dairy for the sake of abstainance, that we strongly object to it too!. Not to mention that the horrid smell is completely intolerable!.

That said, I don't think it's at all unfair of you to tell them no!.

If I were in your position, I'd offer to cook-up some delicious vegan fare!. If they'd prefer the meat and cheese laiden favorites, politely decline their request and offer them the recipes so that they can cook them themselves!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

If I were you I would let them know that this time I would cook it let them know that I really don't want to because I am serious about being a vegetarian!. I would also cook a vegetarian dish and not let them know it was vegetarian until it's been eaten up!. If they asked me next year I would say no and let them know that I am really serious!. I would only offer vegetarian dishes!.

My family acted like they were insulted when I mentioned that I was a vegetarian!. They kinda made fun of me and still do, but they have made sure that they have foods that I do eat!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

No, I don't think it's fair, or even right, that they've asked you do prepare foods you don't eat!. I wouldn't even ask my daughter, who's a vegetarian, to stir a meat dish I might be cooking!. But whether or not we think it's fair is a moot point, because they have asked!. You don't want to criticize them or make them feel bad, so tactfully tell them you are sorry but you're not comfortable having to handle products you don't eat, but would be happy to contribute something to festivities!. Then come up with an impressive appetizer, side dish or dessert!.

A few suggestions:
→ hummus & veggies
→ brush some whole wheat pitas (or white if you prefer) with a little olive oil!. Add some herbs and garlic powder (NOT garlic salt), then cut up in strips or wedges!.
→ put in a low oven to crisp up for dipping!. (Watch these as they can easily over cook)
→ for a side dish, thinly sliced cucumbers, thinly slices red onion!. Add oregano, and then oil & vinegar!. Grate a little carrot over the dish as a nice garnish when serving
→ home made garlic bread!. Slice French or Italian bread lengh-wise, but not all the way through!. Melt an organic, vegan butter spread (I buy it all the time at Trader Joe's, but it shouldn't be hard to get in any organic market) with a little olive oil and 3-4 good sized-cloves of crushed fresh garlic!. Spoon generously over both halves of bread!. Sprinkle with a little oregano!. Fold top half over and slice cross-wise for serving sizes!. Again, don't cut all the way through!. Wrap well in foil!. Heat in 350 oven!. Then open it up and put under the broiler to brown the top!. Watch carefully!. Depending on the size of the group, you can do several loaves!. Garlic bread is always a big hit!. (No one knows you're not using real butter!. The oil help the garlic flavor go through the bread!. I learned this many years ago from a high end restaurant who serve THE best garlic bread!.)

I'm sure you know of some great dips or "cheese" spreads you can make!. Try something with a soy cheese and seasonings as a spread or dip!.

Just a few suggestions!.

Don't even suggest someone doesn't love their family because they have their own beliefs that might be different from their family!. That's totally unnecessary and definitely unfair!. Fairness is a moot point simply because what's done is done!. There are way around it that should work for everyone!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

YOUR PARENTS NEED TO GO LEARN TO COOK! HA HA!. I'M A VEGAN TOO, FRIEND! WANTA A BE MY FAN!?
I WOULD COOK IT ANYWAY, BUT MAKE SURE YOU ACT PO'ED ABOUT IT, SO THEY KNOW FOR NEXT TIME!. CHA CHI BYE BYEWww@FoodAQ@Com

The difference between a painter and an artist is what!? Your being asked to offer your talent as a cook!. Why is this so difficult for you to say yes!? Your not being asked to eat a side of beef and compromise your dietary integrity!. The very reason why Vegan's have questions like this is because they are looking for a fight when nobody wants to fight!. I think your being overzealous about your food choices!. Meat never did anything to you but sustain and keep you alive!. If you dont want to eat meat anymore, then dont!. You vegetarians think your a religious and Pius lot, when in fact!.!.!.!.!.your just fruity and nutty!. I love you too by the way!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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