Vegetarian etiquette when living in a omnivorous family?!
I have been entertaining the notion of becoming a vegetarian for a while now!. I'm not there yet, but maybe I will be someday (I've been trying to cut back on the meat and animal products that I eat)!. But that's really not the point of my question!.
To my knowledge, I have only one family member who is a vegetarian, and I haven't seen him since I was about eleven!. The rest of my family are omnivores!. To add to that, when we have family get-togethers, the event is usually centered around food!. By that, I mean that when we get together, we usually have dinner, a late lunch, or some other type of meal!. And many of my relatives get a little irked if someone doesn't sample every single item on the table!. They don't get angry; instead, they get kind of confused and a little hurt!.
I'm wondering if any of you know of any ways to turn down certain foods to such people without causing too many hurt feelings!. Because if I were to go completely vegetarian, I would definitely have to turn down some foods!. For example, last Memorial Day, I went to visit and aunt and uncle, and the meal consisted of fried chicken, green beans (cooked with bacon and ham), and mashed potatoes (I guess these would probably be okay)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
To my knowledge, I have only one family member who is a vegetarian, and I haven't seen him since I was about eleven!. The rest of my family are omnivores!. To add to that, when we have family get-togethers, the event is usually centered around food!. By that, I mean that when we get together, we usually have dinner, a late lunch, or some other type of meal!. And many of my relatives get a little irked if someone doesn't sample every single item on the table!. They don't get angry; instead, they get kind of confused and a little hurt!.
I'm wondering if any of you know of any ways to turn down certain foods to such people without causing too many hurt feelings!. Because if I were to go completely vegetarian, I would definitely have to turn down some foods!. For example, last Memorial Day, I went to visit and aunt and uncle, and the meal consisted of fried chicken, green beans (cooked with bacon and ham), and mashed potatoes (I guess these would probably be okay)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Become a fantastic vegetarian cook and take a bowl along to share!. If any old aunties get offended, kiss them on the cheek and assure them it wasn't their fried chicken that turned you vegetarian, and that you'd swear to all your meat eating friends that your Aunt Betty makes the best fried chicken in the state!. Then you put your arm around her, tell her you know she has no moral stance against vegetables, so you'll be absolutely heartbroken if she doesn't try your fabulous pumpkin scones!. When you bring along a fabulous vegetarian dish, keep a couple of copies of the recipe in your wallet!. With a bit of luck, Aunt Betty will like your rice salad more than she likes Aunt Susie's and will start bringing along yours!.
If it's the men who get upset, slam your fist on the table in a manly sort of way and say "Oh, so you don't think vegetarians can bbq, eh!?" Then empty the fridge of your pre-prepared mushroom and haloumi skewers!. Mushrooms, as we all know, are accepted as being a manly food!.
Eventually they should all decide that vegetarianism is just a personal weirdness of yours and "don't mind him!."Www@FoodAQ@Com
If it's the men who get upset, slam your fist on the table in a manly sort of way and say "Oh, so you don't think vegetarians can bbq, eh!?" Then empty the fridge of your pre-prepared mushroom and haloumi skewers!. Mushrooms, as we all know, are accepted as being a manly food!.
Eventually they should all decide that vegetarianism is just a personal weirdness of yours and "don't mind him!."Www@FoodAQ@Com
i have te same problem i guess, i havent really told my family im vegetarian yet!. its not that they would be mad or anything, i just havent been around to it yet!. anyways, if im offered meat of any kind, i just kindly say no thank you!. no one should get hurt by that!. though ive never really liked meat much anyways!. just say you dont like whatever they're giving you!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Kindly turn them down when the bowl/plate of animal parts is passed to you, with a nice "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian now!. I don't eat pieces of dead animals any more!." Sorry if this seems "mean", but that's how I would say it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Be honest and tell people you are a vegetarian!. They will either say that's cool or they will act like an idiot!. Either way is cool with you because it is your life and your diet!.!.!.so do what you likeWww@FoodAQ@Com
I think you act like moslem people around the groups that will consume bacon, pork!.
Do not be too sensitive about other people way of thinking!.
Be honest with yourselves!. And take it easy!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Do not be too sensitive about other people way of thinking!.
Be honest with yourselves!. And take it easy!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Tell them all that you have now become a vegetarian and since they are all family, hopefully they will understand and think nothing of it!. GOod luckWww@FoodAQ@Com
The first time I ate at my brother's house was a little awkward--mostly because I didn't tell them!. Once they knew they didn't have a problem!. My family has gotten used to it!. We always bring something so we know there will be something for us!. Just explain to people that you're vegetarian and won't be eating meat or things cooked with fat!. Most people won't give you grief (and you can make a batch of green beans without the ham!.)Www@FoodAQ@Com
1) Respectfully say you aren't eating meat anymore and that it is a personal choice, equate it to politics or religion - technically there is no right or wrong answer and it's just a personal choice that you respect in others, no matter what their choice is, and that you hope they respect you in reciprocation!. Rinse and repeat this speech if people tease you or try to antagonize you!. And they will, believe me, but they'd do the same if you said you're converting to Judaism or going to vote for McCain (kidding, Republicans)!.
2) Don't expect anyone to cook for you, so work around it by offering to bring a vegetarian dish along to share (my family almost always does pot luck stuff for holidays because we're a huge family and there's no way the host can make enough for all of us)!.
3) Don't be preachy, snide, condescending, or "woe be me" during the holidays!. That makes you as bad as creepy Uncle Edgar, who has a few drinks and starts lecturing everyone about awkward topics!. Face it, most people are there to eat turkey and ham so it's best to be quiet and respectful!. You're not going to get anyone to even consider vegetarianism if they walked into the house ready to eat honey-glazed ham!. You'll just make people mad!.
4) If you're staying a few days and the day after there's nothing but leftovers of leftovers and there's honestly not much you can eat except corn on the cob and stuffing, that's OK, PLAN AHEAD and bring a bag of trail mix with you and some whole grain snack bars and some frozen Amy's Kitchen meals or something!.
5) Take the high road if you honestly face someone that will not take no for an answer and will continue to shove turkey legs on your plate or question your decision!. Relatives, you're stuck with what you get, you can't pick them!. Just one less Christmas card to write if they suddenly can't shut up about what should be a harmless personal decision you made!.
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2) Don't expect anyone to cook for you, so work around it by offering to bring a vegetarian dish along to share (my family almost always does pot luck stuff for holidays because we're a huge family and there's no way the host can make enough for all of us)!.
3) Don't be preachy, snide, condescending, or "woe be me" during the holidays!. That makes you as bad as creepy Uncle Edgar, who has a few drinks and starts lecturing everyone about awkward topics!. Face it, most people are there to eat turkey and ham so it's best to be quiet and respectful!. You're not going to get anyone to even consider vegetarianism if they walked into the house ready to eat honey-glazed ham!. You'll just make people mad!.
4) If you're staying a few days and the day after there's nothing but leftovers of leftovers and there's honestly not much you can eat except corn on the cob and stuffing, that's OK, PLAN AHEAD and bring a bag of trail mix with you and some whole grain snack bars and some frozen Amy's Kitchen meals or something!.
5) Take the high road if you honestly face someone that will not take no for an answer and will continue to shove turkey legs on your plate or question your decision!. Relatives, you're stuck with what you get, you can't pick them!. Just one less Christmas card to write if they suddenly can't shut up about what should be a harmless personal decision you made!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com