As a vegan or vegetarian, when you go to a party or some function do expect your unusual dietary?

Question

choices to be catered to automatically and do you get upset if they aren't?

By unusual, I mean "in the huge minority" so don't think I'm calling it strange ok?

bel--I can't believe you'd WANT to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at a wedding!

lindsey---you have to make food for your own wedding? Just tell your family what to make it. You've got enough "on your plate" that day.

rene--after your first sentence I quit reading. See someone about your paranoia.

trautmen----you're a guy? Wow, it's true. You learn something new everyday.

trace---you should have put his fax between 2 pieces of vegan bread then :-)

trautmen--a personal attack on YOU? How so? I thought you were female. You're not. Life goes on. You do seem a little fragile though if that bothered you.

shelly--I'm no "saint". But I'm certainly not evil incarnate as some seem to believe. People have differences of opinion. Some like me. Some don't. That's life ya know?

Some people are super defensive here too. Take trautmen there for instance. Up until his post here I thought he was a woman. Sometimes it's hard to tell and his unisex looking avatar didn't help. But he got all upset and said I was being "nasty" to him. Like I said. That's life!

Good luck with your goals :-)

shelly--almost forgot--thanks for the upgrade to "Me-person"...LOL

I don't have a special diet so it's food and booze and whatever I get up to!

mookie----I haven't changed my mind. But there is no other accepted term to describe your diet.

Answer 1

Being the only vegetarian in my family and circle of friends how can I expect them to cater just for me? I would never expect that. I always find something to eat, whether it's sides or I eat before hand. Actually I've been so lucky to have such a supportive family and group of friends, there are many times that have wanted to go out of their way for me... I actually feel bad about that! I don't like imposing on people or making a big deal out of it... it was my choice to change my eating habits, no one else should be affected by that.

Answer 2

No I wouldn't, I'd just eat whatever I could!

BTW.. ME-person.. I wanted to respond to the comment you left on my last question. I've been waiting for you to post a question so I could..

First off, there WAS a question, so it was most definitely not a violation,, read it again! at one point I asked something like "what do I do" I was looking for tips on transitioning my eating or speeding up my metabolism so I could eat more (cuz I know I should)..

BUT I didn't mind you putting that comment there anyway.. in fact I appreciate everything you wrote in that answer, I think.

I also wanted to admit that I MAY have pegged you wrong.. but it DOES seem like you enjoy stirring up trouble for the sake of stirring up trouble..

Going back over some of your questions (the ones I answered I can still go back to even though your Q/A is private.. I still have a BIT of a hard time believing you have any agenda besides stirring trouble or trying to show vegans as being hypocritical, ridiculous..reaching for something they can never achieve.. BUT I want to believe you, really..

My Q/A, by the way, are not private.. Feel free to look at any of the answers I have given.. you will find I am usually trying to be helpful, informative, or educational.. THis is what you'll find:

1. THere are two main areas I feel I can give people good advice on.

2. I am generally non-judgmental and not preachy.. but I do try to educate where I feel it is necessary.. I am trying to be helpful

3. Okay.. I do dislike a couple trolls, but only because I think they are causing trouble, trying to make others look bad, or wasting our space here on Y!A! I can jump to conclusions If I think someone fits this category, and I can get a bit snippy with them

4. I do have a problem with people eating fish and callling themselves vegetarian, because I have experienced firsthand the fustration that this causes when confusion runs rampant on this point.. I do not think it is hipocritical of me to try to clarify this point while ragging on you for your posts BECAUSE (A) I thought (possibly incorrectly) that you were just here to annoy, berate, or cause trouble and (B) I don't hold that the impossible-to-obtain definition YOU claim is the definition of vegan is as official as you claim it is. Nobody accept you claims that no one can be vegan because of such and such..

Answer 3

I can usually find something, I ended up only eating hushpuppies at one place, but I'm fine. I do not expect people to prepare vegetarian meals unless they ask me beforehand what I would like or know me very well. I think it's inconsiderate to demand that people provide me with food. If there is nothing I can eat... well they must not know how to cook! Americans eat too much meat anyway. I thought about going vegan... but I knew I could rarely eat out. Plus I love cheese and yogurt.
I live in the south so there are only a few veg-friendly places to eat...It's sad but it's to be expected. We're behind the times. I think I'll eventually move north for the snow and the sights.

Answer 4

No, I certainly don't expect anyone to cater to my needs in the conservative/non-progressive area in which I live. On rare occasions, a family member will make a vegan dish for me, and I make sure they know how sweet that is, but I'm certainly not disappointed or upset if there's nothing for me.

That being said, when my vegan girlfriend and I get married, there will be only vegan food there. Now, bring on the thumbs-down from all the meat eaters who will think I'm trying to "force my beliefs" on other people. We are vegans because we do not want our money to go to an industry we believe is wrong, so we're not about to go against our beliefs to buy a whole meat meal for 100 people, especially since it's supposed to be our day. If they can't handle delicious food without death, they don't need to come. That's my opinion.

EDIT- Your additional comments were not necessary. As usual, I gave a respectful, honest answer and you responded with a personal attack. I'd like to think we can all be mature enough to disagree without being nasty about it, but I guess not.

Answer 5

I don't get upset if my needs aren't catered to, because I am the minority.

I'm getting married next october, and my family is going to make the food (meat) for everyone else while I will make my own.

Also, if I go to a catered party, there are things I can eat such as salad and side dishes.

Yes, I am making my own meal for my wedding... So what? There's so much on my plate that day? Like what? Getting my hair and makeup done then getting dressed?

Answer 6

Most events have at least fruits and veggies, so then yes they are catering to me!! Aside from that, I don't expect anything and regularly bring my own choices of what they serve (not counting weddings, which I eat before and after). Recently, myfamily attended a pizza birthday party. Luckily it was a make your own pizza, so I brought our own kind of "cheese" for my kids as well as myself. And I also made and brought our vegan version of cupcakes so that my kids weren't feeling deprived and can enjoy all the same as everyone else! When we do large holiday dinners elsewhere, I bring our main course and a side dish. Most people do a variety of side dishes that I can enjoy (when I ask them to seperate some prior to adding butter or milk, really not much extra effort because it was all cooked together). As for church sunday school (for my little ones) I send them in with snacks instead of them eating what everyone is getting (this is not only for lack of dairy, but I've read the nutrition labels and all their provided snacks contain hydrogenated oils which is also a big no in my household). For BBQ's/ picnics I bring my own veggie burgers, potato salad, and desserts. I don't expect anyone to cater to me, but I do hope they are more open-minded after seeing we eat almost all the same items they do!!

Answer 7

It really depends. I'm not much of a party/function person in general, and the ones I do go to tend to be family related, or at least close friends. These people tend to be very willing to have decent vegetarian options, on the whole, especially considering the relatively high prevalence of vegetarians and other restricted diets within my family and friend circle. At weddings, for instance, there is almost always a vegetarian option on the menu.

Answer 8

If I am going to a formal event yes I expect at least one vegan option but I don't expect to be catered to hand and foot. A little pasta, some veggies isn't too much to ask for.
If it is a informal event like a BBQ I bring a safe dish to share or a veggie burger or 2 to throw on the grill with some aluminum foil to grill them on.

Answer 9

No, I do not expect food at a party or some other function to be vegan, and it's usually is not. I'm not upset by this. I don't have control over it. I know that my dietary habits are in the minority and I accept it. By the same expectation, when meat eaters come to my home for a party or dinner, they know to expect a vegan menu.

Answer 10

When I'm invited somewhere I warn. I tell people I'm vegan. I offer to bring some vegan food, to simplify things. Sometimes people agree, but often they want to prepare stuff themselves, so I explain what I eat and don't eat. If they have insisted on my not brining anything then yes, I do expect there to be something I can eat. But I think it's normal for me to offer to at least help. Must of my friends and family are used to it by now though, so there's no problem.

Otherwise, like Michael H apparently, there's always alcohol to fall back on ;-)

What about you?


Go vegan!