A vegetarian's Dilemma during Thanksgiving, FYI

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Featured Dilemma: 3

 

 

QUESTION: My family won't accept my vegetarianism, so I want to

spend the holidays at my friend's house ??

 

 

My friend and I are vegetarians. But his family, unlike mine, is

happy to accommodate his eating preferences. Because of this, I

really want to eat Thanksgiving dinner at his house. When I told my

parents, they flipped out and they are now acting very hurt. I don't

like to see them like this, especially around the holidays, but I'n

not going to eat meat -- or starve -- either.

 

Now what?

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Your parents' resistance may have come out of the way you

approached the topic, not the topic itself. Face it: It's easy to

become a little self-righteous about your Earth-concious choice when

faced with opposition from those who don't understand it. (Me? I'm

all for it!) Give it another shot. But this time be very conscious

about projecting any attitude. Give them a " compliment sandwich: "

That is, put the not-so-wonderful news between two slices of

niceties. Tell them that you appreciate how hard they work to put

together the holiday dinner and that you're not looking to replace

the traditional turkey. Then explain why you prefer to eat with your

friend, letting them know you'd be happy to stay home if they would

consider adding vegetarian dishes you like to their meal.

 

Finally, before the parental chef units can object to spending extra

time over a hot stove, offer to make these edibles yourself. (Hey,

nothing makes a new family tradition more attractive than taking the

work out of it for others.) Knowing they can still have their turkey

or ham along with whatever you concoct in the kitchen probably will

convince your parents to try and go along with the program. If you

still want to spend time at your friend's home, do so, but keep it to

the dessert. Visiting friends for the holidays shouldn't drastically

cut into family time.

 

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Sunny says:

 

Last Xmas, I personally hid a 7 LB roast and made a huge, surprise

vegetarian XMAS dinner for my family. 8 months later, not knowing

what to do with the " OLD " roast, my family decided to give it to

someone else.

(I would love to have thrown it away, but it wasn't my choice)

 

I am praying this will be the last time, my family will buy a roast

again. Next time, if I find a beef roast, I'll hide it underneath

the sofa.