The vegan question

[Guest guest]

To me, consistency is an important part of my veg*nism. If someone

doesn't know me really well, I always start with, " I cook veg*n. " As

they learn more about me, I elaborate as the case arises. Whatever I

tell that person, I try to maintain. (I am not a vegan, though I

often eliminate dairy in spring and summer to alleviate seasonal

allergies. I buy my dairy and eggs from a small family farm. I *try*

to avoid processed foods.) If I go to a restaurant with my family, I

may break these " rules " , say by ordering grilled cheese if I want

something other than a salad. Because my family knows why I do what I

do.

 

But around children or those who are still figuring me out, I make

sure if I told them I don't eat cheese, that I don't eat cheese. To

me, it's an issue of keeping your word, for lack of a better term,

and not confusing people. These days, I just try not to get into it

with people unless I have to. Like if I have to go to a chamber of

commerce luncheon and the only menu options are meat or fish. Then

I'll tell the director in advance, I don't eat meat. And she says

" there's tuna " every time and I want to kill her.

 

If she still doesn't take care of it before the lunch, well, then I

have to talk to the manager. Or go hungry. And I don't like to go

hungry when I paid $15 for lunch (even if it does go on my expense

account.) After the box lunch where the choices were tuna, roast beef

or turkey, I make sure I speak up. (The other items in the box that

day were an apple and a cookie. Yeah, now that's a lunch)

 

This probably was way more than everyone needed to hear.

 

Angel A.

[Guest guest]

I think it's far more important to be what you are and not " cheat " . If

you claim to be vegan, be one, and don't eat your potatoes with

butter, even in a restaurant. I'm not a vegan, I'm vegetarian and

have been for 38 years now, since the age of 14; at times very

strictly, at times less so, but always meeting my own standard. If

I see gelatin on the label I don't eat it, meat in the spaghetti

sauce I'll go hungry. A great many of my friends through the years

have gone veggie largely because of my influence, some more

than others and some more strictly than me, though many on the

strictest regimens don't maintain very long. I think it best to keep

to a diet you can live with rather than go all-out with one you can't.

My wife eats a bit of fish now and again; I'm not pleased about it

but that's up to her; when I met her she ate anything, and that's

where she wanted to go. My kids are veggie, and one of my

nephews. It's a lot easier to be vegetarian or vegan now than it

used to be; for the first five or six years I didn't personally know a

single other vegetarian in the wide world. The first time I had tofu

I made it myself. I and my girlfriend spent all day and burned out

the motor on her blender making about a pound of it.

[Guest guest]

Angel wrote:

 

<<Like if I have to go to a chamber of commerce luncheon and the only menu

options are meat or fish. Then I'll tell the director in advance, I don't eat

meat. And she says " there's tuna " every time and I want to kill her.

 

If she still doesn't take care of it before the lunch, well, then I have to talk

to the manager. Or go hungry.>>

 

By all means, contact the actual restaurant (or caterer) *in advance*. I've

found, at box lunch-type meetings, that the first time, I'm the only one eating

the veg*n option, but that the next time, there are a few more, and so on and so

on, until after about 4-5 meetings there's a sizeable minority eating the same

option I am.

 

I once turned around a majority of the attendees, but that was at a Mexican

restaurant (Chamber of Commerce in a Latino section of town), and the native

roasted vegetables were so fabulous that people turned away from their standard

chicken plates in droves within two meetings once they realized they had the

choice.

 

Don't rely on your manager. You already know you can't trust her. Chefs are

used to making veg*n options, so go straight to the source.

 

Liz

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Angel,

 

I know exactly what you're talking about. I frequently end up eating

nothing at our lunch events because I am the only vegetarian in the group.

When we first moved here, folks tried - a little - to accommodate me. But

now they don't even bother. It's really annoying on one hand, but I just

eat before I go and don't ever expect anything. It's one of those things

that make you go " grrr. "

 

Chessie

 

-

<darranged

 

Saturday, November 26, 2005 9:35 PM

The vegan question

 

 

> To me, consistency is an important part of my veg*nism. If someone

> doesn't know me really well, I always start with, " I cook veg*n. " As

> they learn more about me, I elaborate as the case arises. Whatever I

> tell that person, I try to maintain. (I am not a vegan, though I

> often eliminate dairy in spring and summer to alleviate seasonal

> allergies. I buy my dairy and eggs from a small family farm. I *try*

> to avoid processed foods.) If I go to a restaurant with my family, I

> may break these " rules " , say by ordering grilled cheese if I want

> something other than a salad. Because my family knows why I do what I

> do.

>

> But around children or those who are still figuring me out, I make

> sure if I told them I don't eat cheese, that I don't eat cheese. To

> me, it's an issue of keeping your word, for lack of a better term,

> and not confusing people. These days, I just try not to get into it

> with people unless I have to. Like if I have to go to a chamber of

> commerce luncheon and the only menu options are meat or fish. Then

> I'll tell the director in advance, I don't eat meat. And she says

> " there's tuna " every time and I want to kill her.

>

> If she still doesn't take care of it before the lunch, well, then I

> have to talk to the manager. Or go hungry. And I don't like to go

> hungry when I paid $15 for lunch (even if it does go on my expense

> account.) After the box lunch where the choices were tuna, roast beef

> or turkey, I make sure I speak up. (The other items in the box that

> day were an apple and a cookie. Yeah, now that's a lunch)

>

> This probably was way more than everyone needed to hear.

>

> Angel A.

>

>

>

>

> For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at

http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to

http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to

provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a

qualified health professional.

>

> edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health

professional.

>

>

>