If you have a special diet, does this sound familiar?
You receive an invitation to a wedding, and the RSVP portion asks you to check off one of two things: chicken or fish. Well, obviously vegetarians do not want to be served chicken or fish. And people with allergies or special dietary needs also can’t eat just anything. What do you do?
A. Grumble a bunch, and then check off one or the other
B. Eschew going to the wedding altogether …
Skip the wedding? How sad would that be?
A few months ago, I wrote about how I was once a bit embarrassed about my diet. While this is definitely no longer the case, I still try not to call attention to my veganism when out with friends, family, or other non-vegans. I don’t want anyone to feel awkward, and also, sometimes it’s not all about me! Sometimes, I just don’t feel like getting into the debate, ya know? I want to talk about things other than my culinary inclinations.
In my eight years as a vegan, I’ve learned that the best way to ensure you’ll get some vegan grub, hassle-free, is to call ahead. This is a good strategy for three reasons: One, you don’t have to call attention to yourself or seem “high maintenance” when the waiter is taking orders. Two, if they can’t accommodate your diet, you have time to make different arrangements. Three, it’s courteous to give the chef a heads-up so he/she can be better prepared. Plus, you’ll probably end up with something yummier if the chef knows in advance about your diet and is therefore able to brainstorm a meal for you.
By calling ahead, for the wedding I recently attended, I was rewarded with an amazing, gourmet meal: Perfectly-grilled zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash, peppers, tomato, and portabella mushrooms drizzled with a balsamic reduction so sweet I’m still dreaming about it.
I was lucky this time. However, it’s always a good idea to have a back-up plan, just in case. My backup plan for this particular occasion was a bunch of nuts thrown into my purse, if all I was served was an iceberg salad. True, nuts and salad aren’t an ideal dinner. But I believe food isn’t the most important thing in life. What’s more important? Friends, family, and dancing all night! That, and cute party favors like these Love Beyond Measure spoons:
Cute or what?!
Are you always prepared with food in your purse?
And have you ever had a restaurant meal specially made for you?
I always carry some sort of energy bar, fruit, or nuts in my purse or backpack. My friends love me for it; when they get hungry, they know where to turn. Unfortunately, that means I have to routinely remember to restock!
That’s great advice to call in before hand! Because i always feel so awkward when mentioning my vegetarianism. But my mom usually helps me out at restaurants by pointing out vegetarian items, and if there are none, she just gives me her sides or something like that :).
Though I’m not dealing with a food allergy or am following a vegan diet, I do monitor and manage what I eat very closely. That means doing some of what you talk about:
-packing my own condiments, snacks, meals
-reviewing menus before I head to a restaurant
-trying to influence a dining location that works for me
At first, I used to be really self-conscious about being ‘different’ like this. Now, people expect it and are okay with it AND more importantly I no longer feel weird about doing what I need to do.
Thanks for sharing your tips and thoughts on the subject. Accommodating dietary needs is becoming more of the norm…and hopefully in the near future….it’ll be a non-issue.
I’ll always bring a Larabar if I don’t know how feasible food options will be where I’m going… but yes, I do ask for a vegetable platter if all else fails. though I find that usually a menu item can at least be modified enough to accommodate my prefs. thankfully, my friends already know about my food peculiarities and don’t mind too much… I think 😉
It’s so funny to me to see a post like this (which I can totally relate to) and to compare it to the “self-righteous vegan” stereotype; most vegans I know, including myself, far from being pushy and demanding are actually rather timid about their food choices and hate drawing attention to it. I agree, it’s not about shame, just about not wanting to constantly have their dietary choices be the center of attention and the object of scrutiny. But as veganism becomes ever more accepted into mainstream culture, hopefully the “chicken or fish” menus of the world will expand.
WOW what a sweet meal they prepared for you.
my son was sitting on my lap and saw it …started giggling …and said…Es a spider.
he’s a goof.
being a mom I am always stocking snacks for him (and than me too) in my purse or his go bag (which is most often my purse)
I think It’s just good planning because you never know when you are gonna get stuck somewhere.
I also am a stickler for a 5 pm snack because I commute home and then have to cook dinner and don’t want to be famished.
I love your take on planning ahead! GOOD FOR YOU
Hahahahhaa awww too cute! Yeah, the photo does not do the taste justice at all!
“I don’t want anyone to feel awkward, and also, sometimes it’s not all about me! Sometimes, I just don’t feel like getting into the debate, ya know? I want to talk about things other than my culinary inclinations.”–
AMEN!!!
As proud as i am about my own path, others dont share this path and so it only brings attn to the fact that Im different, many want to “Debate” and sorry, sex politics religion and DIETARY PATHS are not fun for dinner table conversation, at all! I truly try to avoid the fact that I have a food blog, that I am vegan, that I dont eat gluten, etc etc…they dont get it and I dont care to talk about it. I’d rather talk about anything!!! other than this..after talking about it nonstop on, oh yeah, my blog 🙂
I neevr had a specific meal like that made for me, it looks yum! i usually have some sort of food in my bag along with a sports drink, tea bags and a squeezy bottle of honey,plaster and hairpins! ha, mary poppins i am with my over sized and well equipt handbag!
Great idea to call ahead! I usually just hope that there will some tasty vegetable side dishes or bring something to munch on in my purse.
That’s great that they accommodated for you, looks great too! I often bring back up snacks as I don’t want anyone to feel like they need to go out of their way. Besides, I am always lugging my own water around already. 😉
You gotta do what you gotta do! Glad you had a great time. I also ALWAYS have sniggity snacks on me. 😉