The KInd Life Community Forum

I have fully embraced veganism in my own home. I still consider myself a flirt, as I am learning more about how to buy vegan products and cook vegan foods. The other day I didn't realize it, but I accidentally bought pasta that had egg whites in it. So silly stuff like that...

Anyway, I have been flirting for a month and eating vegan the last two weeks of that month.

But I don't know what to do about being a guest in someone's home. I live in the rural midwest, and no one even knows what veganism is here. My husband and I eat dinner every Sunday night with our friends. We alternate weeks for who cooks. I guess I decided that I would cook vegan for them on our week, but I don't want to force someone else to cook vegan for me...

And other random times friends invite us over for dinner, for example this Saturday. We're not close friends, either, and I just don't feel like I have the right to tell them they have to cook vegan for me, especially when they probably have never eaten a meal with out meat and dairy!

But this bothers my conscience, especially because the main reason I want to be vegan is to reap the health benefits. Will I still be getting the benefits of being vegan if I eat a non vegan meal like twice or thrice a month?

I am also in the midwest (Ohio)!! Although I find it easy to vegetarian I find it very hard to be vegan when out. At a BBQ I can just bring my own veggie burgers and I usually bring my own side dish anyway. But forget about restaurants, there is never anything to eat for vegans! Plus, I have kids, and as we all know in small towns in the summertime the only thing to do is go out for ice cream. Of course there is nowhere to get vegan treats, and I don't want my kids to miss out on summertime memories, so I take them to get ice cream. We can't just always sit in my yard and eat vegan ice cream. It's not always realistic. So i just continue to be a vegetarian and try to be vegan as much as possible. We all try to do the best we can!!

I live in IL and find some of the same issues when I go out to eat at restraunts. I just recent;y realized that you have to ask alot of questions and I have also found that if you call ahead and ask someone about the menu they are real willing to make you something. When I go to friends homes I always ask if I can bring something. I try to explain that I don't want to put them out, that they should cook for everyone and I can bring my own entree and a couple sides. I also bring a dessert. so far no one has been offended. When I go to my sisters, she is my ex in law and I'm closer to her then my own brother, she tells me what they are having and has me bring some of my items. Its really nice when your family and friends are supportive. Good luck and remember don't forget to ask lots of questions! :)

Ok, so I am back from my friend's house after dinner. BTW, she has celiac so everything we cook for eachother already has to be gluten free. I gave her a copy of a gluten free & vegan cookbook, and she made us pizza pockets from it! They were soooo amazing!! It's from the Flying Apron Bakery in Washington State. I was so excited, they were very gourmet and delicious. I did feel kinda guilty and selfish for everyone else having to eat "my way", but hey, they were so tasty who could complain?

On the flip side, I also went to that dinner the other night at a friend's house, there was a big group. They made a turkey dinner...I don't even enjoy that meat...but I ate just a small piece and loaded my plate up with salad, veggies, and bread. I feel like that went well, like I didn't offend anyone and nobody thought I was weird.

I just don't feel like explaining veganism to everyone I meet and having to deal with their prejudice and meat-lovingness. Ya know? If they ask or are sincerely interested, I will talk with them. But I'm not gonna go around and pick at people or have them do that to me. It's a personal choice.