The KInd Life Community Forum

Helloooo! My name is Leanne and I hope ye don't mind me throwing out a question. I travel alot for work and tend to stay in hotels and b&b's, so I'm free to get my own food and take care of myself in terms of how I eat.

In September I'm going to a small town near Zurich for a week, for work. This time I won't be staying in a hotel - I'll be staying with the people employing me! Besides being a vegan who loves her simple yummy food, I'm also a people pleaser.... How in the name of God am I going to tell them I don't eat Cheese? It's Switzerland!

Any advice would be VERY much appreciated.

Sending love across the pond!

Leanne from Ireland

Hi Leanne,

I agree with Axa - definitely communicate a.s.a.p.! I was in Switzerland last month, and had a conversation with a guy who grew up in the mountains and whose father raises livestock. I was trying to explain that most of the hard cheeses weren't vegetarian, that newborn calves are killed to make the rennet used in the production of many traditional cheeses, and he was totally outraged - said he couldn't imagine anyone killing a baby calf for such a thing and that he would never eat that kind of cheese etc. Well it wasn't the time to pursue the argument, with no way of proving that my idea was anything other than outlandish, but I hope he's gone off and done some Googling and maybe a few more calves will be safe as a result?

Many Swiss people live much closer to nature than in other places in Europe or in the US, and they may not hear this debate as often or as loudly as in places where animal welfare is causing concern even amongst meat-eaters.

Hope you have a great trip!

I found a restaurant in a shopping mall in Raleigh, NC . Crisp is not completely vegetarian/vegan menu but does have a wonderful vegetarian wrap. I do not understand why is the wrap is not listed as vegan as there is no dairy cheese unless you ask, anyway I ordered mine as is just, l veggies with raspberry vinegrette and it is just delish!