Food-focused events, like the Holiday parties to come, can be daunting for vegans and vegetarians. However, the holidays shouldn’t be only about the food. Most of these events are about family, tradition, getting together, and celebrating.
Oh, the Holiday season, that time of the year where literally every single meal at the parties have meat, dairy and/or eggs. Food-focused events can be daunting for vegans and vegetarians, as most find themselves to be the only one. However, the holidays shouldn’t be about the dead bird (or in Puerto Rico the roasted pork) in the middle of the table, the egg-nog, or the dairy-filled casseroles. They are about family, tradition, getting together, and celebrating.
Since (until very recently) I was “the only one” at parties, I decided to put together a list of steps you can take for Surviving a Party as a Vegan. A simple one that can apply to any event, and even BBQs.
Always Be Prepared: A lot of people don’t really understand what veganism is about, and they’ll have questions. Someone is probably going to ask how long you have been vegan, why you became vegan, what it’s veganism, B12, how much does it cost, etc. Be ready and patient.
Bring your own food: Don’t expect your friends or family to have food for you; even if they’ve known you’ve been vegan for years. Sometimes preparing a party can be stressful for the host; they might forget or they can assume that you’ll bring your own food. I have two tips: 1. Call the host ahead and coordinate. Or 2. Prep your food in advance and pack it up in an easy to carry container. Also, make enough food to share, you can turn sharing into a learning experience for someone else.
Teaching Moments: Like I mentioned before, veganism to some people might be a foreign concept, they’ll have a lot of questions. Trying to figure out a way to address the fact that you’re vegan in a way that isn’t annoying or stressful to other people might cause anxiety. So usually, if I see that the person has a genuine interest, I’ll take my time and answer as best as I can; I’ll even send them links and share my food with them. Whatever you do, unsolicited vegan talk at the dinner table is a no-no, just enjoy time with your friends and family.
Be Open and Forthright: When someones see you not eating what everyone else is eating, they’ll probably ask why. I always like to answer with something along the line of “I choose not to”. Changing phrases like “I can’t” or “I don’t” for “I choose” can make a huge difference in how someone perceives your message.
Be Appreciative: Be grateful and enthusiastic about the effort that people make to understand you and your lifestyle. Be happy, kind, and polite. As long as you have your food and the most important people with you, just have fun!
There you go, my tips for surviving a party as a vegan. And hey, if all else fails, well there’s always alcohol for that :).
