RE: Need some advice running into new issues I've never delt with. (longish)

[Guest guest]

Amity,

 

He suggested you take care of meals knowing full well you are a

vegetarian. I would plan accordingly. It won't kill him to go three days

without meat (it will actually do him some good). My husband's father

came to visit us last year for 10 days. He ate vegan the entire time and

he is also a big meat eater. He never once complained.

 

If it were me, I would come up with vegetarian meals that meat eaters

can also enjoy (e.g., spaghetti, pizza, grilling portobella burgers,

bean burritos, etc.). I would create all vegetarian meals and not make

an issue out of discussing the lack of meat. Don't put an emphasis on it

or draw attention to it. And if you dine out at all he will have the

option of ordering meat at that time.

 

When my father-in-law visited I never once mentioned meat or the lack of

it on the plate. He ate a lot at each meal, so it didn't bother him and

he felt satisfied.

 

Use this time to show how good vegetarian food can be.

 

Jacqueline

[Guest guest]

Hi Amity,

What we do for gatherings or parties or house guests is offer them the

same food we eat. No one has ever starved, and most people have walked

away asking for recipes or names of this or that - can't tell you how

many people have tasted soymilk for the first time at our house. :-) I

think that your dad offered for you to plan the meals to be sensitive to

your diet - he knows you're vegetarians, and it's probably easier for

him to let you plan than for him to try to plan for you - plus he's

being really nice to say that your dietary choices are the priority!

Yayyy, nice dad! And for the party, I think we all expect that other

people's parties will be the food they choose. Haven't we all eaten at

a picnic where all we could eat was corn on the cob and a white hot dog

bun? You'll be offering way better fare, I'm quite sure! And everyone

can eat it! Have a great cabin trip and a wonderful birthday picnic! I

think if you focus more on the time with family and friends and less on

what everyone's eating, then everyone else will do the same thing (or at

least, with your confidence in your choices, you'll role model the way

you'd like to be treated and they can start to learn). :-)

Have fun!

Lorraine

 

 

On

Behalf Of havingagreatfulday

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 6:23 AM

 

Need some advice running into new issues I've

never delt with. (longish)

 

 

I hope everyone is doing great. I haven't posted anything in soooo long,

life has been crazy. I need some addvice on several topics so I

appreciate anyone who will stick this through and read all of it.

 

First, my family (dad, me, dd, partner) are going to a cabin in Ohio for

my birthday (july). My father is nice enough to pay for the cabin but

told me I needed to plan the meals. It is easy for me to plan them for

us but not really for him. He is a avid meat eater. He does eat

vegetarian for us every once-in-a-while but we will be at the cabin for

three days. I am at a loss.

 

Along the same lines we will be staying in a town called Logan Ohio. Is

anybody familiar with this town? If you are are there any veg friendly

places we could go for my birthday dinner? Or atractions to see. We are

really going for Hocking Hills not for Logan but I thought it might be

nice since we will be about 5 minutes away.

 

Finally (for now) my daughters 1st birthday is right around the corner.

We are planning on having it at a park so we want to vegetarian picnic

foods. But as with my dad the rest of the family is the farthest thing

from vegetarian. Any suggestions? Cake recipes would be awsome as well.

 

thanks everyone

 

namaste

Amity

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Amity--Your dad will only be there for three days, and he says for you to pick

the food. So I wouldn't stress out about it! Just feed him right along with the

rest of your family, whatever you would normally eat. Maybe just don't serve

anything TOO " weird " (in your father's eyes--not ours! LOL!), like fried tofu

with couscous, for instance, if dad is a SAD eater. Spagetti is vegan!

 

A birthday picnic sounds lovely. Maybe a hollowed-out watermelon, loaded with

various colors of melon balls? Vegetarian baked beans? Huge bowls of tossed

salads, pasta salads, potato salad, cole slaw and ambrosia. Pretzels, popcorn,

chips and dips (vegan ranch, salsa, refried beans, hummus, etc.), mini pitas for

dipping in the various dip items, veggies and dips, fruit and dips. Can you tell

I like finger food? LOL!

 

Have fun! Marilyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lorraine <ldemi

 

Wed, Apr 28, 2010 2:56 pm

RE: Need some advice running into new issues I've never

delt with. (longish)

 

 

 

 

Hi Amity,

What we do for gatherings or parties or house guests is offer them the

same food we eat. No one has ever starved, and most people have walked

away asking for recipes or names of this or that - can't tell you how

many people have tasted soymilk for the first time at our house. :-) I

think that your dad offered for you to plan the meals to be sensitive to

your diet - he knows you're vegetarians, and it's probably easier for

him to let you plan than for him to try to plan for you - plus he's

being really nice to say that your dietary choices are the priority!

Yayyy, nice dad! And for the party, I think we all expect that other

people's parties will be the food they choose. Haven't we all eaten at

a picnic where all we could eat was corn on the cob and a white hot dog

bun? You'll be offering way better fare, I'm quite sure! And everyone

can eat it! Have a great cabin trip and a wonderful birthday picnic! I

think if you focus more on the time with family and friends and less on

what everyone's eating, then everyone else will do the same thing (or at

least, with your confidence in your choices, you'll role model the way

you'd like to be treated and they can start to learn). :-)

Have fun!

Lorraine

 

 

On

Behalf Of havingagreatfulday

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 6:23 AM

 

Need some advice running into new issues I've

never delt with. (longish)

 

 

I hope everyone is doing great. I haven't posted anything in soooo long,

life has been crazy. I need some addvice on several topics so I

appreciate anyone who will stick this through and read all of it.

 

First, my family (dad, me, dd, partner) are going to a cabin in Ohio for

my birthday (july). My father is nice enough to pay for the cabin but

told me I needed to plan the meals. It is easy for me to plan them for

us but not really for him. He is a avid meat eater. He does eat

vegetarian for us every once-in-a-while but we will be at the cabin for

three days. I am at a loss.

 

Along the same lines we will be staying in a town called Logan Ohio. Is

anybody familiar with this town? If you are are there any veg friendly

places we could go for my birthday dinner? Or atractions to see. We are

really going for Hocking Hills not for Logan but I thought it might be

nice since we will be about 5 minutes away.

 

Finally (for now) my daughters 1st birthday is right around the corner.

We are planning on having it at a park so we want to vegetarian picnic

foods. But as with my dad the rest of the family is the farthest thing

from vegetarian. Any suggestions? Cake recipes would be awsome as well.

 

thanks everyone

 

namaste

Amity

 

 

[Guest guest]

My first experience with this was when we got married. My parents, who are not

vegetarian, were kind enough to give us the rehearsal dinner AND wedding

reception. They both suggested a just a few meat dishes for the majority. My

dilemma was similar...they were paying for all the food, BUT we did not budge.

It was my weekend, and I did not want a bunch of dead animals on the plates at

our celebrations!

 

We came up with a lot of creative dishes, and did not mention to any of the 150

guests that the food would vegetarian. I remember a couple people hovering over

a seitan dish...they were in a hot debate as to whether or not it was venison

they were eating! So funny.

 

I now cook for my mom several nights a week. She can't get through a meal

without a snide comment, " What's this! " curling her nose. But, she never leaves

hungry.

 

My advice is to not put any energy into worrying, just cook what your normally

would.

Don't make it an issue, and get a little creative.

 

A lasagna, burritos, curry stir fry...things that don't look like there's

anything missing work well.

 

Best of luck, June

 

 

-

havingagreatfulday

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 7:22 AM

Need some advice running into new issues I've never delt

with. (longish)

 

 

 

I hope everyone is doing great. I haven't posted anything in soooo long, life

has been crazy. I need some addvice on several topics so I appreciate anyone who

will stick this through and read all of it.

 

First, my family (dad, me, dd, partner) are going to a cabin in Ohio for my

birthday (july). My father is nice enough to pay for the cabin but told me I

needed to plan the meals. It is easy for me to plan them for us but not really

for him. He is a avid meat eater. He does eat vegetarian for us every

once-in-a-while but we will be at the cabin for three days. I am at a loss.

 

Along the same lines we will be staying in a town called Logan Ohio. Is

anybody familiar with this town? If you are are there any veg friendly places we

could go for my birthday dinner? Or atractions to see. We are really going for

Hocking Hills not for Logan but I thought it might be nice since we will be

about 5 minutes away.

 

Finally (for now) my daughters 1st birthday is right around the corner. We are

planning on having it at a park so we want to vegetarian picnic foods. But as

with my dad the rest of the family is the farthest thing from vegetarian. Any

suggestions? Cake recipes would be awsome as well.

 

thanks everyone

 

namaste

Amity

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Amity,

 

People tend to like what is familiar.  So why not consider foods that resemble

the taste/texture/appearance of things that your father is used to.

 

Tofurky makes amazing sausages that grill well.  They also have deli slices.

Amy's burgers are great.

Veganaise is awsome.

Follow Your Heart cheeses are wonderful.

Seitan is readily available.  Even the local Kroger's carries it.

 

Our favorite birthday cake is Aunt Bonnie's Wacky Cake in How it all Vegan.  We

like the Nut Butter Icing (we always choose peanut butter, but almond would be

awesome).

 

Have a great time!

 

-Elyse

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Amity,

 

I'm in the middle of prepping my DD's 3rd birthday and since there will be a

bunch of people and kids of different ages, have settled on sandwiches. It's

easy to make vegetarian versions of them, and they are easy to eat. Initially I

wanted to make empanadas or grill veggie skewers,those might be options if you

have less people and some free time. Of course you can also add vegetables with

dip, or crackers with hummus etc.

 

With your Dad, I think it much depends on how you adress the different food

habits usually. When my parents come to visit, it's usually for at least 2-3

weeks because they live in Europe, and I personally don't expect them to eat

vegetarian while they're here. They will eat " with " us most of the time but if

they want to prepare something in addition, personally I feel that is their

choice. But of course that's up to anyone individually. As a PP mentioned, it

will only be 3 days. Maybe if you can find one eat-out place once, your dad

will be OK to compromise the other 2 days. I think if you both try and meet on

a common ground somewhere, you will be able to find a good solution and not have

the whole food conversation overshadow your beautiful family time together in

the cabin.

 

Julie

 

, " June Waterman " <june wrote:

>

> My first experience with this was when we got married. My parents, who are not

vegetarian, were kind enough to give us the rehearsal dinner AND wedding

reception. They both suggested a just a few meat dishes for the majority. My

dilemma was similar...they were paying for all the food, BUT we did not budge.

It was my weekend, and I did not want a bunch of dead animals on the plates at

our celebrations!

>

> We came up with a lot of creative dishes, and did not mention to any of the

150 guests that the food would vegetarian. I remember a couple people hovering

over a seitan dish...they were in a hot debate as to whether or not it was

venison they were eating! So funny.

>

> I now cook for my mom several nights a week. She can't get through a meal

without a snide comment, " What's this! " curling her nose. But, she never leaves

hungry.

>

> My advice is to not put any energy into worrying, just cook what your normally

would.

> Don't make it an issue, and get a little creative.

>

> A lasagna, burritos, curry stir fry...things that don't look like there's

anything missing work well.

>

> Best of luck, June

>

>

> -

> havingagreatfulday

>

> Wednesday, April 28, 2010 7:22 AM

> Need some advice running into new issues I've never

delt with. (longish)

>

>

>

> I hope everyone is doing great. I haven't posted anything in soooo long,

life has been crazy. I need some addvice on several topics so I appreciate

anyone who will stick this through and read all of it.

>

> First, my family (dad, me, dd, partner) are going to a cabin in Ohio for my

birthday (july). My father is nice enough to pay for the cabin but told me I

needed to plan the meals. It is easy for me to plan them for us but not really

for him. He is a avid meat eater. He does eat vegetarian for us every

once-in-a-while but we will be at the cabin for three days. I am at a loss.

>

> Along the same lines we will be staying in a town called Logan Ohio. Is

anybody familiar with this town? If you are are there any veg friendly places we

could go for my birthday dinner? Or atractions to see. We are really going for

Hocking Hills not for Logan but I thought it might be nice since we will be

about 5 minutes away.

>

> Finally (for now) my daughters 1st birthday is right around the corner. We

are planning on having it at a park so we want to vegetarian picnic foods. But

as with my dad the rest of the family is the farthest thing from vegetarian. Any

suggestions? Cake recipes would be awsome as well.

>

> thanks everyone

>

> namaste

> Amity

>

>

>

>

>

>