Having Different Dietary Needs

[cant_wake_up]

Recently, on the Vegetarian/Vegan SparkTeam, someone asked about how to reserve certain dishes for veg*ns (common term used to mean both vegetarian and vegan - since they both start with veg and end with an n) so that the typical, meat-eaters, don't use the dishes as their side dishes. It brought up a lot of people talking about what they do at

Comments

Great post

[ext_312015]

Liz, I think I eat similarly to the way you eat. Currently I'm vegan at home but vegetarian while out. One of the primary reasons that I am not being totally strict about veganism is the social aspect. It is hard enough for some of our friends to know what to cook for vegetarians - but when you tell them that dairy and eggs are out, then they really don't know what to serve! So in the interest of being socially graceful, we'll eat the cheesy lasagna or whatever it might be, even though I wouldn't cook that way at home.

My parents and some closer friends are a bit more accomodating. They are used to our dairy-shunning ways and my mom stocks Earth Balance, soy milk, Tofurky slices, Vegenaise, and several other vegan products in her refrigerator.

As a hostess, I always, always, always inquire about guests' dietary requirements or preferences. I know how it is to not want to impose or say anything, and it is so much easier when the host/hostess brings it up first. It is always interesting to learn how to cook in a new way! I discovered that I love gluten-free cookies and scones after cooking for someone with celiac disease.