If this is your first holiday season as a vegan you're probably feeling some anxiety about what you're going to eat, what your family and friends are going to say, and just basically what a vegan Christmas is going to be. Lets formulate a game plan to relieve that anxiety and just better prepare you for what to expect and how to react ;)
Round 1
"What am I going to eat?"
If you're like me, this is the first thing that pops into your head when invited to a holiday dinner at a family/friends house. There is no guarantee that there will be at least one vegan dish for you so you better plan on bringing something for yourself. Best way to approach this, and to let the host know that you are vegan, is to respond in the following way: "Thank you so much for inviting me, I am looking forward to it. I'm vegan and was planning on bringing a dish or two so I am of no inconvenience. I can let you know in advance what i plan on bringing and would love to make enough for everyone at the party." More than likely the host hearing that you're vegan will make THEM more anxious. Try to relieve their anxiety and tell them that it's easier for both of you and a guarantee that you'll have something to eat that night. Now, I'm not saying bring a whole tofu turkey, but maybe some small stuffed squash (great because it can be a meal all in itself with whole grains) and a vegetable side dish like roasted brussel sprouts, yams, or root veggies. Just let the host know that it will be side dishes and a compliment to the already prepared food. If you're going to restaurant or party at a hotel ballroom call ahead and politely tell them your situation and if they could prepare either a vegan dish or some steamed veggies (bring some brown rice with you to complete the meal).
Round 2
"How will my friends/family respond to me being vegan this holiday season?"
You are going to hear a wide range of comments and questions, including some common excuses for why they themselves are not vegan. Common questions will be: where do you get your protein? What is vegan? Why can't you eat eggs and dairy? Aren't free-range eggs okay? Why would honey not be considered vegan? You may also encounter even more aggressive individuals who probably feel that you are trying to be "better than them." So their first impulse is to attack. Some of these more passive aggressive comments may be you are doing more harm than good or you should be grateful for the food you have. Now that you know some of the common reactions that you will receive lets move on to how to respond.
Round 3
"How do I respond to these reactions?"
You are prepared. You know what to expect, what they're going to say, and how they're going to react. That in itself will help you. I created an easy flow chart of how to respond based on whether it's a common question or passive aggressive comment. Just be sure to SMILE and remember that these questions may be repetitive for you but the first for them, and that in order to practice compassion you have to be compassionate. Don't be aggressive, be informative. Don't be annoyed or put down, be happy that you have a chance to talk about veganism.
Round 3
"How do I respond to these reactions?"
You are prepared. You know what to expect, what they're going to say, and how they're going to react. That in itself will help you. I created an easy flow chart of how to respond based on whether it's a common question or passive aggressive comment. Just be sure to SMILE and remember that these questions may be repetitive for you but the first for them, and that in order to practice compassion you have to be compassionate. Don't be aggressive, be informative. Don't be annoyed or put down, be happy that you have a chance to talk about veganism.
Final Round
ENJOY YOURSELF!!!!!!!! AND SMILE!!!!!!!!! It's the holiday season. You may think that being vegan will totally change this joyous event for you but it does not. Just remember the meaning of this time of year and the reason why you chose to venture on this new journey...compassion ;)
No comments:
Post a Comment