Happy Easter!
We are having a fun time at the in-laws. :) They have the coolest antiques and things to take pictures of!
Sketchie has been reunited with the other cats!
I always shoot dinner a few minutes before hand so the camera isn’t in the way and flashing during dinner!
We had salad (they had Caesar and I had mine with a homemade dressing). The salad was made of romaine, cherry tomatoes, and avocado. The dressing I made consisted of 3 parts balsamic vinaigrette, 1 part olive oil, a dash of dry mustard, salt, and maple syrup. Deelish!
Some red wine…and a huge delicious stir-fry:
They had chicken and cream sauce in theirs, but the chicken + cream was put in after I took my veggies out.
Their stir-fry after my veggies were taken out:
Dessert–my vegan marshmallow treats which were a HUGE hit! The plate was empty in a few minutes. So fluffy and YUM! I had two squares and some fresh fruit shared with Eric.
Then we played couple’s scrabble!
Eric and I were an EPIC FAIL and came in last. haha. It was still fun though!
Today’s question- How do you handle eating with family? Do you ever ask for modifications or things to be made a certain way?
I am still getting over my anxiety and guilt when I ask for modifications…even after knowing my in-laws for 10 years now! I still feel badly when I ask for something meat or dairy free. I am much better at it now though and I do agree with my MIL in that there is usually no harm in just saying what you want. I am lucky that most of my family understands that I am a vegan, but it would be really hard if they didn’t. Two things I always try to do are: 1) Bring a dish for the main or dessert and 2) Help prepare dinner (and clean up), which the cook appreciates.
We are about to have a big Easter breakfast soon so I better get going. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Hi there :) I am a fairly new follower. Thank you for touching on this subject. I always wondered how people in your situation handled themselves at family functions and how it went with the family. I think that would be the hardest part for me. I find it very easy to choose vegetarian choices when they are readily available, however, it would be difficult for me to make special requests.
Happy Easter!
I understand what you mean about the in laws. I try to be polite and not make too much of a fuss. After 11 years with the in laws they pretty much know what I can eat. My husband is very supportive of me and has my back and pipes up when I feel uncomfortable about saying what I can’t eat.
I struggle with the parents and roommates. I went home for spring break and I was served white rice, white pasta, and tons of white bread. I nagged them a little bit about it. But it was great to teach my mom how to cook healthier meals by switching a few ingredients such as greek yogurt for mayo and showing them proper serving sizes.
As far as my roommates go, I’ll eat what they serve such as red meat and white bread but I’ll eat in in severe moderation. Thankfully I’m not vegetarian, vegan or don’t have any food allergies so I do have the freedom to eat the food-I would just prefer not to.
Looks delish! That stirfry looks amazing!
I really like your last part about dietary requests. I love that you try to be very respectful, helpful, and bring a dish to accomodate.
I know it can be very uncomfortable to have to make special requests but you are definitely doing it the right way!!
Keep up the good work. :)
My family is really proud of me for losing 100 pounds so they were supportive the whole way. They made food substitutions at my request without any hassle. I’m glad for that!
With my own family, I survive by a combination of bringing my own things along (usually dressings, hummus, that sort of thing) and helping out with the cooking so I know there’s no dairy in the vegetables. Recently at a family party, there was nothing vegan, not even the salad, and there wasn’t even any bananas in the house, so I just drank water and black coffee until I got home! My boyfriend’s family just don’t get veganism, not in a nasty way, but for example my boyfriend told his brother we only eat dark chocolate, and he bought us chocolates for Easter that were labelled “dark” but had dairy in them. He’s also got things specially in for us and they always have something in them like honey or whey. I guess unless you’re vegan you just don’t know to look out for those things on the label. Because it’s only temporary, I usually just thank people for the food, but discreetly don’t eat anything, and then eat when I get home. Missing out on a meal isn’t such a big deal, but it does feel a little uncomfortable not eating or being ‘picky’ at a family celebration.
I feel the same way as you! I hate putting people out etc, I am still trying to figure out what to tell my cousin who I am staying with in a few weeks that I’m vegetarian. I find bringing a dish and helping to prepare really helps!
The stir fry looks so good! Sounds like you had a good time :)
Well, I just say I won’t eat whatever so my mom (or whoever is cooking) knows how much to cook and sometimes I’ll just eat some veggies instead of mashed potatoes or whatever. It’s not a big deal. :)
I always offer to bring something. And I make a point of expressing how appreciative I am when someone makes something or modifies something especially for me. I’ve found that some people are nervous about making something vegetarian, so I try to help them see that it isn’t difficult.
Couples Scrabble sounds so fun!!
Happy Easter Ange!!! Hope you have a great day.
Random Q: That cashew butter you were raving about-was it raw cashews or roasted? I’m curious to make my own but I want to pick the right kind!
Thanks!
I think one of the main reasons I have never altered my diet to become vegetarian is because I don’t want to deal with the stress that comes with making special requests when eating out or at someone else’s home.
I totally get why it would be hard for you to do so!!
I usually cook for the holidays because I have a small family and I’m the only one who likes to cook! This year I made a quiche and a big salad. Everyone else ate the quiche, I ate the salad, but I also brought brown rice mixed with nutritional yeast, part of an avocado, and some sun dried tomatoes to top my salad with to make it more filling. I also made dessert, which was vegan. Easy peasy. Although, it is hard because I still want to make family favorites, even if I don’t want to eat them…I don’t want to let them down. It is really hard to ask family, especially in laws, to make changes or do extra stuff, I know!
Great tips! I’m still working on how to fit my lifestyle into my family’s!
when i was a vegan in high school, i was lucky enough that my mom cooked a nightly dinner for the family that usually involved veggies. she would set whatever she was cooking aside for me before something non vegan was added. i would then add whatever i thought the dish needed to be complete. this was the routine for the five years i was vegetarian and the one i spent as a vegan at home.
eating with my bf’s family, is a disaster, never is never anything to have that doesn’t have meat or dairy. My family is about the same, but my mom is a little more clued in on my whole eating situation.
Happy Easter!
MY family are really understanding about my wheat allergy and will always make modifications to ensure that the meal is ok for me :)
I love your pictures! Happy Easter!
I totes went vegan about two weeks ago – I tried vegetarian last year but didnt prepare myself for it enough. But I have made the plunge as I feel it is best for my health, the environment and ethical reasons the more I read about the food industry and what a vegan diet is really made up of. So this is my first holiday meal today as a vegan. I made little apple lentil loaf muffin size things for my main and my family agreed to veganize the size for me. It has been good thus far – everyone is wanting to try what I made as it smells glooooorious!!
Happy Easter. At our get togethers we usually have enough food to accomodate any tastes. Love the antiques.