Ok this weekend my Bf's Mom is coming in from out of town, she speaks fluent spanish so the conversation between me and her isnt all that great as it is.
Now she like sto cook and go out to eat, and its really hard to get her to go where you would want to go. The places she goes do not offer anything vegetarian at all.
I am not to sure she will understand why I dont want to eat meat and I dont want to offend her.
I will also be visiting with other family members too and they will be the same way. I just dont want to be stereo typed or have them think I think i am to good for meat because I feel like thats how it will come off.
So while I know how to explain the animal aspect, any advice on how to polietly not order things or turn down things when eating?

If you don't think you can explain it, can your boyfriend possibly explain it better to her?

Simple is usually best. "I don't eat meat." If you tell her yourself, smile and have a few restaurant suggestions ready. Same for if she is cooking for you. In advance (and not just earlier that day, if you can manage) tell her that you don't eat meat. You don't have to explain why. If she does ask, I find it's best not to get into long explanations unless they're really interested. But, if there's a language barrier, that might be harder.

To turn down items, say "No, thank you." or "None for me, thanks."

It's hard sometimes to tell people that you don't eat meat because a lot of times you get the "What?!? WHY?!?!" question followed with a look of horror. I have found that simply saying, "It's a lifestyle that I chose" is best. Good luck! I've already had several friends make disparaging comments to me about my choice.

You may have to tell her ahead of time that you don't eat meat, or ask your BF to explain it to her. Find out what restaurants you'll be going to and call ahead to see if they have anything on the menu you can have, or arrange for something special to be made. As for her cooking, ask her to use meat only in the main dish so you can have the side dishes with everyone else. In either case I would recomend that you don't sit down to the table hungry, and bring Plan B, a bagel with peanut butter or something in case nothing works out. Good luck.

Thank you, tht sounds easy enough.
She does know I like animals, actually she knows so much so that she is bringing me a frog bathroom set LOL, BF said I hate frogs and I said well its a change.
So hopefully if she does get into "Why" then BF can tell her and she will get it.
KTgrrl, do you have a Yorkie? I seen you avatar...I have one, he is the best.

I can understand your frustration. Spanish speaking countries are really into their meat, big time. I would definitely try to have your message conveyed to her through your bf. She needs to respect your decision even if she doesn't understand it.

Yes they are, and when we went to visit her last year, and I was eating meat then, she would keep cooking and keep cooking and I would say no thank you or dont make another fo rme and she would then she would sit there and tell me to eat it, eat it, eat it. She thinks I am to skinny. So she always says she is gonna make me eat. Even when she came here 2 years ago and we went out she would order me a thousand things to eat.
More than likely BF is going to have to tell her and keep telling her.
She may look at me like I have something wrong with me though LOL

She may look at me like I have something wrong with me though LOL

If she does that, remember, ATTITUDE IS IMPORTANT.

Convey a confident, cheerful attitude. :hump:

Stand up or sit up straight, shoulders back, chin up, look her straight in the eye and smile pleasantly. Don't complain about anything. Don't appear sour. Offer to help her with cooking or anything else. All this can go a long way, trust me. ;)

Thank you, tht sounds easy enough.
She does know I like animals, actually she knows so much so that she is bringing me a frog bathroom set LOL, BF said I hate frogs and I said well its a change.
So hopefully if she does get into "Why" then BF can tell her and she will get it.
KTgrrl, do you have a Yorkie? I seen you avatar...I have one, he is the best.

Yeah! That's my little man. His name is Sammy :) They are the best!

Thanksgiving is coming up and the rest of my family eats meat so it (like all others) makes for an uncomfortable holiday,...

I prefer not saying anything about the animals when you say you are vegetarian. People get on the defensive when i've done that. instead I say, 'its just my lifestyle choice" and most people dont want to touch that with a 10 foot pole.

I usually like to keep my explanations short and simple because I am not here to convince anyone to become a vegetarian/vegan. I try not to bring up not eating meat if possible to avoid the annoying questions that I have endured in the past. Over the years I have learned to live a quiet veggie life. :D

Yeah. My friend is a vegetarian and for our 4-H Acheivement, there was rice with chicken flavouring in it.

Our instructor asked why she didn't want to eat it, that there was no meat in it, and my friend said, "Yeah, I read the can, it said it's got chicken farts in it!" That didn't go over very well.

And the people at Subway absolutely FLIP when you tell them you don't want meat. I mean, what's so hard to understand? I don't go over the whole "animal thing" and give them the website for the "Meet Your Meat" video, but I guess I should. :angel: haha

Yeah, I would just say, "I don't eat meat."
Yeah she'll probably go, "WHAT?! WHY?!?!"
Just tell her that you don't. Simple as that.

Yeah, I just say. "Cuz thats my choice." or something now. People are like "Umm ok" and its over.

Today I did sort of rant about what they do to the animals in factory farms while in the line at the grocery store. I was with my brother, and it was FUN. My family is all for my veganization. As long as I don't talk about the torture that the animal they are eating went through as they eat.

I still talk about it. Just little hints every so often. MUAHAHAHA! It makes them think twice.

I just say "Its because of the animals and because of my health".

If they push the issue I just say I have never felt better/I feel like a younger version of myself.

And the people at Subway absolutely FLIP when you tell them you don't want meat. I mean, what's so hard to understand? I don't go over the whole "animal thing" and give them the website for the "Meet Your Meat" video, but I guess I should. :angel: haha

.

Man that bites. The people at the subways here usually just ask whether I'd like them to change their gloves.