Invited to Omni B-day Party- what to do?

[TexasMomma]

Okay, this is my first time to face this since becoming veg*n. My kids are invited to a friend's birthday party, hot dogs and hamburgers will be served. I haven't spoken to my friend since making the switch. When I rsvp, do I just say we are veg*n now and ask if it is okay to bring food for my kids? Do I need to offer to bring something for everyone? How do you all handle it?

[Will Penguin]

Okay, this is my first time to face this since becoming veg*n. My kids are invited to a friend's birthday party, hot dogs and hamburgers will be served. I haven't spoken to my friend since making the switch. When I rsvp, do I just say we are veg*n now and ask if it is okay to bring food for my kids? Do I need to offer to bring something for everyone? How do you all handle it?

Usually in that kind of a situation I'll mention that I'm vegan and also offer to bring several dishes that both omnis and veg*ans will enjoy. In your case, you could bring some veggie dogs/burgers for your kids, and you could make a couple things (vegan potato salad and a fruit salad just popped into my head) for everyone, just to be nice.

[*AHIMSA*]

^^ :yes: It has never been a problem. It's another one of those times where if you act as if everything you are doing is perfectly normal, healthy and acceptable (as it IS) people tend to respond in kind. :)

[sleepydvdr]

In situations like this, I usually eat ahead of time and bring snacks I can eat, such as chips & salsa, beer, hummus & pita bread, slaw, potato salad, pasta salad, etc.

If you really want to eat there, you can always bring your own veggie dogs or burgers, but that's only if you don't mind them being cooked with the meats. Don't expect others to go out of their way to suit you, like cleaning the grill extra good and cooking your food first. Unless you are extremely good friends with them (then they may be open to it).

[animallover7249]

Usually in that kind of a situation I'll mention that I'm vegan and also offer to bring several dishes that both omnis and veg*ans will enjoy. In your case, you could bring some veggie dogs/burgers for your kids, and you could make a couple things (vegan potato salad and a fruit salad just popped into my head) for everyone, just to be nice.

That would be my advice.
Could you call them and let them know, and see what they would want you to do/what they would what you to bring?

[Earthly Delight]

I mention that I'm vegan and will be bringing some food. If I have the time/money I like to bring as much as I can to share; if you cook well people will love it, and its a positive image to veg*nism. Sometimes you really dont have enough time to do more than grab a pack of tofu dogs and head out the door. That's cool. What I never do is force the host to provide for me; some people don't see the issue with that, but the last thing I want is for someone to be grumbling about veg*nism in any way.

[Will Penguin]

What I never do is force the host to provide for me; some people don't see the issue with that, but the last thing I want is for someone to be grumbling about veg*nism in any way.

This bears repeating! :wayne:

[rabid_child]

I think since it's a child's birthday party it would be enough to say "We're not eating meat anymore, would it be ok if I brought a veggie burger/dog for (child) to eat?" I don't think in that situation you even need to bring something for everyone, and I doubt any of the other kids will notice that your kid isn't eating a meat burger. If it was a family BBQ or something, then yes, certainly bring a dish to share. If you're concerned about it being cooked on a grill with meat, then just ask if you can microwave it.

[pandora9kry]

I would definitely bring something to share as well as veggie dogs/burgers.

I think that would be a really positive step of outreach as far as a veg*n diet goes! Show people how good our food is!!

[Tempeh-Tantrums]

In situations like this, I usually eat ahead of time and bring snacks I can eat, such as chips & salsa, beer, ...

Yeah... beer. Great for the kiddies and all.:eek:


I think since it's a child's birthday party it would be enough to say "We're not eating meat anymore, would it be ok if I brought a veggie burger/dog for (child) to eat?" I don't think in that situation you even need to bring something for everyone, and I doubt any of the other kids will notice that your kid isn't eating a meat burger.

As a vegan parent who's attended many a child's party this is the best advice so far!! Nice wording too!!! :wayne:

Doubtful you need to bring anything "extra" (besides dogs or burgers) unless the entire party sounds like it's going to be meat-centric (clam dip, jerky, pepperoni pizza are all items we've run into at "children's" Bday parties) OR the host sounds overwhelmed and feels she would have to prepare "different" things for your children.

[abroadinSacto]

You should expect to be able to speak frankly about this to any friend.

[Zen Biology]

Yeah... beer. Great for the kiddies and all.:eek:



As a vegan parent who's attended many a child's party this is the best advice so far!! Nice wording too!!! :wayne:

Doubtful you need to bring anything "extra" (besides dogs or burgers) unless the entire party sounds like it's going to be meat-centric (clam dip, jerky, pepperoni pizza are all items we've run into at "children's" Bday parties) OR the host sounds overwhelmed and feels she would have to prepare "different" things for your children.

Bringing extra could be very nice anyway because what if someone sees whaty your are eating and thinks it's nice and wants to try it? what a wonderful way to impress people with veggie food. It's so lovely to share food with people rather than sitting in a corner by yourself eating your own little thing on your own. Makes the kids feel more included too if their freinds can at least eat what they are eatign too even if not vice versa.

[Will Penguin]

Bringing extra could be very nice anyway because what if someone sees whaty your are eating and thinks it's nice and wants to try it? what a wonderful way to impress people with veggie food. It's so lovely to share food with people rather than sitting in a corner by yourself eating your own little thing on your own. Makes the kids feel more included too if their freinds can at least eat what they are eatign too even if not vice versa.

One part of being vegan that's pretty important to me is taking opportunities to make food for other people, to show them that eating as a vegan can be enjoyable and delicious- that's it's not all about restrictions.

[Tempeh-Tantrums]

Good points about sharing the good food of veganism, but many a time, at a children's party (which is what we're talking about here in this thread..), the hostess may have specific reasons for wanting the menu the way it is... (allergies, special theme, catered party, special requests from the Birthday child, etc..).

Other people have 'issues' with foods cooked in other people's homes - germs, hygiene, food safety, presence of pets in the kitchen... (I'm this way - I know it's a personal phobia, but I don't care to eat foods other people have prepared unless I can be in their kitchen watching them cook).

Anyway - I'm not advocating NOT bringing something for everyone, just be polite and ask first, and don't be surprised/offended/pushy if the hostess is fine without anything extra being brought.

[Earthly Delight]

Good points about sharing the good food of veganism, but many a time, at a children's party (which is what we're talking about here in this thread..), the hostess may have specific reasons for wanting the menu the way it is... (allergies, special theme, catered party, special requests from the Birthday child, etc..).

Other people have 'issues' with foods cooked in other people's homes - germs, hygiene, food safety, presence of pets in the kitchen... (I'm this way - I know it's a personal phobia, but I don't care to eat foods other people have prepared unless I can be in their kitchen watching them cook).

Anyway - I'm not advocating NOT bringing something for everyone, just be polite and ask first, and don't be surprised/offended/pushy if the hostess is fine without anything extra being brought.

I agree with this and other posts that are a tad more hesitant about bringing tons of food to share (even though my post suggested bringing--as tempeh tantrums said, it's not that I'm saying NOT to bring it)... while sharing veg*n food and showing its great is.. sometimes all you wanna do is join in on the fun. Sometimes its not about spreading the veg*n love, and its just about experiencing life, or whatever.

[Mr. Sun]

Yeah... beer. Great for the kiddies and all.:eek:


lol

[TexasMomma]

Well, I spoke to my friend about the party. I asked if she minded if we brought our own food. I didn't offer to bring anything to share though. She usually has a huge spread and I hate to cook. (I do bring things to share for family parties and bbq's and everyone is always surprised how good veggie food is!)

My friend was very understanding, said it was fine to bring our own, but that she'd rather provide something veggie for us. I guess I was worried for nothing!

As for the beer- it would make a kids party more enjoyable for the adults! :D

[headxbanger]

when i'm invited to a get-together like that, depending on the hostess i'll just bring over a couple veggie burgers. they usually don't mind throwing one on the BBQ, and it's entertaining watching them guess when it's done, [since meat burgers shrink when they're cooked and veggie burgers stay a consistent size]

[jenni-anti-fur]

Usually in that kind of a situation I'll mention that I'm vegan and also offer to bring several dishes that both omnis and veg*ans will enjoy. In your case, you could bring some veggie dogs/burgers for your kids, and you could make a couple things (vegan potato salad and a fruit salad just popped into my head) for everyone, just to be nice.

thats what I do too...I usually bring one or two veggie dishes people are curious and try it and a conversation starts.

[ashlend]

I'm glad your friend was so understanding :)

When I first went veg, I was very leery about telling people in advance. I usually just went to their houses and made do with whatever I could eat. I never announced my vegetarianism to any of my friends; they just all sort of gradually figured it out over time as the issue came up. I did tell my immediate family (parents, husband, bro), but that was it.

Nowadays, of course all our close friends know by now and so I don't have to worry about going over to anyone's house because I know there will be something for me.

I guess I just never wanted to make a big deal out of it. But I'm pretty shy and hate being the focus of any extra attention.

[Jennifer89]

I would bring some veg party food over, but be sure to check that no one has allergies! You shouldn't expect your friend to accomadate you, but if you show up with a big bowl of some goodies, everyone will love you for it, and there's a good chance that your friend will be thankful as well. I would fix something that 95% of the child population enjoys and that meets your dietary standards. Pack it up and bring it to the party, enough for everyone to have a small serving.

When I use to go to parties and church events and the such, I would always just show up with my own food. I don't have kids, but will all of the veggie kids that I have babysat in the past, parents have gone over what there kids can/can not eat before the event and/or at it. For example, one person who I babysit for splits custody 50/50 with his x, his x feads them meat and he feeds them vegan. When they go to events with him, he says "remember, today is dad's day so we're eating like daddy tonight!" and at the event he would lead his kids to dishes that are veg friendly and tell them that the non vegan dishes weren't healthy. It went smoothly, unless cake was involved, lol.

[Gita]

I just went to a big moving party for a friend (who is also vegetarian). Absolutely no one else there was vegetarian. We just headed over to the vegetables, (corn on the cob, stewed cabbage, and some potato/veg mix) and pigged out while the rest ate the fried fish. Her son knew not to put meat in the vegetables. I just tell the hostess confidentially that I am vegetarian, or vegan and ask if there will be something you can eat. I have often brought my own food. There is absolutely no stigma attached to this as long as you don't need a separate stove or anything. If you do, then wrap your stuff in tinfoil so it does not touch the grill and so on.