The peta2 Advice Blog! July 9, 2008
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vegetarian parents advice boyfriend
Yes! Here's your 2nd installment of the peta2 advice blog! Without further ado...
I'm supposed to go to my boyfriend's house for dinner to meet his parents for the first time. The thing is, they're definitely not vegetarian. I really want to make a good first impression, but there's no way I'm going to eat meat. HELP!
-Don't Want to Offend the Omnivores
This has happened to me before. Don't stress—the solution is easy! All I had to do was ask my boyfriend to tell his parents that I was a vegetarian beforehand so that they could plan accordingly. It worked! They made me delicious bean burritos, and I didn't have to settle with just eating the vegetable side dish! -Lara
Ask ahead of time to see what's on the menu at the parents' house. If it's something that can easily be made vegetarian, like a pasta dish, have your boy toy recommend this option to his parents. If it's something unquestionably meat-heavy (steak, pot roast, guinea pig, etc.), offer to bring Gardenburger BBQ "riblets" for yourself (all you do is microwave them for 2 minutes). Each box has two riblets, so you'll even have extra to share! :) -Ryan
This isn't anything to fret about...yet. I mean it's not like they've made some horrible derogatory comment about their son's weirdo vegetarian girlfriend, right? (Right? Have they? If so you just let us know because I've got some, um, choice words for them!) Anyway, talk to your boy and find out if his parents would be cool adding a fleshless dish for you, or if they'd be cool with you bringing a yummy veg dish to share as Ryan suggests. Chances are they'd have no problem with your request and you just may score some extra points for wanting to make things easier on the chef by helping with the meal. Bon Appétit! xox Patricia
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If you have any advice for Don't Want to Offend the Omnivores, comment away!
Comments
As one whose folks are not vegan, wife's folks are not vegan, and one whose been married for 4 years (on the 31st), don't worry about offending those who eat dead bodies.
Don't get me wrong, you don't want to be overly offensive or preachy, but you shouldn't have to worry about how you may or may not offend someone for being a compassionate individual.
Families will find something to be offended by from time to time--that's just human nature--and I think I'd rather offend someone by doing something good than anything else.
Stick to your guns. My mom still tries to get me to eat charred animal flesh in some perverted hope that I will somehow "see the light" and revert back to the ways of murder for food. It's easy to take the easy route. It's not as easy to do what you know is right when the world wants you to sit down and shut up.
Posted by: themanchicken at July 10, 2008 1:54 PMPost a comment
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I agree with the Peta2 staff advice - get your boyfriend to talk to them before the meal.
Be ready to talk about vegetarianism in an easy-to-understand, light-hearted way at the meal because they're sure to ask you a few questions about it.
Posted by: Little_Lotte at July 10, 2008 8:14 AM