Vegan living and social life?

[Polar965]

I became a vegan 4 months ago. Since then I've lose 15 pounds and have gained so much energy. I no longer struggle with the dissonance of eating animals.

 

 

How do you vegans deal with your social lives? Alcohol is obviously vegan. But what do I do...come supplied with a pocket full of nuts??/ Seriously, I get so mu crap for not eating animal products. How do you have a social life?

[Bialy]

It depends. How do you socialize with friends? Do you go out to restaurants or do you mostly socialize in people's homes?

 

If you're going to people's homes to hang out, I don't see the problem in bringing some of your snacks to share. Even if it's just dry cereal, fruit, nuts, almond milk ice cream, chips, etc...

[Bialy]

If you're going out to eat, it's pretty easy to veganize most things. If you order nachos - just have them with beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Easy!! Skip the cheese and sour cream.

 

It's so easy. Don't overthink it.

[Satu]

I'm a vegan, don't drink, don't smoke, and don't do drugs.

 

Was invited to dinner by some friends yesterday, and had a wonderful time.

 

I brought Champagne for them, and Pomegranate juice for me.

 

They know what I don't eat, so they offer me things I do eat.

 

They had fish, and I had some really tasty pasta.

 

When we go out, we go to good restaurants where the chef is happy to provide vegan options.

 

None of us do fast food, but I imagine that it could be a problem for people who do.

[hippychick3]

I've been vegan for about a year and a half. It is definitely challenging in social situations, but everyone knows how I eat and accepts it. I eat a lot of salads, potatoes (no butter or sour cream), veggie burgers, and hummus w/ veggies.

 

I socialize A LOT...nights out with friends a few times a week. It can be done! Sometimes, I've eaten at home first if I know I won't want what is being served and then just drink when I get there.

[Els]

I'm surprised that you're getting crap from people for being vegan - I know a few vegans and they are always treated with respect.

 

I think as long as you don't behave like you're entitled to special treatment for your dietary preferences (like, if your friends want to go to a steakhouse, if you decide to go with them then be content with the salad options, don't complain about them the entire night or ream the restaurant manager out)... you should be fine socially. If you accept someone's dinner invitation, don't interrogate them over whether their food has any animal oil or whatever in it.

[BlackCherry]

Been vegan twelve years and honestly can't imagine how it could affect my social life. What do you do with friends? When we go out for coffee, most places have soya milk for lattes. If we go out for a meal we'll go somewhere that does vegan options if I'm picking the place, and if they're choosing I'll just eat whatever I can (even if it's just some fries). I suppose the only difficulty might be when we're all ordering takeaway, as depending on the city there aren't always vegan friendly takeaways, but really it's not too difficult to just order fries or pop out and grab something from the store for myself.

 

When I'm invited to dinner, friends and family know I'm vegan so make me a vegan meal, which I'm always very grateful for. I'll always offer to take something with me if it's someone new, or an event such as a barbecue. But really, most people you socialise with care about and respect you, so I'd find it strange and poor hosting skills if you went over and got crap for your ethical choices. Obviously you need to ensure if you're invited for dinner you tell them you're vegan beforehand, I always couple this with offering to bring a dish but can't say I've ever been taken up on it.

[Gr8fuln2020]

I was a vegetarian until a little over a year ago. I was married to a vegan (pretty close). As long as you don't conduct yourself in a self-righteous manner, most people are okay with it. I have found that many restaurants will serve or come up with something to suit a vegan. If you were a true/full vegan, you'd also be against GMOs as well....then it becomes really tough. Even that batch of fries is likely GMO potatoes.

[Satu]

I was a vegetarian until a little over a year ago. I was married to a vegan (pretty close). As long as you don't conduct yourself in a self-righteous manner, most people are okay with it. I have found that many restaurants will serve or come up with something to suit a vegan. If you were a true/full vegan, you'd also be against GMOs as well....then it becomes really tough. *Even that batch of fries is likely GMO potatoes.

 

*Not in Europe, thankfully. There's tremendous and effective opposition to GMO foods here.

 

In the UK, no GMO crops are grown and anything imported has to be clearly labeled as GMO. Austria, Hungary, Greece, and Luxembourg have banned them completely. More bans are under consideration by various countries.

[SammySammy]

I'm not a vegan, but my diet is fairly strict. I'm usually able to find something I can eat in any situation. My family knows about my diet restrictions, but other people generally don't know and I don't make a big deal of it.

[truthtripper]

Yes I can relate. I've been bullied and ridiculed for bringing my own food

[GunslingerRoland]

Like others have said, I don't see why it would be that big of a deal, most restaurants have options for vegan food (as well as gluten free) these days.

 

To be honest though, I can't think of a single person I know who is vegan. It's pretty rare, at least where I live. (beef capital of the world)

[Imported]

Vegans have really stinky farts. I mean, it's really bad. Really bad. I don't want to give examples of what I would stop a vegan girl from doing if she farted, because you'd just be insulted. And I probably wouldn't stop her anyway, but I'd be pretty damn disgusted.