The following entry is a guest post from Samantha who blogs at Novel Eats. If you want to guest-post, just shoot me an email, via my contact form above. Enjoy Samantha’s post!
I recently started a new job. It’s challenging in so many ways, not least of which is me having to tell (some) people that I’m vegan. It usually happens when I’m confronted with catered meals or birthday parties. I realize I don’t have to tell people, and I admit that I am not a religious vegan (I’ll occasionally eat foods with dairy or eggs, if nothing else is available to eat). At the same time, though, I do feel almost obligated to tell because otherwise it means I’ll go hungry or I’ll eat something I’d rather not.
So how can you make being vegan easier on yourself and others?
Here are a few suggestions that may help us new employees:
- If you know that a meal will be catered talk to the person who is ordering the food. Ask them if you can look at the menu and choose at least one item that is vegan or vegetarian. If you cannot do that ask them if they will consider getting something that doesn’t have meat or any other animal products in it.
- Always keep standby snacks or vegan meals at your desk. This has come in handy for me at several of my jobs.
- I often have people comment on how good my food smells as I am warming it up in the kitchen. This may be a good opportunity to let them know what it is and that it is vegan or vegetarian.
I don’t always enjoy talking about my diet with other people; it’s nice to be able to eat in peace without having to discuss my history of veganism. But if you can get people to consider your dietary needs when they are making something or ordering food, you won’t have to go hungry or feel like you have to eat what is set in front of you.
My bonus tip to you is to make a vegan dessert or vegetarian dish and take it in to work. Only after you’ve gotten rave reviews and requests for the recipe should you say what it is. There are quite a few great recipes on my own website, I recommend trying my vegan peanut butter chocolate cheesecake.
It will make you and your co-workers forget about those work-related challenges.
Hi—-Samantha:
Love your guest post, it is a topic many vegetarians (and/ or vegans) can relate to. I work from home now, but have had offline jobs.
Yes, it is an experience when you have to declare yourself a veggie at work, since there are still many who don’t know what a vegetarian is, or eats. I have been asked all sorts of wacky questions, like “How do you survive on only salads”. Another good one is, “What on Earth do you eat, if you don’t eat meat”.
LOL. I could go on, but wont. Congrats on your new job! and that vegan choco recipe looks awesome.
Missy.
I think most people these days are more familiar with vegetarianism and know or have been around others that don’t eat meat. My co-workers go out of their way to accommodate my diet whenever we have something catered, attend a conference, or go out to lunch and they also enjoy when I introduce them on to something new and different.
Kenny’s last blog post..Rainy, Cool, and Cloudy: Veggie Transplanting Time
In my case my company doesn’t seem to consider the vegetarians or vegans in the group, even though we have a few. I think there’s still this idea that the person with the dietary restrictions should be the one that is inconvenienced. But what most people don’t realize is that just by simply not mixing all the ingredients together (like for example with a salad, keep the diced chicken separate) it can make it easy for everyone and not inconvenience anyone. I think that if the company is going to cater an event, they should try and accommodate as much as they can.
Hi—-Kenny:
I’m glad your experience has been positive, you must work in a more progressive type environment, good for you. Im always abit taken aback, when i come across someone who is baffled by vegetarianism.
It does still happen, now and then.
In fact, it happened to me last weekend, when i visited a nearby casino operation. In their buffet restaurant, they had an omelet station, the omelet cook gave me a double take, when i exclaimed, “please no meat”. She gave me THE LOOK, like, it was just plain weird. She proceeded to ask me what i eat, how long i have been a veggie, etc. She was cordial and did prepare me a fantastic tomato and mushroom omelet. It was delish!
Thanxs for your input and visit.
Hi—-Matt:
I hear ya on the ingredient mixing, that can be an inconvenience. I would say generally speaking, many office cafeterias do a decent job of accommodating different diets. But it can always improve, right.
Do come again. Thanxs for your workplace diet comment.
Anyone else, care to share on their office food blues? Leave a comment below. Missy.
This is a very difficult subject. I am not sure that I would feel too comfortable about trying to get my work to always order something without meat.
I tend to bring my lunch. This way I don’t have to impose my eating habits on others.
Hi—-Fred:
I don’t see it as imposing, to assert oneself and create some awareness on the different diets that exist. Not everyone eats meat, and not everyone eats the same thing, etc.
I love that you came by and shared your opinion. Do visit again, we promise not to bite!
Missy.
Hi, Missy:
I am Patrick, and I am running a website, VegTomato, http://www.vegtomato.org/, dedicated to advocate vegetarianism/veganism in Chinese community. I am reading your blog for a time, like it very much. Today, just found this inspiring post and I am wondering if I can have your permission to use it, including the photo, and translate it into Chinese, and post in my website so as to help people who have the same problem in the workplace? I will link back and credit it to the author.
Best,
Patrick
I have often been questioned about my vegan eating and I always look to pounce (for lack of a better term) upon the chance to discuss the benefit of a vegan diet,as well as a heallthy lifestyle overall with the person that inquires.
I see it as a great chance to talk to someone that is already curious…of course I am not to pushy, but this is a great chance to help educate someone …and the end result could be there adding years to their life.
NatureDoc
I admire you for being a vegetarian. Not many people can do that~ eating only healthy food.