Living Vegan For Dummies - Alexandra Jamieson [122]
Little party animals: Helping your vegan kid enjoy the event
When kids are younger and haven’t been exposed to a lot of party food, you can easily steer them away from junk food and sugary desserts. As they get older, however, they develop lightning-fast radar to zero in on the cakes, candy, and snacks being offered. Get prepared before the event to help ensure an easier feast.
Sometimes you just have to say no to a food that your little vegan wants, but if you’re honest with her from the beginning, the conversation should be easier. Explain why you don’t eat milk, dairy, and meat. Talk with your child about how cow’s milk, eggs, and other meats require that an animal be hurt or killed. If your child makes an emotional connection with animals, she won’t want to eat food made from them. (Chapter 22 provides more information about raising vegan kids.)
Here are some tips for making parties more fun for your vegan kid:
Touch base with the party giver and ask whether any vegan options will be served. If not, offer to bring a couple of dishes that go with the party theme that your child can enjoy and share. For example, if the party will have chocolate cake and pigs-in-blankets, make a vegan chocolate cake and tofu pups wrapped in vegan pastry dough. You can then all enjoy the party and your kid won’t feel left out.
Fill up on favorites before the party. Eat some delicious food before leaving, and talk about the food that your kid can eat at the party. Offering a favorite menu before the party encourages your kid to fill up on healthier foods, making her less hungry when you arrive at the event.
Sneak in snacks. Take something your family loves to snack on in case enough filling options aren’t being offered. Simple rice milk boxes, vegan cookies, and a vegan deli meat wrap can save the day.
Celebrate! Build up the fun activities and games to participate in, the friends to play with, and the meaning of the party to the host. This is a chance to really enjoy a fun time together and share a special moment with friends.
Fancy functions: Weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and galas
Attending a big blast gives you a chance to break out your hottest vegan duds. And showing off your vegan etiquette ensures that you’ll be asked to the next elegant event. As with any event, standard rules apply for every guest.
Be sure to act as politely as possible in every interaction with the hosts, staff, party planners, and other guests. Sending a handwritten thank-you card to the host within a few days of the event is good etiquette. If the person who invited you made a special effort to provide you with vegan food, be sure to thank him specifically for his consideration. Good behavior gives all vegans a good name!
In the following sections, I provide advice for enjoying all types of fetes, from small events to grand affairs.
Small events
Cocktail parties often present a vegan dilemma. Passed hors d’oeuvres are often heavy with meat or dairy, and it isn’t easy to bring your own vegan recipes to a swanky cocktail party. So be sure to eat something substantial before attending.
Often held in the evening before dinner, cocktail parties can challenge a vegan’s alcohol capacity. Imbibing booze on an empty stomach can lead to tummy trouble and drunken party fouls. If you don’t have time to eat a light meal before attending, only drink nonalcoholic beverages like juice mixed with soda water.
When attending a cocktail party in someone’s home, be kind and polite to the staff. They may be hired for this specific event, or they may be regular employees of the host. Rather than making special food requests of the staff, speak with the person throwing the party well in advance.
Buffet brouhaha
Buffet events, including weddings and award ceremonies, sometimes offer vegetarian options. These dishes could be made vegan if you avoid the egg or dairy, but sometimes those ingredients are completely mixed in.
When you know you’ll be attending an event with a buffet, contact the party planner or host to ask whether