Tips for eating healthy at family/friends houses?

Question

Okay, so, Ive recently converted to being a vegan (I started with a couple months of being a vegetarian and then finally converted to veganism). The only problem is that I find it extremely hard to eat at my friends and familys home. My friends and family are the kind of people who sit around all day and eat chips and [unhealthy] microwave meals instead of snacking on fruits and veggies all day (like I do).

Because of this, Ive shyed away from going to their houses even though I really enjoy hanging out with them. How can I hang with them without having to join their unhealthy habits?

* Dont say them come to my house cause my parents work alot and I cant have them over unless my parents are home.

* Also, dont say bring your own food cause Ive tried and they get SOO offended.

Answer 1

Either explain to them why you'd rather eat what you like, or sacrifice yourself for them. It's not like you're gonna start living with them and have to start eating like them from now on. You also don't have to eat everything they have. You can always say that the last time you ate it, you got sick and don't wanna risk it right now. You can also find ways to hang out with them that don't involve eating. I think it's kind of rude that they get offended when you bring your own food but you can't be offended when they can't respect your own habits. It's their house but it's your body and while they choose what goes in their house, you choose what goes into your body. If they don't understand this, then maybe you'll have to deal with being home and doing other stuff to stay busy.

Answer 2

Well the only thing I can tell you is to bring your own food. Tell them it offends you that there is nothing to eat, and that you are a guest.

If nothing else, eat before you go over, and calmy decline if you are offered something not vegan.

Congrats by the way! Good luck!

Answer 3

eat before u go that is what i do then you can honestly say u are not that hungry they dont need to know u ate before u came

Answer 4

maybe it offend them when you bring your own food for yourself. bring a nice, large platter of healthy food (turkey wraps, veggies and dip, tuna sandwiches etc.) for everybody to share. personally, somebody bringing food to my house that they took enough time and care to prepare by themselves is a gesture of thoughtfulness, not offensiveness.

Answer 5

If your friends are offended by you bringing your own food, you could try nicely explaining to them why you can't eat the things they have.  Something like "I don't want my food restrictions to interfere with us spending time together."

Answer 6

my friend is vegan and she always eats at home before going to someone's house

Answer 7

I always eat ahead of time or bring my own food. I know you said that bringing your own food offends them, but tell them that you appreciate them inviting you over and cooking a nice meal, but you don't eat any animal products so you can't eat any of the food they made.

Answer 8

well bringing your own food is probably the least offensive and most easy to do of all options (telling them to change their eating habits is a lot higher on the offense list!)

how about making some stuff you can share with them instead of just bringing food for yourself?  you could make a bean salsa dip and bring some cut up veggies adn pretzels (and chips if you want) to dip in it... it's "healthy" but also "fun" so they might go for it.  i make a layered dip using fat free refried beans, then fat free sour cream, then salsa, lettuce, and cheese on top and people LOVE it.

or how about hummus and pita and veggies or pretzels or something?  a lot of people love hummus and there's tons of flavors and you can get the pita chips instead of pita to make it more "snack-ish"

suggest making tacos/burritos... it's a simple, "fun" food that all can eat.... use the veggie "soy" ground meat (or beans, but they're more likely i'm guessing going to enjoy the "meat" version) and anything else you'd put in a taco... cheese, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, whatever!

eat before you go over.... and you know what, if you bring your own food and it insults them so what, they shouldn't be offended by what your putting in your mouth so long as your not forcing it in theirs!

Answer 9

Different situation, but I faced this with my son's hyperactivity.

People got offended but we had to persist, because he was manic otherwise ! I also get it with my MOL who insists of feeding junk to my kids. So I sympathise.

Make something delicious andvegan to share with them.

When I do buffets for mixed diets a favourite with vegans & omnivours is big tomatoes stuffed with thinks like hummous, avacodo mixes, mushrooms, and other similat things depending on my mood

Agar Agar jellies with fruits in them flavour the jelly with natural fruit juice. Savoury jellies with veg or salad.

In winter thick filling veg soups.

All these are generally well  received to SHARE with omnivour & vegan friends alike.

Don't go for a pile of plain veg, to an omnivour that is simply scary, excite their taste buds ;)

Answer 10

Well, is the only thing you do at their houses, eat? All you do is sit around and eat?  Why don't you eat your healthy food before you go over and politely say no thank you to the chips and frozen meals.  You can say you arent hungry or tell them you already ate at your house!  If they are your friends, they should understand and respect your choice of living a healthy lifestyle.  Explain that to them.