1. Call ahead. If you’re going to a close friend or family member’s house for dinner or some other event at which you’d like to eat, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone in advance and talk to your host. Let her know about your (new) dietary requirements, and find out what’s on the menu. Offer to bring a veggie dish or arrive early to help ease the preparation burden. Ask Grandma if she’d be willing to help you make a veggie version of her award-winning stuffing. You might be surprised how accommodating people who love you can be.
2. Bring your own. Know that egg nog and Christmas cookies will be featured at tonight’s party, but you’ve recently sworn off eggs and butter? Bring along some vegan eggnog and cookies, or other treats that will make you smile.
3. Let them know. Heading to an office party? Call up the person organizing and let the know that a vegetarian (or more, if you’ve got some veggie coworkers) will be in attendance. It’s usually easy for caterers or restaurants to accommodate vegetarians if they know about it ahead of time.
4. Don’t stuff yourself silly on the first vegetarian food that you encounter. At a party, take time to survey the food on offer and decide what you really want to eat, rather than mindlessly chopping away on the nearest bowl of chips and dip. Personally I hate it when I fill up on a bunch of empty calories that I don’t even get much pleasure out of. I feel much better about myself if I do my mindless noshing on carrot and celery sticks from the crudite platter, and then splurge on the items that I really, really love (like almond rocha or something really really chocolaty).
5. Make sure you get plenty of treats. Don’t leave yourself feeling left out while everyone around you gorges themselves on holiday goodies. Are your old traditional favorites now off-limits? Start your own holiday traditions by ordering some heavenly vegan chocolates, trying a new restaurant, or whipping up a decadent new main dish that appeals to you.

What are your favorite vegetarian holiday treats?

Post from: Blisstree

5 tips for having a happy vegetarian holiday season