Should I give up my vegetarianism for a couple of weeks during my family reunion?

[maggie]

Do what is culturally acceptable if there is just no vegetarian option available. Whatever the traditions are, try to follow them, but also think about it - can you help out in the kitchen, prepare stuff? Does your family typically have anything vegetarian or does everything have meat in it? I'm sure there'll be a way to avoid eating meat. But hypothetically, in extreme conditions when all the food does have meat, don't starve or go hungry, and don't offend those that cook for you there, if there's just no option. I mean, what can you do?

Frankly most people ate meat for YEARS and years before becoming vegetarian, so a brief period of eating meat doesn't invalidate their beliefs or the fact that they want to be vegetarian in the long run. When you come back, be vegetarian again. There's been a few points in my life where I didn't really have a choice either and had meat, it hasn't happened in a few years now but there have been such times.

[kelsey]

No. Just eat the alternatives you can find that are there. If you have to, turn the vegetarian side-dishes into entrees for your self. Distant family members will respect a vegetarian. Plus, if you eat meat there, your parents will have an argument for you to eat meat again.