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

[Enn S]

We're having a family reunion in Turkey this spring break. We'll be eating a lot of traditional food especially since it's Persian New Year (I'm not Turkish--am Persian) and since it's a get-together, all the aunts, uncles and grandparents will be cooking. I've already given my parents a hard time with this here, so should I eat meat there? I don't want to, but I don't want to ruin the trip for everyone. What should I do?

[Karen D]

definetly stay veg. think of the animals is it alright for them to die becuz it is a family reunion. all of us vegges face hard times sometimes but we have to get our priorities strate

[Fl. Guy]

if there are going to be loy of different dishes and you will have different foods to choose from then I don;t see why you need to change your diet.
I don't think it's fair to ask others to cook especialy for you buy you can eat foods that already contains no meat.
You say you have already given your parents a hard time about this. I don't see why it's a problem. As long as there issomething for ou to eat at every meal you should be able to work within their meal plan. I don't think they need to make a vegitarian main course just because you have decided not to eat meat.

[Knotty Tangerine]

Well first it depends on why you are a vegetarian - if it is for moral purposes you would be basically being hypocritical when it comes to them as you would not be honoring your own moral compass. That is a personal decision.

However, I don't see how you not eating meat should be giving your parents a hard time. It is very easy to find the nutrients you need with no meat. If your parents are making a meat item you should take it upon yourself to eat a non meat item and not make your decision a problem for your parents. It is your choice and it shouldn't be an inconvenience for anyone but you is all I'm saying.

[Alana Acidic]

I know how you feel. I have friends that are Italian, and meat is a big part of their culture too.
I'm sure that if you explain to them why you don't eat meat they will be very understanding. It's your choice, and they should be supportive of that. Besides, how hard is it to remove the meat from a meal, or just cook a meal without it? You're not going to ruin the trip by having different eating requirements. Most people have different dietry needs anyhow-whether it's an ingredient you don't like, or that you have diabeties. What makes not eating meat so different?
Stick with Vegetarianisim. It'll be harder to go back to not eating meat if you implement it into your diet just for the sake of a few other people.
Goodluck!

[wahoo10001]

Sure It isnt like your soul will be condemned if you don't

[alexa]

How will that ruin the trip for anyone? I wouldn't eat the meat there. Maybe ask for salads or something else? Not every dish there would have to contain meat. Maybe make a request to the grandparents and aunts and uncles to make something like rice, or a small dish in which they would leave the meat out of it. You shouldn't have to compramise your beliefs for theirs, and vice versa. It's also a chance to educate that half of your family on dishes that are vegetarian yet still have a persian touch to it. Bring a few dishes that you've made and share it with the family.

[Kimberley W]

here is what you so:

1)eat meat for the first meal,
2)then pretend to be sick
3)tell mthem that meat is just not feeling right with you
4)okay, now you have the chance to not eat meat
5)Plus, tell the people that are making food that you can help them make a side dish of something

you do not have to be rude. plus, if you have not eaten meat, your body may actually reject the meat! -

GOOD LUCK!

[ouragon]

If you feel that you can, you should. It is SUCH a pain to try to accommodate people's diets in a group setting. If you just can't do it, try to keep it to yourself and just select from what's offered. Everyone will be so much more relaxed.

[BDOLE]

You should do what you feel is right. Personally, I would suggest you compromise. Go after the dishes without meat as much as you can. Take a little bit of meat if someone says something, but if there's a large spread of food, you can probably get away with enjoying things without meat since there's so much good food to choose from.

If you really want to get away from meat as much as possible, you could say that you haven't eaten meat in a while and it doesn't sit very well these days. That may be true by now, it would be a relatively unusual food for you if you've been vegetarian for very long.

Choose whatever you feel is most important to you though. Your family still loves you, even if you have disagreements.