This page originally appeared last Fall. I was inspired to write it after a conversation with my boyfriend. As I have mentioned, I left my corporate job recently and on my last day, my team had a going away lunch for me. As the only vegan at the table, the topic of cooking for vegetarians and vegans came up. I think it is fitting to repost this as the It’s Easy Being Vegan audience has grown quite a bit since Fall.
When do you think “so and so” is going to invite us for dinner, B asked while cooking vegan mac & cheese.
You’re going to have to get a new girlfriend before that’s going to happen, I said.
You see, we like to entertain and invite friends over for dinner. I enjoy cooking for omnivores. Not one has ever left my table unsatisfied. One or two may have left a bit confused though. (Seitan?) Entertaining omnivores is a form of activism. It’s my favorite way to educate others about vegan food. I certainly don’t expect reciprocal invitations. On the other hand, I don’t want my being vegan to stop others from inviting us to dinner.
Vegan cooking stumps many omnivores, especially if they don’t spend much time in the kitchen. I get it, but there is no reason to be puzzled by vegan food. It may not be as simple as removing the animal products from a recipe. Some ingredients need to be replaced with a vegan option to make a recipe work, but it can be easy. One recent guest in particular seemed rather perplexed by the thought of cooking vegan food. This is why I told my boyfriend he would need to get a new girlfriend if he ever wanted an invitation to “so-and-so’s” house for dinner.
Then I felt bad, because he loves to socialize. I want to do my part to educate omnivores, so they will invite vegans everywhere to dinner. Plus, I don’t want my boyfriend fiance to get a new girlfriend!
The Vegan Girl Next Door See what vegans eat…
