What do you do? I have well meaning family members who prepare "vegetarian" meals made with chicken broth, lard and cheese. I feel obligated to eat them! When I went veg, I told my mom and MIL NOT change their meals plans because of me, but being the sweethearts that they are, they try! How do I gracefully bring my own food? My 10 year old DD hates that I exclude myself-I have tried to explain to her the resons why I am a veg without being gruesome. (Maybe I need to tell her how animals are treated?) I would like my entire family to be veg but already my diet choices are frowned upon by my FIL in particular. His reasoning is that you pull a plant from the groung, killing it so you can eat it. Why not eat anything? I see his point but...I haven't the time to explain...Any ideas? Advice? Same experiences??

I try to politely let family mambers know exactly what I do and don't eat. It's probably a bit easier for me because I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian. I don't think its rude to ask if something has chicken broth in it, and not eat it if it does. Sometimes I offer to bring a dish to contribute to the meal. Not a special one for myself, but one I can eat and share with everyone. Otherwise, I eat something beforehand so I won't be starving and then make sure to eat plenty of whatever veggie stuff there is, even if it's iceberg lettuce and overcooked frozen vegetables. If anything I'm served is remotely good, I make a point of raving about it. There are sure to be some akward moments at first, but it gets easier as time goes on and relatives get used to the idea and learn which foods are ok and which are not. Hth.