1 - nothing to eat.
That almost never happens.
Oh, this can totally happen. You're not hanging out with the right people,
@Lou ...This would happen at any holiday event where I work, if I were not to mention anything in advance. And it happens
all the time with my son's dad's family. When I first was introduced to these people, my SILs to-be were very concerned about there being something for me to eat. As the years went by they just stopped altogether. One holiday even (NYE/Xmas/can't remember) there wasn't any type of vegetable dish that did not have meat in it. There wasn't even a salad! Even the mashed potatoes had bacon in it (I was pescatarian at the time). I learned to bring my own food, as I'm now having to tell my son to do, as he's experienced the same thing on multiple occasions (he's 16). (And literally everyone is either overweight or has a heart problem, or is no longer alive - due to diet-preventable diseases. It boggles the mind.)
There are as many different ways of dealing with this as there are people in the world and we each should handle it in a way that keeps us on track, comfortable with our decisions and respectful of those around us.
Very true. And, I might add, an equal number of varying moods.
I will say this, though, there is a bonus in making a special request in advance, if you are feeling up to it. Last time I did, I discovered someone else also got the "special sandwich" and everyone was asking us "Oooh, what are you eating?? It looks good!" And I'm super glad then that I did ask, because there was a pasta with marinara sauce and no cheese but it wasn't very good and the chickpea sandwich I did get was
super good. At least a couple of people were admiring what we were eating... Who knows - they might think to ask for it next time. The fact that we're out there (when we choose to be), eating something yummy and different (and looking great doing it
), plants a seed. And more people thinking about meals without animal flesh increases demand, which is a good thing.