Monday 9 May 2016

When people don't understand the word VEGAN

Aloha my beautiful vegan friends

So today was a frigging hard day to be vegan. It was a very big birthday for a family member and their choice of restaurant was a portugease place that mainly served steak. I went with low expectations, anxiety and dread. And to be honest I was not wrong. I got served crab as a starter. They said it was meat and dairy free. I wanted to cry when that was put in front of me. I asked for an alternative starter.  I got given a bowl with spinach in. I was shocked that this was even considered respectable.my family laughed..that's what you get for being fussy..I wanted the earth to swollow me up.

As you can imagine I dreaded my mains. I was angry and trying to laugh through it..but ultimately I was extremely upset that this was my dining experience and that everyone found it funny.

However, I think the waiter gathered my sher shock and upped the game slightly for my main course. I had veg and rice. Still not a great meal for the price..but Atleast it wasn't a bowl of blooming spinach..that was until they came out with more of the stuff to add to my plate. Atleast this time it wasn't crab..but still..I must've said...I ONLY EAT PLANTS about 15 times.

Dessert was fruit salad..which was nice enough.  But overall I left the meal feeling upset and angry, 1. Because people found my struggle funny and 2. The lack of understanding of a plant based diet. I'm hoping that if anything the restaurant has learnt that they need to cater to all lifestyle and dietary needs.
The meal ultimately wasn't about me..it was about a person I love dearly celebrating their birthday so I kinda put up with it, however I still don't think it's acceptable on any level to serve a bowl of spinach as a starter. To conclude though..

Tonight was a bloody hard night to be a vegan. ..

Hopefully next time we go for a meal I can either be anti social and bring my own food..or the place will make me a good meal.
I'm not letting this crappy experience stop me from being vegan. It's a inconvenience for me..but the slaughter of a beautiful cow for a greedy steak in someone's face, is a bigger, much worse price to pay and if it means I have the odd shit meal..then so be it. I didn't hurt a cow..I didn't partake in a cycle of death,pain or suffering and I hopefully made a restaurant slightly less ignorant.

Keep fighting the good fight vegans

Much love

VeganRibs

Xxx

Dating and veganism

Aloha Vegans

Today's blog has a slightly different tone..I'm actually going to discuss something! Shocking I know as this blog mainly consists of life updates, festivals and food porn!  Hah anyways..so I've been thinking about this topic for a while.
So until nowish I've been single for around 2 years, before then I came out of a long term relationship with an Omni (who randomly did veganism for a few weeks when we split up??) ..he ate meat..I was veggie. ..we ate some meals together but mostly cooked our meals separately. It was never an issue. .he would order chicken curry, I'd order veg, it worked and was never really something I particularly thought about. The simplicity of being vegetarian kinda never made me stop and reflect or really see his omni ways as a problem. It was normal...id sub meat for quorn..it just sort of worked...it was hassle..but it worked. We split up in the end (not due to diet..other reasons ha) and about 6 months later I became a legend of a vegan. I changed my entire purpose of being, my hobbies, my washing powder and ultimately my friendship groups. I put my life into the vegan community, a very welcome distraction from being sad about stuff..a new support network and ultimately doing something possitive. Veganism took over my life in a very positive  (slightly preachy at times) way. I didn't even think about dating..i was busy..vegan life was everything.

Last year I felt that I was ready to date again, having spent a lot of time alone, throwing myself into vegan life and jobs and partying I finally started looking for some sort of relationship . I dated omni guys and it was strange, it affected me, I sat with people as they chewed on flesh and cheese and then I'd kiss them and I just thought..ewww..this is awful. The guys I dated did try embrace it, one guy even learnt how to make vegan brownies from this blog for his work colleagues, that was sweet. However i still had stupidly long conversations with guys about why I was vegan, why I chose to live my life how I do. Questioning me, saying bacon, telling me how they would never do it, why I wouldn't make a difference and taking me on dates to nandos.
 I figured after a while that the importance of my lifestyle stretched to every aspect of my being, including dating. I took a brake..I left the game and decided that a nice vegan guy didn't exist. I went on vegan dating sites. .Fb groups..did the lot. .not one vegan out there for me. I guess I really cut down the guys I could date. ..I was now one of those folk who had to date someone who understood and thought like me...who didnt judge me or immediately call me fussy or an inconvienience. So low and behold..I gave up on dating all together.

A few weeks ago however. .I decided to use some apps for dating, I felt settled in my job, my labyrinthitus was a lot better and I really felt the gap of not having someone. I decided to be open in my search, however..as soon as I mentioned the dirty v Word I would immediately feel embarrassed an ultimately like a preachy vegan...but i felt that it had to be said.
Randomly one night I swiped right on a cute bearded guy. ..he was a Veggy. .his Facebook cover pic included a line of chocolate soya milk cartons and I swooned. Turns out he grew up vegan. .but now eats some cheese. Not vegan..but deffo not an Omni.  He didn't judge me..didn't make bacon jokes and proceeded to share his love of falafel and hummus with me. Cooking food became easy..ordering takeout became easy and for once I am with someone who respects my views and my lifestyle.
He eats vegan with me and it's epic. I never thought I'd date someone who didn't panic about it..who actually suggests places I can eat, what booze I can get hammered on and who brings me tofu when I'm Hungover. Yes he's not vegan fully..but he gets it and that is lush. I am lucky..and for the first time in 2 years not single.
Dating as a vegan has been a challenge. .people sending me shit On tinder for it..people taking me to chicken restaurants..but finally I've met someone who cooks me nutroast. What I'm trying to say is...that dating is hard. .but..if I can get lucky and meet someone supportive. .then..the world is your avaccado. ..nice people exist. .and when you find them..it's epic!!
#soppylovedupvegan

Much love

VeganRibs

Xxx