|
Do you have questions about being vegan? Send them
to Jo using this easy form.
She would be happy to address your individual concerns
as well as general inquiries about vegan ethics, philosophy,
practical applications, and living compassionately.
Jo cannot respond to questions about nutrition or
answer questions that have already been addressed in
the Archives
Jo will make every attempt to answer each question
personally, however, due to her schedule, this may not
be possible. If a reply is forthcoming, it could take
up to a few weeks, so please be patient. It is also
possible that your question will be answered directly
in the "Ask Jo!" column rather than an individual
response.
If you'd like to view previous questions Jo has
answered, visit the Ask Jo! Archives.
Veganism
in the Workplace
 I
work in a large office and (as far as I know) am the only
vegan. Any tips for dealing with group lunches? (either
in a restaurant or in a conference room)
Most vegans and vegetarians prefer not
to draw attention to their food choices when dining
among omnivores. Office environments can be especially
awkward, depending on the corporate climate.
If you've worked in the office for any
length of time, chances are your co-workers have already
observed your "unconventional" eating habits, so learning
that you are vegan will probably come as no surprise.
A broad disclosure, however, could lead to undesirable
comments, teasing, goading, or just a slew of questions,
all of which can be distracting or annoying. In addition,
broadcasting personal information in the workplace may
be interpreted as inappropriate and unprofessional.
If you are comfortable talking to the
individual who selects the restaurants or orders food
for your business meetings and conferences, speak with
that person privately and discuss your concerns. It
actually may be quite easy to choose alternatives that
will provide acceptable options for everyone without
singling you out unnecessarily. She or he might even
request your input about what foods to serve at meetings
or which restaurants are vegan friendly. You could mention
that there are probably numerous other employees who
also would be grateful for vegan and vegetarian alternatives,
including people who are simply concerned about eating
more healthfully.
If you are friendly with some of the
other workers who attend these luncheon gatherings,
let them know how much you would appreciate their support.
Suggest they join you occasionally in ordering vegan
items so you don't feel like "the odd one out." If you've
been vegan or vegetarian for a while, you know how omnivores
typically ogle our vegetable plates, pasta dishes and
salads, often dropping comments like, "Ooooh, that looks
delicious. I should have ordered what you're having."
So, it may not be all that difficult to convince a few
others to "come on board," even if it's only for an
intermittent meal or snack.
Some circumstances may require you to
frequent restaurants without being forewarned or without
being given a choice of establishments, and you easily
could be put in a tight spot. Call ahead, if possible,
to find out if any vegan options are already on the
menu, or if the chef could prepare a standard dish without
the nonvegan ingredients or whip up an expressly vegan
creation. Bear in mind that some chefs are overwhelmed
by having to make an out-of-the-ordinary concoction,
particularly at busy lunch or dinner times. On the other
hand, some chefs rise to the occasion and relish the
chance to be inventive. You may have to do a little
educating, since many people have no idea what the term
"vegan" means. If you can speak with the chef directly,
you may have the most success. When you are unable to
call ahead, try to speak with your server discreetly,
away from the table, if necessary, so as not to attract
attention. Ideally, sit among colleagues who know you
are vegan so you can discuss your needs with the waitstaff
more openly.
When worse comes to worse, you can always
order a vegetable salad. You'll need to inquire about
the dressing or ask for oil and vinegar to apply at
the table. Skip the croutons if you have any doubts
(milk products and eggs are sometimes used in bread
dough and croutons are sometimes fried in butter or
dipped in cheese). If there is concern about your co-workers
raising their eyebrows, try to keep your choice and
your ordering low key. It's not necessary to make a
fuss. Even if you're obliged to visit a steak house,
you can generally get a good salad bowl and baked potato
(minus the butter and sour cream, of course).
Salads and other light meals may not
be very satisfying when you're particularly hungry,
so keep a quick snack in your briefcase or desk drawer.
Fresh and dried fruit; fruit leather; crackers; pretzels;
trail mix; instant vegetable broth; fruit juice; soy
and grain milk beverages, nondairy shakes, and amasake
in aseptic containers all make quick, handy snacks when
lunch is on the skimpy side (or whenever the general
munchies strike!).
Sometimes, even the best intentions
fall flat. For instance, the day the whole gang decides
to order in cheese pizza without your knowledge. Instant
soups and grain or bean dishes "in a cup" (the kind
where you only need to add boiling water) are great
for lunch emergencies. In fact, it may be a good idea
to stock up on these. Consider having one BEFORE a lunch
meeting if there's any concern that nothing would be
available for you to eat. This way you won't be going
into an unpredictable situation ravenous.
The office is not a smart place to preach
"the vegan gospel," so be selective in what you say,
how you say it and to whom. Proselytizing is often tempting
but rarely welcome. It's challenging but wise to be
prudent and respectful of your colleagues and the corporate
milieu while honoring your vegan beliefs. I wish you
every success!
Copyright © 1998-2013 by Jo Stepaniak
All rights reserved.
Nothing on this web site may
be reproduced in any way
without express written permission from the copyright
holder.
|
