Now that I am willing to learn to pipe up, what is the absolute most polite way to say it?
"I'm a vegetarian" or "I don't eat meat" both sound fine to me.
It was drilled into me by my grandfather that when you're a guest in someone's home, it's nothing but rude to ask for anything special.
I think it's rude if you wait until the food is on the table (or later), but as long as you let the host know before s/he goes grocery shopping you're doing them a favor. "I'd love to come to dinner. By the way, I'm a vegetarian. Is there anything I can bring?"
Thanks so much for the invitation, I would love to come! I hate to inconvenience you, but I just wanted you to know that [insert dietary restriction or hatred here]. I'm really looking forward to it!
This. This is pretty much what Pete and I say. (He can't deal with nitrites, which means that unless he knows for sure, he can't have bacon, sausage, or ham. Brunch can sometimes be a very sad meal for him.)
Note: I make sure to have nitrite-free foods for Pete.
Forgot to add him to the list of "people whose food issues I have on speed dial in my brain."
I am imagining Brenda's friends as People of the Carbs. (Plus Occasional Chicken.)
How do you LIVE without vegetables? Vegetables are good, people! I like almost all of them!
Yeah, I don't even know. When the onion in a cheddar onion brat is enough to put it off limits? (To be clear, A eats veggies like a normal person. It's just her husband who is wacky about it.)
To which a good host says "thank you for letting me know". Not knowing about a guest's food restrictions ruins the evening for me as well, because it makes me feel like I haven't been a good host because my guest isn't enjoying themselves. Plus, as a general rule, I usually have several thoughts for dishes, and it would be easy to make something vegetarian, or without cheese or pork or whatever.
I sometimes ask if the menu is already selected. I do live in TX and I don;t eat red meat or pork. At some BBQ places, that leaves me with a side of pickles and slaw for dinner. The other thing I sometimes do if I am going to a party, I just eat a big protein lunch and then don't mind if I just have sides at the event.
Thanks so much for the invitation, I would love to come! I hate to inconvenience you, but I just wanted you to know that [insert dietary restriction or hatred here]. I'm really looking forward to it!
Perfect. And generally wording I'd use anyway once I make the decisions to use the words!!
Yeah, with good friends, it's not an issue. But with neighbors inviting me over for the first time, or with colleagues (from another department - my own department knows me quite well and we even go to dim sum together!) or acquaintances, that's when I am very shy. I don't know if shy is the right word, but it's the closest thing I can come to.
Did you find out what her schedule is like?
I wish I could go all stalker/creeper on her, but really my schedule is inflexible more than anything else. I have to go in at the last possible moment that means I can drive into work at the start of the work week.
I try at least to suck up so that fewer nurses run away from me when it becomes apparent I need an IV. That's the best I can do.
Vegetables are good, people! I like almost all of them!
Ick. Gross.
But I will eat them when served.
My thing is eggs. I'm not allergic, I'm not going to say. I am strongly intolerant to the smell and flavour, and it makes me want to hurl. Luckily it doesn't come up much.
He can't deal with nitrites, which means that unless he knows for sure, he can't have bacon, sausage, or ham. Brunch can sometimes be a very sad meal for him.
That's sad. I can at least handle bacon-level of nitrites, although I try and only buy the nitrite-free stuff for home. However, somewhere I read there's not really any such thing. What's marketed as nitrite-free just means none have been added specifically.
