Well, it’s that time of the year again. Summer is in full swing and the heat is on. Kids are riding their bikes and running through sprinklers. People are wearing less and staying up later to watch the sunset. Everyday feels like the weekend, but of course, most of us still have to go to work. But when the weekend rolls around, I only have three letters for you; BBQ!
Now, I know what you are thinking. How can you have fun at a BBQ when you can’t eat anything? You are a vegetarian. Now, I must admit, I have gone to many of BBQs where I had to bring my own Boca burgers or was relegated to eating chips and salsa because that was the only thing that didn’t have meat in it. But I’m here to tell you, that you can have a fabulous meat-free BBQ and here’s how.
1. Make sure that you have good music. Variety is the spice of life.
Sure, you may like Britney Spears, but unless your guests are 12 and under, have something else to play too. It’s nice to have some tunes to groove to, but make sure you have some tunes you can chill to as well. I personally like Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding. But I like Black-Eyed Peas and Lady Ga Ga too. So have a nice blend of music and throw some Michael Jackson in there as well. He was and always will be the King of Pop.
2. Have some games that all ages can enjoy.
When I was younger, there was nothing worse than going to a BBQ that did not take in consideration that everyone attending would not be an adult. While it is good to have card games for the adults, have some board games for the kids. Also, don’t get tied down to Parker Brothers. Get up and play some hide and seek or slip and slide. Allow yourself to be a kid again.
3. If alcohol is an issue, don’t serve.
Now I know for some people this one is hard because sometimes having a nice cold one on a hot summer day is just what the doctor ordered. However, if you know that your brother-in-law, cousin, friend, or whatever acts like a complete ass and the police have to be called every time they have a drop of liquor in them, then refrain from having alcohol at your BBQ. Nothing ruins a party quicker than people acting a fool and bringing your property value down.
4. Fresh fruit is so nice, especially blended.
Nothing is tastier then a nice fruit smoothie. While you should have a fruit stray out with strawberries, oranges, grapes, pears, etc, make sure you have a fruit table and a blender set up to make drinks. All you need is ice, fruit, Splenda, and your imagination. This will make people forget that there is no beer at the party.
5. You can grill more than Boca burgers.
Vegetarian food has come a long way. You can now grill burgers, hotdogs, and chicken that are all meat-free. Now, not everyone is a vegan and some vegetarians do eat chicken and turkey. If that is the case, you can also have turkey hot dogs, turkey burgers, and CHICKEN!
Bottom line, have fun and enjoy the company of family and friends. Everything taste the same with BBQ sauce!
Tags: BBQ, vegetarian
Good article- although I might hold back on the Splenda (Zeiva(sp?) is a better alternative).
LSMizaria, I would have to agree with you on that one. And it is spelled zuiva. I just looked it up. Thanks for the comment.
Loved the article, except the part about vegetarians eating chicken and turkey. I think there is some other term for those that eat only one type of meat. Flexitarians is one, but there’s another one. Saying that some vegetarians eat chicken and turkey could just lead to the confusion non-vege people sometimes have about what a vegetarian/vegan eats and doesn’t eat.
And you don’t have to serve fake-outs for vegetarians. I personally like grilled veggie shish kebabs for a BBQ. Fruit ones also make a wonderful dessert!
I think the best advice is to ask what people eat (or don’t eat), just like you’d ask about food allergies.
Tigress, while I appreciate your points, I must point out to you that there are many different types of vegetarians. Below, I have listed a few and there differences. I try to gear my articles to include as many people as possible to encourage unity within the community. In my first issue, I discussed this very topic.
1. Pescatarian (also spelled pescetarian)
The word “pescatarian” is occasionally used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. Although the word is not commonly used, more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.
2. Flexitarian/Semi-vegetarian
You don’t have to be vegetarian to love vegetarian food! “Flexitarian” is a term recently coined to describe those who eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but occasionally eat meat.
3. Vegetarian (Lacto-ovo- vegetarian)
When most people think of vegetarians, they think of lacto-ovo-vegetarians. People who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products are lacto-ovo vegetarians (“lacto” comes from the Latin for milk, and “ovo” for egg).
Lacto-vegetarian is used to describe a vegetarian who does not eat eggs, but does eat dairy products.
Ovo-vegetarian refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs.
4. Vegan
Vegans do not eat meat of any kind and also do not eat eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin. Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products that may not contain animal products in the finished process, such as sugar and some wines. There is some debate as to whether certain foods, such as honey, fit into a vegan diet.
5. Raw vegan/Raw food diet
A raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). “Raw foodists” believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost a significant amount of their nutritional value and are harmful to the body.
6. Macrobiotic
The macrobiotic diet, revered by some for its healthy and healing qualities, includes unprocessed vegan foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and allows the occasional consumption of fish. Sugar and refined oils are avoided. Perhaps the most unique qualifier of the macrobiotic diet is its emphasis on the consumption of Asian vegetables, such as daikon, and sea vegetables, such as seaweed
And I do agree, grilled veggies are nice!
Delia, thanks for replying! I think you might’ve misunderstood what I meant in my original reply. I am aware of the different classifications of reduced meat and/or animal product consumption, I have had to explain them to friends, family and random strangers numerous times. And I understand that this is meant to be something for all.
But all I was trying is the same distinction you have in you reply and that is that #3 on your list is a vegetarian diet. The others are they’re own distinct diets and that this separation might make it easier when a vegetarian like me goes to a restaurant. Because the first 3 are all considered “vegetarian” it does get confusing for non-vege when they assume that all vegetarians eat fish for example. When it happens to me and I explain that I don’t eat fish (or any type of meat), they smile and nod and say “Oh, so you’re a vegan!”
So all I was saying is that the distinction between Pescatarians, Flexitarians/Semi-vege and Vegetarians as well as the others is not only helpful for us, but for those that aren’t any of the above. Especially restaurants that may list something as vegetarian friendly when it contains fish or chicken stock. That’s all
Tigress, I understand completely what you are saying. Thanks for commenting and I will be me conscience of these things in my next article