2 questions: Peanut butter is O.K. for dogs? - and, are picky items O.K. at potlucks?

[UTUSN]

Context for question #2: There was this uptight, ex-NUN (yes/ex-NUN) who was an invitee to a dinner, which consisted of casserole containing meat, and she announced that she was a vegetarian. And there was no other featured item on the menu, and she proceeded to pick out any pieces of meat on her plate.

I realize that there are different levels of veggie-ism - totally NO meat, or NO animal products (cheese/eggs) - such that there were still meat juices in what she was picking out. But is there SCREENING that needs to be done when things are being planned?

*** This is inspired by the thread about potluck beginning with name/letter. What about FIBER ("f" ). Well, my name ain't "Fiber" but am relating the topics.


***ON EDIT: Answering a couple of points here to not kick the thread. I used "potluck" in error, my intention being a hosted thing with meal provided, not pot luck where everybody contributes items. And in my case it would be a totally informal context, no invitations beyond come-on-over or get-together-my-place, which is to say no in depth planning about dietary restrictions, no hard copy invitation with RSVP opportunity to specify restrictions.

[Unwind Your Mind]

1. Peanut butter is ok for dogs

Just make sure it doesn’t have that fake sugar crap in it.

[UTUSN]

3. Thanks (although it's a done deal already) !1

[hlthe2b]

12. Yes. NATURAL Peanuts only Peanut butter is ok in moderation (it is highly caloric) EXCEPT

in a minority of dogs with a food sensitivity to it... That is fairly uncommon.

[Kali]

2. yes it is fine, though some don't like it

and start them slow to watch for "normal" digestive issues.

ugh, meals with picky eaters. my sympathies. I bring plain pinto beans for those events where someone with special food requirements might be a guest.

[UTUSN]

4. The picky ones are like Debbie Downers - are we supposed to ask ahead of time?!

[Kali]

6. you can ask if you care

one thing about pot luck is the variety so one would think there would be something. I try to be accommodating but sometimes I want to bring what I want, not special orders for the picky.

as we did with the kids: eat what we make or have a bowl of cereal or a peanut butter sandwich.

NOTE: not talking about people with real allergies or other problems. even so, people need to meet half way with some flexibility.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Asking ahead of time if possible is a thing to do these days.

Doesn't always work.
We had a couple invited for dinner, I had asked if they had any diet issues.
Nope, I was told.Whatever I wanted to cook, was fine.

Made sweet and sour chicken, stir fry type, with 3 colors of bell peppers, strips of cooked white onions, and pineapple chunks in a sauce, with rice...it's a very pretty dish.

turns out...one of them did not eat vegetables.
of any kind.
I was able to remove the peppers and onions from that serving, took a bit of time, but everyone was polite and gracious.
Then had to re-plan the next day's meals.

[UTUSN]

9. "Asking" - that's my problem: As a Boomer/fringe-Hippie I never thought to ask about this

Despite whatever societal/cultural changes we go through our default starting point is what we were inculcated with: Like in my generation, that it was polite to accept whatever a "host" had to offer, that it was rude to quibble. "Quibbling"/What is now named "empowerment" and "assertiveness".

[hlthe2b]

14. I tend to bring "Cowboy Caviar" (totally vegetarian, but will have the anti-cilantro crowd p'od)

yup, I'm a pro-cilantro type... Hee Hee....


Cowboy Caviar:




(I leave out any added sugar)

[Kali]

15. I saw that bowl of sugar and went wtf in my mind

before I saw your note.

the other change I'd be making is seranos in place of bell peppers. another batch of people to annoy

[hlthe2b]

16. Yeah... I typically add some diced jalopeno

Then again, I LIKE hot- spicey in lieu of "sweet."

[happybird]

5. No vegetarian I've ever known would eat casserole with the meat picked out

Like you said, juices. Maybe she was being difficult just to be difficult?

[UTUSN]

7. Well, "ex-NUN" is a clue. Also, "passive aggressive" would be another clue?

[NQAS]

10. My advice

If she’s invited to something she should let the hosts know she’s a vegetarian and what she won’t eat.

If that isn’t the case, she should kindly accept and eat what she can and leave it at that. If someone asks she can tell the truth and see where things go.

There are any number of things that can come up at such an event. Someone doesn’t eat fish. Or is a vegan. Or eats poultry but not red meat. Such is life. Eat what you can. Don’t announce, when it’s too late, that you’re a vegetarian or vegan or pescatarian or pastafarian. Enjoy the company. Be gracious.

[UTUSN]

11. Good answer!

[hlthe2b]

13. I tend to have at least one fully vegetarian side dish in quantities that would allow for

vegetarians to eat as a main entree'. Other than that, I ask about gluten sensitivity and will typically be able to tell them which items are gluten-free (not really so hard with fully homemade foods once you educate yourself, but a lot of pre-made foods can have "hidden" sources).

I don't cook for others a lot, so I will take the time to ask. But, really. I think it SHOULD fall on the guest to notify the host in advance (with the RSVP) if they have special dietary restrictions. That should likewise include severe sodium restrictions, which require some special planning.

[quaint]

17. Pot luck but she came empty-handed?

Rude guest. There are usually vegies and salads and breads even at a BBQ.