Thanks for joining the group. This has been an idea I've had for a while. When my husband and I attend veg events, we often don't find others from the corporate world.
A little about myself, I work as a management consultant, and have made extensive use of happy cow due to frequent travel. One issue I run into is having to explain again and again to people that I am a vegetarian when I start at a new client site. It becomes a bit tiresome.
Can each of you do an intro of yourself, and some of the issues you might want to discuss?
Yes! I don't have a lot of time right now now (of course I am online at work) but I have a tough time being Vegan in the Midwest in the corporate world. Everything that is catered to us contains some type of animal product and I am sick of eating plain salads. I don't want to make a big deal out of it because I don't want to get into the discussion at work (personal life is different).
Anyway, we often have lunch outings so I don't have an opportunity to make my own lunch very often. It is so tiresome trying to find something Vegan - especially at like fast food places. I will usually just skip out and go to the grocery store to buy salad bar by the pound. Because veggies and fruit are so heavy - I have to pay like $8 for a skimpy lunch. It is frustrating to me when I do dine out and have them strip the entire meal of all animal products and still pay the same price for my co-working with a heaping mess of meat on their plate.
Sorry, this is how I am feeling this week and maybe this is not even what this group is about but it is hard talking to Veg*ns about it that don't work in the corporate world.
Anyway, Mimi - nice to meet you and thanks for the group!
Hi everyone. I have a tough time here in California, and we are supposed to be one of the more veg-friendly places. Well, I think that is true, if you live in a major city such as LA, SF, or Sacramento. I live near SF and Sacramento, but not close enough to drive for a regular day's meal (and the area where I live is horrid for veggies as far as restaurants, but at least we are very lucky to have an extremely rich agriculture center here and there is lots of local fresh produce and nuts). I work in a hospital and eat at work most days. I bring lunch most of the time. The dining facilities here are slim pickings on vegan options I'll tell you. They even sometimes decide to put cheese and/or bacon on the salad mix...what kind of idea is that? It's a salad bar, if they want it, they'll put it on themselves! I am very excited my vegan friend will be moving back here and we will be working together.
I completely know what you guys mean, though. Whenever we have a rep come and bring us lunch, or have an outing, it's tough explaining the way I eat. Then people want to ask you all sorts of questions. My mom has to eat gluten free and has a really hard time as well. She usually ends up eating salads when they have lunches, and so many of her coworkers don't care. You should see when my mom and I go out to eat....yes, I'm veg and she needs gluten free, what do you have? I think we've scared a lot of people, lol. And it amazes me how many servers have no idea what goes into the food they are serving. Does that have flour in it? Was it made with chicken stock? ....I don't know....gah! And when you're in a work setting, forget it! You don't want to make a fuss in front of everyone.
One thing I do when I am out of my element is bring lots of goodies that I can munch on, like bars, dried fruit, nuts, dried veggies, etc, so I never go hungry.
Katylynn - I feel you! We have to pay as much (if not more!) than the meat eaters, even though the meat is the most expensive thing on the plate!
Yeah, what is up with waiters not knowing what is in the food??? I make them go and ask the Chef. I do walk away feeling good because hopefully I taught them something and the next Vegan can be a little more confident in their answers. One new restaurant didn't have anything Vegan on their menu so I left. The owner talked to me for a long time and said by the next time I come in he WILL have something Vegan and he felt like an idiot. It didn't go against me that him and my husband worked together recently for 3 years at a restaurant ;o)
I've been running various businesses for the past 7-8 years. The last 2 of those have been as a vegetarian.
Can you believe that only 3 years ago on of my clients was an Organic meat supplier? Once my views and approach changed I sabotaged my contributions and created serious havoc for them which was not my intentions. my intentions were purely to opt out of the business of murder and rape.
I'm now a vegan and probably still have murder memory on my cell walls. Now and then I still feel the aggression and restriction which I believe to be the karma of consuming such energy.
I have had lots of issues dealing with people in business around diet. Often at meal time people find themselves justifying why they eat meat. In the past, I have had confrontational conversations with them. Helping them to see the ignorance. Personally, I don't believe in being nice at work and being an activist in the personal world. That spells out a lack of integrity to me and continues to sustain a divide between business and family. So I would recommend not being so nice.
At the same time, by being anti-meat eaters puts out a projection onto the world that you have issues. And are issues attractive? Issues seem to repulse people.
Affirming the ease and health of yourself I feel is vital. Check me out... I'm so hot right now and feeling incredible. Look how aware I am of this situation and able to respond intelligently and with the lightest approach to solving this work place crisis. Its because I do what I do. What do I do? Glad you asked. I don't eat meat.
Cocky? Maybe. But is it cocky if its true? And isn't it self denial to hold back from our truths? To stay in the shadows while there is a becon of light wanting to shine out?
In our business, we have 3 vegetarians. Our ceo is not. A couple of our personal assistants love their meat. Interestingly, the meat eaters appear to have a much more difficult time in the work place. Thats my perception of them anyways. More struggles... more confusion as to where they are going in the world. They are far less independent as well and rely a lot on us vegetarians to come up with the next idea to keep it all interesting and light. It appears they live in fear a lot more then the veg*ns.
Sometimes they offload how they feel trapped and confused. I gently say "are you still eating meat?"... "yeah".... and I go "ahhhhh". And I don't care to really offer much more personal help then that. I go about my role and subtly let them know that I don't feel I can help them go beyond a karmic situation in reality when what they consume is the very dynamic they want to go beyond. How can one feel free and liberated while eating prisoners that live bound to a higher authority who is inevitably going to suck the life force from them?
There is a fantastic book you girls might like which I read a few years ago called Thick Face Black Heart by Chin Ning Chu. An asian business woman who focuses a lot on connecting the west with the east. Its totally not relevant to eating meat, but is relevant about holding your values close to your heart in the business world while keeping a thick face and achieving your goals in a ruthless manner. I found it very provocative and gave me a lot of strength to do whatever I like in business, ensuring that I please myself and creating a business reality for myself where my own values are paramount... finding others who support those values and leaving behind the paradigm where one feels he or she must live in less then ideal circumstances or relationships.
Sorry for the delay, I've had a sick bunny on my hands But she seems to be doing way better now.
I hear you on paying the same amount as meat eaters, when going out. Every once in a while there will be a restaurant that deducts off the cost of the meat, but those are few and far apart.
And the new chicken, meat, bacon, eggs and/or cheese on salad, when on earth did that happen? I have been to a number of restaurants where I couldn't order their salad as is. Sheesh!
The "group" lunches are definitely a challenge, and I don't particularly like making a spectacle of myself. At one place I worked, my manager would just leave it to me to choose the restaurant as I had the most restricted diet, so that was cool.
I sometimes think there should be a veggie pride movement. I have tested out a few "reasons" I'm a vegetarian on people. If I say "religion" they shut up immediately, but when I say for "personal ethical" reasons, they feel they have the right to interrogate me and be down right rude. One new strategy I came up with was 'I don't talk about that while I'm eating.' And by the time we are out of an eating context the conversation is long forgotten.
That's great that you have been able to pave your own path in the business world. Unfortunately not everyone has that time/money/opportunity to do that. But his brings me to another issue I've found about being "corporate", is the criticism it draws from others in the veg community at times. It's like a double-edged sword, where I'm not only being dumped on by meat-eaters, but veggies also. Creating even further division in already small community is quite unfortunate.
Yeah I find it strange that vegetarian dishes are often more expensive. How is the flesh of another being worth less a lot of the time? Seems a bit insane to me.
We are divided as a community and not very active as a collective. We vego's have dug our own graves in a sense, because a lot of us are so anti a lot of things that we've diminished our ability to get on board. "Oh no I don't talk to you because you eat dairy" etc. Sure, I'd rather hang out in eden and we drink from pristine water only, but there is a bridge that needs to built and a gradual progression.
I choose to be quite forward and full frontal with my approach. I make continual jokes and links for people I know who eat meat. Little remarks when my friends order the meat dish "mmm, murder for lunch".... or when I'm asked if I mind being around dairy eating I say "of course, not, i mean you don't mind that I have a couple of little boys in my basement do you?".
Obviously I'm not politically correct... but try being politically correct to a pack of wolves or a bunch of gang rapers and how influential will you be? Obviously not very. Infact you might wind up as the tender flesh being enjoyed however its going round.
I keep it tongue and cheek, but I don't hold back from at least letting it be known I have an issue with it. Maybe if I felt fully in my strength I would run around actually physically stopping people from doing it... but I am in a serious minority.
Recently I put my head towards thinking about how we could actually do more. I've been on a soap box for some time now ranting and raving about going vegetarian. People just switch off. People are going to make the shift when they do and there's little I can do about that. And I've found the more I rant about it, the more I come across as some fanatic who speaks to the animals... (as if there is anything wrong with that? but thats the 'intelligent' society we have).
So moving forward, beyond fighting anybody or converting any more people to vegetarianism I thought "why not, instead of trying to get more people on board, work on fusing the already existing people who have a compassion for animals and a higher dream for earth instead of the next mcmeaty lunch?".
Thats where Save the Cows came from => www.cosmicbdog.com/save_the_cows
I need help, maybe from you guys if you're into it. I want this to be an incredibly effective plan that basically buys back destroyed earth from 'livestock' and creates eco havens for both humans and animals to enjoy. Creating a new type of 'zoo' where nobody is living in cages, but people can come and see how animal lovers and eco minded people live and create abundantly and can be a part of it.
Let me know what you think fellow corporate animal loving creatures.
I'm feeling pretty solo at the moment. I don't understand why. I have vegetarian friends but don't seem to want to do much about it. Maybe I'm missing something and I can't seem to just fully make the choice myself and wait for the world to catch up. Something about the tibetan buddhist belief that until all sentient beings are happy, none of us are happy, because we are one.
Hello! I am glad to have found this group and interesting thread! I work in corporate america too but ironically i work with many veggies and all catered lunches/outings are always veg friendly. And i am not talking a small company! We are over 100k strong! Thanks for reminding me how great it is to work for a company that acts on what they say (ok most of the time).
Cosmicdog - I admire your passion! However, I don?t really understand your philosophy of trying to cast negativity on meat eaters in an effort to enlighten them. Isn?t that somewhat counter intuitive? Your goal seems genuine in that you want to help people know the joy and happiness and health and love that you feel and experience by saving what animals you with your lifestyle. Yet you seem very angry at others for not just saying 'omg you mean this fried chicken/turkey sandwich/hamburger/etc. is ANIMAL!? why didn?t anyone TELL ME! wow thank you so much, that is so gross, what else is animal so I don?t eat it?" and then fall all over you with thanks and praise when you say things like 'mmm murder for lunch'. Most folks I know will just hang on tighter to their closed minds to make a point. I have found it is much more successful to create a safe environment for folks to ask questions and try it out for themselves! At least that has been my experience
I too feel the pain of being a Corporate Vegan! I live in the Midwest and I think this is the worst place to be Vegan! When I was at the corporate office of my prior company, they provided lunch for all three days or orientation and we weren't allowed to bring food. Lets just say I starved...I tried telling them I can't have any dairy or animal byproducts, but people in them Midwest apparently just don't get it or don't care. They think it's your problem... Anyway, what I have resorted to doing is just saying I'm allergic to animal proteins...sometimes they still don't get it, but then again I don't get labeled in the office, or get constant hassle from my coworkers.
Do you guys tell people your Vegan in your workplaces? I've just found it's easiest for me to not say anything, but I'm interested in hearing what you guys do.
Welcome kathleenu and SynthEBM (and everyone who hasn't posted yet).
Sorry for slacking off on posting. I'm doing a job search right now and had to turn down a really well paying contract because they are a biotech that have some products that I don't agree with. I've never had to deal with a dilemma like that before, because I just steer clear of applying in those industries.
I am so jealous of you being in a veg friendly environment kathleenu. I can only dream....
SynthEBM: I really hear you on the mid-west. I was in St.Louis and Kansas City, and it was just surreal how vegetarian unfriendly it was, let alone vegan friendly. I feel really bad for young veggies starting out in those areas, and having a limited support system. Thank goodness for the internet!
I'm willing consider most locations [but not Missouri...LOL], so if any of you guys have any suggestions or know of a Veggie friendly company let me know! It's always nice to have suggestions -- there are some companies you may never think of until someone says something. Oh and I'm a financial analyst, so any finance, accounting, or business related suggestions would be much appreciated!
I've found that most people where I work show an interest in my vegetarian lifestyle, not because they really care or are interested, but they need yet something else to talk about. I guess its just their way of making themselves feel good.
I gave up trying to climb the ladder long ago, as I found it meant compromising too many values. Even at that, I often find myself stuck in company events where food is part of the agenda. I've gotten used to answering the less-than-serious questions about my diet, and simply write them off as uninformed.
You think the mid-west is tought try Texas
November 27, 2008 09:09AM
Registered: 1 year ago
Posts: 1
I live in Texas. And I work in a huge company, The largest of its type in the world. I work for NOV (National Oilwell Varco for those that don't know.) When I started i was a meat eater. after become with a few friends in the music industry. I made the switch to Vegetarian. Most just dont get it. most are undereducated on every level so I dont feel bad expalining to them; but you have to realize that to change the mind of a 66 year old man who was raised on a farm and in excellent health is going to be tough but he is probably the most open minded. i geta lot of light hearted teasing from him which i have come to enjoy. He tells me on a daily basis "I have to keep my eye on you young man! your gonna end up howling at the moon!" And my boss who is educated and does more than operate heavy machinary has actually taken intrest and done some moderate reseach but not willing to give up hunting and changing dietary habits but accepts my choices. He teases as well ,on a different level. He tells me if society ever devolves to a survivalist level I will be unprepared and will fall to a roving tribe of cannibalistic starving bandits. but the problems I face are slightly different i dont mind the light hearted joking. Every quarter we have a luncheon where we get updated on the progress of the company and where we stand in relation to the industry and the last year. at this point the catered food is never veg friendly. They give away six 50 lb boxes of meat bought at the local fair. I have been "outed" as a vegan and on the upper levels of managment am truly misunderstood. The caterer has learned and brings me a massive baked potato and vegan toppings when he comes so i can atleast eat and treats me as a special customer everytime. Which kinda eats away at the managment. But Texas is the land of steak and barbeque. and while I do not miss meat or any of the culture i am the only vegan and only one vegetarian at the function so we are kind of stand alone.
But she seems to be doing way better now.
