Cookout Conundrums?

Fried Chicken-Style Seitan, vegan potato salad, green beans

It's summertime in North America, and that means cookouts!  Yeah!  Well, not always.  For the first couple of years after we went vegan, cookouts and BBQ's were pretty challenging.  We actually used to eat BEFORE we went, just to make sure that my husband wouldn't starve to death.  Occasionally we still do this, because   WHY, OH WHY does everything at cookouts seem to be made with animal products?  Even veggies and fruits cannot escape...Jello molds with fruit cocktail, watergate salads (marshmallows!), corn with butter, beans with bacon.  Now, we just bring tons of food!  The last cookout we went to, we brought tons of fresh sweet corn (cooked it myself, no butter), crackers and hummus, veggie dogs and burgers, and Oreo cookies.  The Oreos were gone in like, 5 minutes, but at least my kids got a sweet treat before they disappeared.  The best part was that everyone was very understanding.  After a while, people just get used to the fact that you are vegan and that you are simply not going to eat the same things as everyone else.  It's nothing personal, it's just the way it is!  If you can, call the host(ess) ahead of time and explain to them the situation and ask them if it would be OK if you can bring whatever it is you are planning to bring.  Chances are, if you let them know ahead of time that vegans are a-comin', they will rise to the challenge and make sure that there is food that you can eat.  If nothing else, you can always eat the potato chips and crudites and then get a Taco Bell 7 layer burrito with no cream and no cheese afterward.  Next time, host that baby yourself, and give them a real treat..."Fried Chicken-Style Seitan" could change their lives forever!