When I was a kid, one summer I visited my great grandmother on one of the family islands. Family islands are called that because they have a smaller population of people and are lesser developed than the capital and the other major city Freeport. Anyway, although there are some people that don’t eat meat I imagine veganism is almost unheard of. My gran-aunt who was there at that time was known to be vegetarian but here she was having pork chops and steamed chicken and chicken souse with us on various occasions throughout the time we were there. It struck me as odd because even then I knew being a vegetarian meant you did not eat meat so I asked her, “Anni Brenda, I tawt you say you don’t eat meat.”
And she replied, “Typically I don’t, but when I am here to my mother, I eat it because it is rude to not eat what is prepared unless you are allergic.”
I don’t know about American homes but in Bahamian households, it is the UTMOST insult if an older person, especially your family offers you food and you decline because you don’t eat such and such. Like, for real. My great grandmother is in her mid-90s now but she and my grandmother are both from a time that if ever you had guests, if the only thing you could do was feed them, you did. Even to this day my Grammy feels bad if I happen to be there and she hasn’t cooked.
So what does this mean for me being vegan? Well, I’d a imagine a scenario where I stop by for a visit and she does have food prepared but oh wait, I don’t eat meat and your rice has salt beef and your potato salad has eggs and mayo etc. I don’t imagine that would go over well. Then she would ask, “Well vy ya don’t eat meat?”
I can visualize the slight hurt she would feel by me turning down her food. Nobody hurts Grammy! So what does one do? You hold your tongue and eat.
People from their time ate lard and whatever they want and still lived and they are living very long. But the chemicals were different. They also did a lot of physical work, not sedentary desk jobs.
My great grandmother aka Mama Wicey (not sure how the spelling goes)
My Grammy aka Ms. Evie
Vegan 365 