It was awkward! I feel like a freak! every kid and some parents were devouring McYucky's.  And then there's me explaining myself to the parents looking at me weird and I'm afraid to offend them because their kids are obviously eating it! So so awkward.  And then came the cake :/ err. I talked to my kids about it first and explained like this " you know how mommy is trying to help our family eat healthier, and you know how i feel about McYucky's (this is literally what i call it lol) so we are going to have soy hot dogs or soy hamburgers before we go and when everyone is eating there you can have some french fries.  Also talked to them about the cake and told them i would let them pick a bag of candy at the store.  I know the fries and candy aren't good choices but i didn't want them to feel completely excluded and weird.  I don't ever give them either of those so i figured it would be a treat as Mcyuckys might have been a treat to the others.  Did i do the right thing? Am I sending a confusing message?  Haven't broken the news to the kids that every time i make something with 'meat' that its actually soy.  I'm afraid of traumatizing them to tell them real meat are sweet animals.  Took dairy out and they know about that but trying to ease into the other. Am i way off or on the right track? Any advice?

I think you're doing fine.  But I wouldn't shy away from explaining to them the truth about meat.  They should know.  I think it's perfectly ok (and preferable) to explain to your kids in a clear, concise manner, that the soy dogs and burgers you make at home are actually from plants, but the hotdogs and hamburgers the kids see other people eat are from cows, pigs, etc.  That's the honest truth.  And I believe honesty is the best policy.  In my opinion, that's better than "misleading" your kids by them not knowing what your "meat" really is, and what other meat really is. 

As far as dealing with other adults, or people looking at you funny for not eating what they're eating, I tend to say as little as possible.  B/c like you said, it's WAY awkward when someone (and their child) is eating something, while you go on and on about how bad it is.  So I generally just eat what I eat, don't eat what I don't eat, and leave it at that.  Don't say a word.  If someone ASKS, say something like, "I decided to eat plant-based foods," or something like that.  That's my suggestion, and what I do.  If someone REALLY wants to know more about it, and asks direct questions, I'll answer them honestly, with as much or as little detail as I feel that person wants to hear.  

I totally agree with Sarah! As long as you are not painting horrific pictures of what happens to the poor animals before they end up on the plate, it should be no problem letting your kids know that they are eating plant based meat. I only wish I had known about the fabu Vegan lifestyle before my daughter turned 17!! Thats right 17 years old and now its really hard to get her to eat "My way". She is opposite girl!
Anyway- I think what you did was great!!! Not the healthiest trade offs, but who cares!! Your kids still had treats and did not feel deprived. You are wonderful....Keep up the great work for your family, the animals, and the environment!!

Sarah Noel thank you so much!! This really helps! I am encouraged by your advice to be honest with my kids! And love your advice of not saying much to adults! Makes so much sense and way easier to deal with next time!  A lot of the parents know i took dairy out because its come up at sports events when i wont let my little boy eat the gogurts, and i was honest to say i was doing an experiment to see if it would clear his severe allergies and asthma as I've read so many positive testimony's from doing so! So when they see now that no meat either they are literally like "no meat either huh?" with a scrunched face so i feel obligated to say something i stumble on my words because i don't want to say too much and offend but don't want to look weird and say nothing. So what would you say to that?  Upon researching dairy more, I've just decided to eat more plant based foods and leave it at that?!

Toni Terry Thank you thank you so much i so appreciate the encouragement! I love this forum! It sure helps a lot to not have to go through this alone! I love this feedback and this forum - it encourages me to keep researching and learning and reinforcing my new decision to change the way we eat! You guys are great!! :)

LuViNLyFe - the picture you painted about the parents made me smile (""no meat either huh?" with a scrunched face").  I can totally see it.  People are so funny sometimes, especially adults.  Kids tend to be way more accepting and just let things slide w/o making a big deal of it. 
As far as how to respond to something so specific and direct..... I'd probably give a slight smile, nod, and say "Yep."  :-)   Seriously.  I don't see any need to launch into a long explanation for that parent who is judging you or looking down on you for your food choices.  They probably don't care to hear it.  If you get the feeling that the person is genuinely interested in your no-dairy, no-meat plan, I'd talk in more detail with that person.  Tell them that you've found that this kind of diet is just overall healthier, so that's why you're doing it.  Maybe say you came across this awesome book, "The Kind Diet" and it really opened your eyes to a lot of this stuff.  (I've said that to some people who've asked me about it).   
It just depends on the attitude the person has about it and the feeling you get from them.  Sometimes when you go into a long explanation for your behavior it comes across like you're defending yourself.  But you don't have to defend anything to those other parents.  That's why I'd just answer with a simple, "Yep, that's right," and go along my way.  

Your awesome thank you that's perfect!! Here we go again today another party this time end of the year party so ALL the kids are eating pizza and ice cream Sunday's! I'm going to rush to the store to see if i can buy the Amy's frozen pizza and if not ill make them with vegan cheese! And ill be bringing soy ice cream :)! 
By the way so funny, so as soon as the kids got home yesterday i sat down with them and showed them all the cute animals in some of their picture books! I said "see these cute animals they are our friends huh?" They said "YEP!!" with big smiles and i said "well, when your eating hamburger, ham, bacon and chicken your eating your friends, you don't want to eat your friends do you?" they said "NO we love our friends", so i said "OK so lately I've switched everything from friend meat to plant meat and its way yummier right?" they say an excited "YA!!!" And got distracted by something sparkly lol! It was short and sweet but throughout the rest of the night they kept thinking about it and asking me questions like "so mommy that's why we don't eat chicken nuggets too?" I showed them the baby chicks in their books and told them those were nuggets and i saw a little light bulb go off! I told them whatever they want to eat we can find a plant based food that will be the same thing but better! They were completely fine with it, didn't make a big deal and were actually excited about it! So funniest thing -  when my husband was getting ready for work this morning (he missed that whole convo last night because he was at work and got home late so i hadn't told him yet) we were all in the kitchen eating breakfast and he was preparing his lunch for the day, he got some cans of tuna out of the cupboard they said "daddy dont eat our friends" lololol he gave me the 'look' like no you didn't tell them that you just ruined my whole life lolol! Sorry babe! :)

Your last story is totally cute. :) Just out of curiosity, how old are your kids?  And if you're near a Trader Joes, I suggest their pizza dough, if not for the party then for some time in the future.  I think they're just as easy, very inexpensive, and delicious! I don't even add the cheese!

LOL....so funny! You explained to your kiddos in such a great way. Visuals are so important. It will instill kindness (to animals and the planet) in them from an early age and it will follow them to adult hood. At one point or another ....they may stray and want to experience other things, but I really think they will end up eating a healthy plant based diet for life!! What a great gift you are giving them. Kudos to you!!!
My 17 year old just gives me the eye roll and the "You are so crazy mom" look! LOL.... maybe the kids will help hubby change his mind about eating "Friends"

My kids (5 and 2) have always been vegetarian/mostly vegan and they've just always wanted to eat this way.  I explain that meat is made of animals and dairy is breastmilk that is meant for the baby animals, not us.  That's pretty much all I say to explain why I eat the way I do.  Then I tell him he can do as he likes in social situations (we eat the way I cook at home) but he understands my reasoning and wants to avoid meat and dairy.  He's horrified that other people DO eat meat and dairy and I've probably spent more time trying to explain why others eat it than why we don't!  It's embarrassing when he loudly proclaims that "we don't eat meat!!  meat comes from animals!!  I don't LIKE meat-eaters!"  Geez.  So I talk a lot about people making different choices....it's totally easy for him to understand vegan principles, tough to understand anything else.

 LuViNLyFe - yaye!  Sounds like your talk with the kids about meat went very well!  And I loved that you're going to bring vegan pizza and soy ice cream to the kids' event!  Who knows, maybe you'll turn some other people on to that way of eating!  Or at least they'll see that there are still vegan options that are equivalent to their food. 

WOW many of things have happend since i last posted! I was on my way to that end of the year party and it didnt go over so well.    It seems I was the talk of the party :/ Many many people asked me what was going on and why am i doing this etc.. By the end of the day a nasty little rumor had evolved.  The principle approached me and was pretty disgusted with me, going off of what she 'heard' i had did to the kids when i found out they had dairy??  The day before they had pizza and ice cream because this is all so new i have not told the teachers - honestly didnt even think of it.  So all i said to the kids when we got in the car is "oh its ok i just hope you dont get a stomach ache" Because its been out of their system for so long.  But i dont expect them to understand or know completley what im doing, they are 3&1/2 & 5&1/2 - and they certainly dont get in 'trouble' for eating. Do you every play that game telephone as a child?  Where you sit in a circle and whisper something in ones ear and pass it on pass it on by the time it gets back to the original person its a completley different subject? Well what started out as answering tons of questions which i was not prepared for ended me up in the principles office explaining myself.  Im so hurt that this happend.  And upset that something so horrible was said about me.  I didnt even want to know what was said or who said it because i dont want to think ill of anyone.  I enjoy living my life being honest and not having any reason to be shameful of anything.  So i am going to keep my head up and be proud of myself and happy with the healthy decisions im making for my family!  And as coward as it may seem this incodent helped me make a decision to let them decide what they are going to eat when they are at partys and such! Hopefully i will teach them good habits over the years where they will notice the healthier foods make them feel better! 

I am not a Mom but I admire you for bringing up your children this way. I know it must be difficult, but your children are very lucky. Anyway, these days every second child seems to have some sort of food allergy, so its not that unfamiliar to kids that their friends can't eat  some things.

 Just keep learning, and the next time you're questioned, you can be clear and confident in the answers you give and hopefully people won't be able to do the telephone garbage, and if they do you can just continue to respond in an intelligent and calm manner that refutes what they're saying.  

Stick to it, luvinlyfe, and if it's too much with the whole party thing, at least know that when you have control you are not willingly feeding your children foods that you know aren't good for them. I'm so sorry something like that happened.

luvinlyfe , i send you a biggggg   hugggggg .   Thats not nice what happened to you . People can be sooooooo  stupid sometimes !   the thing is so many people still have no idea how nasty the nasty stuff is and when someone like you comes along its very disturbing for them .   stay strong , we are all here for you .xxxxxx pam