First things first: Happy Birthday, Helen!

This weekend, I encountered my first real social gathering as a vegan. My mom and I planned a surprise dinner party for my dad's birthday, to be held at the home of a family friend. As much as I was looking forward to celebrating my dad's big birthday in a big way, I had serious concerns about what I would eat. I didn't want to put any extra burden on our generous hosts, and didn't want to answer endless questions about why I wasn't indulging in the cheesecake.

We informed the hostess of my dietary restrictions a few weeks in advance, and it turned out she had planned to make a veggie side dish that would fit my needs. I decided to bring a peanut butter noodle side dish (in keeping with the meal's Asian theme) that would provide me with some protein. It turned out to be a big hit with all the omnivores in attendance as well. Someone else brought a fruit salad for dessert, so I had something to snack on while everyone else enjoyed the cake. I will admit that fruit doesn't really satisfy my serious sweet tooth, though, and I treated myself to a vegan-friendly dessert later at home.

As for the questions I was dreading, most people didn't much care what I was eating. I had only a few discussions about my vegan trial, and everyone I spoke to was respectful.

One major perk I hadn't anticipated was that not being able to eat everything that was served made it much easier to avoid overeating, a common peril at parties where everyone stands around delicious spreads of chips, dips, cheese and crackers. I ate only two baby carrots dipped in hummus before the meal, and never felt overfull.

One of my biggest concerns when I started out a few weeks ago was that I would be severely limited in my ability to enjoy a good meal with others. This weekend's festivities proved that it is possible to socialize as a vegan, but it does take some planning ahead.

In the coming months, I will be attending a bridal shower, a wedding, a week-long family trip to Maine, and several other birthday celebrations, including my own. I still don't feel confident about being able to enjoy all these while remaining vegan, and have no idea what I will do on the vacation. I guess I'll just take it one day at a time.