text: what's a polite way to tell a host you don't eat meat? with the holidays coming up my boyfriend and i always end up in a sticky predicament of our "no meat" and "very little dairy" policy.  how do i tell a host that i don't eat meat, and would be happy to bring my own food (without insulting said host). while i am an animal rights advocate, i try not to preach to people about my choices, but educate if asked.  any suggestions? to be honest there is no other way than telling them, unless you have a mutual friend who you think might do better.  i find with things like this it is not what you're saying, but the way you say it.  if someone has spent hours and hours and hours preparing food and then someone comes in and says 'i don't want to eat the vast majority of what you've prepared.' then that can for obvious reasons be insulting.  however if you let people know, with as much notice as you can give and say it on a non preaching way, just with simple honesty, then most people would appreciate that.  for me, as a host, one of the key things to a good party is making sure everyone who visits feels comfortable and able to enjoy themselves!