MorningStar Farms makes a tolerable bacon substitute.
I get their products in the frozen section of the
local low-price supermonster grocery store. If your
reasons for staying away from meat are largely
ethical/moral, you might feel better if you try to
satisfy your cravings with organically produced animal
products.
I missed those really strong flavored meats (Italian
sausage!) a lot, for a really long time (years). Once
I started eating foods (mostly Indian/Thai/Chinese
etc) with strong flavors of their own, the cravings
subsided.
As for eating at a friend's house, I tell people when
invited that I do not eat meat (including chicken and
fish). I suggest alternatives - if it is just a few
of us, I suggest cooking together and making some
non-meat dishes, or eating out, or eating at my house.
If it is a large gathering, I suggest that I bring
something that I can eat to share. If it is spur of
the moment, I make it very clear that I appreciate the
invitation to share in a meal together, that I
appreciate being with them and theirs during that
time, but that I cannot eat meat. I have become
comfortable over time asking if I can make a peanut
butter and jelly sandwich to eat at their table. I
find that making it clear that it is my choice and
that if they can deal, I am just fine with it helps.
Often they feel more inadequate as hosts than upset
because I won't eat their food. Usually there are
side dishes that I can enjoy as well. I don't mean to
criticize you at all...just to share some other
options I have discovered over time.
Congrats on the end of the semester to all who have
been working toward it!
Heather
===
"Do you have an opinion?
A mind of your own?"
-Garbage
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