Self catering holiday with a veggie for a week

Ah, you are one of those!

It doesn't matter if it's based on religion, ethical choice, health or simply just not liking meat.

Her eating vegetarian food only is just as valid a choice as you choosing to eat meat.

Honestly, it sounds like you would be the one person making demands and insisting things are done to suit your palate!

Does the girlfriend actually want a family meal every night? If you're on holiday then surely people will be out and about most of the time?

I agree with this. She really doesn't have to.

It would annoy me more to go on holiday and be told exactly what I'm eating for every single meal every day and what time I'm allowed to eat it.

I'd rather cook separately or get takeaways. Certainly wouldn't be cooking a Wellington 😂

When we go away with people we do one special meal out and one meal joint (usually a BBQ because it's summer) and the rest of the time everyone does what they like.

You're complaining about nothing, try catering for someone who is gluten free vegan along with your usual family and then you'll realise how easy just a vegetarian is.

As you said before you can just cook meat on the side to add to anything - stews, curries, pasta, fry ups, toasties etc.

Cheese and eggs for recipes you don't want to change.

But I'd check she actually likes the dishes you're planning to cook first.

@NeverEnoughPants Is it for medical reasons or just a fad?

Unless you're Desperate Dan, you should be fine

This has made me snort.

I know. It's fucking awful when someone with specific dietary requirements actually wants something they can eat. How very dare they!!

Unless you're Desperate Dan, you should be fine. Vegetarianism is very easy to accommodate. And it's not catching. Most vegetarians are happy with just the side dishes so crack on with your beef wellington/cow pie. I'm the meat avoider so I just do all the cooking because I can't be doing with the drama/eyerolling.

Dividing up the cooking as a pp suggested seems like a plan.
Re the wellington - I love this too as a treat. Would you make it or buy in?
I would just have whatever you fancy on a meat day be it beef wellies or a rare steak - the vegetarian can have one of those meat substitutes or some delicious vegetables and maybe an egg based dish?

Has she made any demands or insisted on getting her own way?

It would annoy me to go on a holiday and share everything then one person makes demands and insists on getting there own way. She is unreasonable.

Who goes on a self catering holiday and makes things like beef wellington? Don't people get stuff that's easy to chuck together? For example I might have pasta, but it wouldn't be a lasagne (which is on of my favourite pasta dishes, but I'm not wasting time to make it on holiday).

Breakfasts would be things like croissants, bread, cheese, fruit, yogurt, maybe some porridge or cereal, maybe ham if people want it. We might do bacon or sausage rolls one or two days, but she could have veggie sausages or more of the continental style items.

Lunches would be soups, sandwiches, salads - have some ham or cooked chicken for sandwiches and salads for those that want it. If we fancied some chicken soup, we would make sure we made plenty spiced lentil or carrot and coriander or vegetable soup a day or two earlier, so that she could have leftovers.

Dinners would include things like baked potatoes with a range of options with salad on the side. Pasta in an easy sauce (cream cheese or tomato), with the option of adding cooked chicken for those that want it. Maybe tacos with a veggie chilli (I prefer a bean chilli to a beef mince one, but if people couldn't cope without meat, cook off some mince and add it to the bean chilli).

And if you really want a beef wellington, it's good timing as supermarkets are starting to get their christmassy frozen options in, including things like vegetarian wellington.

You really are making this a much bigger deal than it needs to be.

You can make a beef wellington. You could ask her if there's a ready made veggie pie that she could have instead, or if she'd like to make one or bring something she'd prefer. Or if you're feeling very kind, offer to make her a vegetarian pie. But perhaps that's pushing your good will too far.

When DD went veggie we found the easiest way to manage was to flip things slightly and only cook veggie food but to add meat for the rest of us than to make meat based food and a different thing for DD if that makes sense?

I get you OP, it’s an adjustment just for one person isn’t it!

Over summer, a group of 12 friends got an Airbnb in Wales and we had a similar arrangement, taking it in turns to cook etc, with two veggies in the mix.

If it helps, some of the meals we made were:

Mac n Cheese, two were made side by side then separated into two large casserole dishes. one plain and one with chorizo in. Served with salad and garlic bread.

Home made pizzas. Someone was in charge of putting tomato sauce and mozzarella on and baking them, and then the other chefs that night added veg (peppers, mushrooms etc) to some, and veg and pepperoni/chicken to others.

Burgers, some beef and some halloumi, with all the sides (salad, chips, blue cheese, onion rings etc).

Spag bol, one with mince and one quorn mince.

For meals like the Mac n cheese and spag bol, it didn’t seem onerous having two separate ones on the go, as when you’re cooking for a large group you’d need two pans/two dishes full anyway.

Hope that gives some inspiration!

Just have the beef Wellington then 🤷‍♀️
Lidl have already got their delicious vegetarian Wellingtons that they do for Christmas in- you can buy one of those or a veggie pie or quiche for her.

Where does it say she's forcing her preferences onto anyone? For all we know they may cook a meat option on one of their nights.

I just think it's less of a big deal to eat veggie than it is to faff about making two meals. It's one week, not exactly a life sentence is it?

I think it's amazing that you have never had a meat-free day your whole life. I'm a big meat eater but often have veggie days (we did meat-free Monday for a while), and I try to only eat meat once a day. Try it; you might like it!

Put some salad in a bowl and crack on.

You're going to make a beef wellington ON HOLIDAY? In an Airbnb? Wow. Very different holidays to us!

I would do exactly as you put in your OP. It's really not a big deal, having had VEGANS in the family for years now, including over Christmas. I see it as accommodating someone with special needs: they need to not eat meat products, and they should be accommodated. Sometimes I go along with it because I personally don't need to eat meat for a whole week (DH is different) and I like trying new things; sometimes I think fuck it and throw a chicken thigh on next to whatever vegan option I have. I actually can't tolerate a lot of the processed vegan crap that side of the family eats, it gives me the runs and a headache (it's not food, it's just non-meat based UPF and we have very little UPF in our diet at home which is what I think I react to), so we stick with actual food (that grows in the ground and on trees) and everyone is happy.

Things did blow up early on when the vegan insisted that no meat products be allowed in the house. Short shrift was given. Compromise is that we cook communally for big meals with a meat side dish (as opposed to a meat main dish with veggie or vegan sides), but for other meals everyone sorts themselves out. That way, everyone has some control over their diet and not every little thing is a compromise.

I'll happily come and cook a week's worth of delicious vegetarian meals for you!

Would you really cook beef wellington on holiday in an AirBnB?

I’m impressed - but we are always too busy and out all day for complicated cooking. Plus unsure about oven temperature etc in a new kitchen.

It's quite safe for meat-eaters to eat vegetarian meals for just one week. I have three DC - one vegan, one veggie and one very much a meat eater. We go for the lowest common denominator depending on who's home, and had a vegetarian Christmas last year for the first time, as the meat eater was away. There are tons of recipes online. I would avoid fake meats.

Numerous stir fries
Numerous curries
Roasted veg, fried halloumi, salad, hummus, pitta, (and some chorizo on the side if you need it)
Pizza
Parmigiana
Bean chilli
Risotto

Lots of choice.

I'd cook/eat what I want, if she wants something different or wants to cook for all of you then she can.
I could go a week without meat but I also enjoy nice food on holiday, and that includes meat!
Ignore anyone being cheeky about eating meat. 😬