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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be annoyed that vegan options have replaced vegetarian?

543 replies

Sacredhandbag · 13/02/2025 09:34

It's only a silly gripe in the grand scheme of things but it's bloody annoying.

I've been a vegetarian my whole life but since veganism has become more popular and more and more people are becoming part of the movement (and good on them!) it's like restaurants, cafes and hotels have skipped adding vegetarian options and thought "well vegan options covers both so we'll just add a few of those"

No! I am not vegan. I am vegetarian. I still want my eggs, my cream, my cheese, my butter. I want a stilton and broccoli bake, not a grilled bit of cauliflower!

Afternoon tea (I'm a fan and have one as often as I can) is the worst for it. There's an ordinary menu and then there's a vegan menu and that's it. You order one or the other. I don't want chicken or fish sandwiches but I sure as hell want my scones with proper clotted cream! So I have to be specific about the sandwiches and say I want some from one menu and some from the other. Bloody annoying.

Any other veggies feel the same?

OP posts:
Upyerbum111 · 14/02/2025 21:01

HangingOver · 14/02/2025 20:52

Where's the evidence for this?

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On the internet if you search hard enough,

HangingOver · 14/02/2025 20:52

Upyerbum111 · 14/02/2025 20:40

Or not because the nutritional amino acid profile of a vegan diet is appalling. A sure way to early dementia.

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Where's the evidence for this?

Upyerbum111 · 14/02/2025 20:40

Rainplops · 13/02/2025 09:51

It's not YOUR eggs, YOUR cream, YOUR cheese, YOUR butter.

Those are products of animal abuse. They belong to the animals.

Just go vegan.

Or not because the nutritional amino acid profile of a vegan diet is appalling. A sure way to early dementia.

DuvetsCovered · 14/02/2025 20:38

I'm flexitarian and yes, find the vegan menu items more limiting.

The only good thing is that there are more items available, because I remember the nut roast days.

Octoberfest · 14/02/2025 20:21

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 14/02/2025 19:56

I have an adjacent problem. I'm lactose intolerant and often end up having to eat vegan dishes when out, even though I eat meat, because so many things have dairy in them. It's doubly annoying because I'm also gluten intolerant, do I'm already restricted in what I can eat!

Here here (my daughter is lactose intolerant, making eating out challenging unless in Asian restaurants, as she doesn't like vegan food). You'd think that pizza places would offer a lactose free cheese option, wouldn't you?

I can't really understand why there are so many gluten free options but so few lactose free ones, especially when lactose free cheese is actually very nice and freely available.

Pleiades2020 · 14/02/2025 20:12

YANBU but tbf even if I were fully vegan I wouldn't want to eat out much as the options are generally pretty grim compared to what's actually achievable.

coldcallerbaiter · 14/02/2025 20:05

I am veggie. I really like cheese and butter. Apart from liking them a lot, I want them for my health. The substitutes are not as healthy imo. I also need the protein from cheese. I have oat milk though. I have whey for protein too, as I tried pea etc and it was disgusting for me.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 14/02/2025 19:56

I have an adjacent problem. I'm lactose intolerant and often end up having to eat vegan dishes when out, even though I eat meat, because so many things have dairy in them. It's doubly annoying because I'm also gluten intolerant, do I'm already restricted in what I can eat!

Octoberfest · 14/02/2025 19:50

I actually like a lot of vegan food but this issue vexes me too. Plus vegan "cheese" is the devil's food (I was actually a vegan 30 years ago, long before vegan cheese became a thing. Thank god I dodged that bullet).

lilywillywoo · 14/02/2025 19:45

Duechristmas · 14/02/2025 19:42

You forgot the 'stuffed pepper years'

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I’d kill for a cheesy stuffed pepper!

Duechristmas · 14/02/2025 19:42

lilywillywoo · 14/02/2025 19:37

Absolutely agree! After years of mushroom risotto being the only veggie choice on a menu, things had been much better until the vegan takeover. Drives me nuts. I love cheese, don’t make me eat vegan cheese! I emailed the Ivy when their vegan / vegetarian menu only had vegan mains- there was about five options. Have just looked at their most recent menu- still all vegan mains. I feel another email is due…

You forgot the 'stuffed pepper years'

lilywillywoo · 14/02/2025 19:37

Absolutely agree! After years of mushroom risotto being the only veggie choice on a menu, things had been much better until the vegan takeover. Drives me nuts. I love cheese, don’t make me eat vegan cheese! I emailed the Ivy when their vegan / vegetarian menu only had vegan mains- there was about five options. Have just looked at their most recent menu- still all vegan mains. I feel another email is due…

Oblomov25 · 14/02/2025 19:01

I agree. Closest 2 friends are vegan and vegetarian, and I'm a meat eater, but I've noticed the disappearance of vegetarian options and it's a shame.

OhcantthInkofaname · 14/02/2025 18:56

I totally agree. I'm in the US and it seems like to want regular cheese or butter on toast is somehow scandalous. Make no doubt I love my veggies. But enough.

justasking111 · 14/02/2025 18:54

LookSerious · 14/02/2025 18:52

It’s not lazy, it’s about costs and waste, which has been explained.

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And the ability to get staff. Hospitality is not conducive to family/social life.

venus7 · 14/02/2025 18:54

TheElvesLongSleeves · 13/02/2025 09:59

It's not "lazy putting everyone into one box". It's cost and practicality.
Small part of customers eat these items so it does make for many businesses sense to have x versions. So to prevent food waste and money waste, the item is made edible for bigger market.

I question 'is made edible'.

LookSerious · 14/02/2025 18:52

Duechristmas · 14/02/2025 18:12

I totally agree with you, it's lazy, offer both options.

It’s not lazy, it’s about costs and waste, which has been explained.

venus7 · 14/02/2025 18:48

BetteDavisChin · 13/02/2025 09:46

I'd wonder why are you vegetarian?
For the animals? I'm sure you know about the horrible parts of the milk and egg industries.
I think it's great that there are so many vegan options. But then, I'm vegan, so I would say that. I'm vegan for the animals first, then for my health. For the future of the planet too.

If you mean for animal welfare, surely vegetarianism is preferable to meat eating? A great deal less animal suffering in the former; it doesn't have to beall or nothing.

Duechristmas · 14/02/2025 18:12

I totally agree with you, it's lazy, offer both options.

SerendipityJane · 14/02/2025 18:06

Worldgonecrazy · 14/02/2025 16:58

A lot of gastro pubs but their food in ready prepped. I have learned to differentiate between those that advertise home cooked versus home made.

"I'd like to cancel dessert, please."

"That's a little difficult, chef's just opened the tin".

AnnWalkersLeftSlipper · 14/02/2025 17:14

ExercicenformedeZ · 14/02/2025 15:45

What is 'missing the point' about her post? I feel exactly the same and so do a lot of people. Sanctimonious vegans are infuriating and they actually make me want to be a bit aggressive about my meat eating (I eat meat every day anyway, and judgy vegans make me want to do so very obtrusively) Non judgy vegans are a whole other story: I might not want to eat out with them, but I have no (heehee) beef with them.

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My question wasn't about anything to do with veganism!

Worldgonecrazy · 14/02/2025 16:58

A lot of gastro pubs but their food in ready prepped. I have learned to differentiate between those that advertise home cooked versus home made.

mantaraya · 14/02/2025 16:50

If restaurants are doing this as a cost cutting exercise then I think it's extremely short sighted. I would put money on vegetarians being an older, wealthier demographic and making up a decent proportion of money spent at restaurants.

There are so many restaurants I've never been to because they offer only crap vegan options. I cook mostly vegan at home but it's difficult to make good vegan food and most restaurants aren't up to it. I'm not going to spend money on food that is significantly less nice than I eat at home.

What do we do about this? I've wondered before about whether I should have a stock email I send to all restaurants I end up not going to because of their inability to offer a decent vegetarian option. Maybe if we all do this on mass they'll finally realise how much business they're losing.

AnnWalkersLeftSlipper · 14/02/2025 16:34

duc748 · 14/02/2025 16:21

I'm a long-time veggie too, and fully agree with the OP's sentiments. It's one of the main reasons I've never been a big fan of eating out; I prefer my own cooking. I'm well aware of all the arguments about dairy, but veganism often seems to me like a classic case of "the best is the enemy of the good". Plus much vegan food is, in fact, highly processed, as other posters point out.

To be fair, a lot of non-vegan food is very highly processed too.

AnnWalkersLeftSlipper · 14/02/2025 16:33

These threads always turn into vegan bashing ones which is a shame, It's a valid and interesting discussion topic.

I am not a preacher at all, I only say I am vegan if it is directly aligned (e.g. if someone else says they are), on this type of thread, or if I need to (e.g someone invites me to dinner or such).

I'll give people advice and help with the subject too.
The number of people (often my own family!) who preach at ME about how vegans are XYZ and how I am going to drop dead any moment etc is a different matter altogether.