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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell a child-free friend not to bring a vegan meal to my BBQ?

515 replies

BBQDramaQueen · 13/07/2025 11:59

Hosting a casual family BBQ next wknd, mostly neighbours, school mums, a few mates, nothing fancy. Got the usual sausages, burgers, chicken etc. One of my oldest friends (childfree, v into animal rights, been vegan since forever, v vocal about it) asked if she can bring her own food. I said yeah fine, no biggie.

DH now saying it’s actually rude of her and it’ll put ppl off eating their food if she’s sat there going on about lentil sausages and dead animals (his words not mine lol). He reckons if we’re hosting, she should just eat what’s provided or not come. I said she obviously can’t eat what’s provided and she wasn’t making a fuss, just asked. He thinks I should message and say no now.

Tbh she can be a bit preachy but I’d rather that than her not come. Also not sure why anyone else would care what she’s eating unless they’re being nosy? But now I’m wondering if I was too quick to say yes.

AIBU to let her bring her own food? Or is DH right that I should’ve said no and it’s a bit off to bring your own stuff to a BBQ if you don’t have allergies etc?

OP posts:
TennisLady · 13/07/2025 16:36

WTF has her not having children got anything to do with this?!

Coconutter24 · 13/07/2025 16:30

esem · 13/07/2025 16:27

it can be a pain providing different food for one person when you are trying to entertain many

It’s not much effort though is it, you chuck there sausage or burger on one end of grill and cook it whilst doing all the meat items. Literally not a pain at all, why should the child free guest go without food 😐

Mumtobabyhavoc · 13/07/2025 16:30

I'm in Vancouver, Canada and it really wouldn't be a big deal. I'd have salads/fruit/veggie platters for the bbq anyway and would likely buy veggie burgers / hot dogs if I knew I'd have a guest who preferred them. I wouldn't think twice about it. It's a bit shocking to read about it being an issue over the pond.

esem · 13/07/2025 16:27

it can be a pain providing different food for one person when you are trying to entertain many

Everythingisokay · 13/07/2025 16:26

x2boys · 13/07/2025 16:00

The Op.said her friend was very vocal about being a vegan
Which would put me off.

But she might be vocal in private.
I doubt she would show up at a BBQ and start lecturing everyone about eating meat.

AngryBookworm · 13/07/2025 16:22

Leaving aside the obvious bait in you calling her childfree (would you let her bring her own food if she had a child?) ... If she's your oldest friend you knew she was vegan and vocal about it. You invited her in that knowledge - the least you can do is let her bring her own food. It sounds like your DH is hoping she'll turn up, find there's no vegan food, and just decide to give up being vegan and having views on animal rights for the evening? Just let her come along and if she gets annoying, tell her (or let others do so).You'd effectively be uninviting her, which is the height of rudeness. YABU (or YHIBU).

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 13/07/2025 16:22

Surely the question is why would any9ne want to be friends with @TheDevilYouKnown

Aitchemarsey · 13/07/2025 16:21

BunnyRuddington · 13/07/2025 16:18

Have you invited the same friend to a BBQ this year?

I can remember an almost identical thread about a preachy, single, vegan being invited to a BBQ last summer.

Edited

17 pages of replies on what is clearly a wind up post 😂

Cherrytree86 · 13/07/2025 16:19

P0d · 13/07/2025 16:09

How weird

@TheDevilYouKnown

why on earth wouldn’t you be friends with a vegan?

BunnyRuddington · 13/07/2025 16:18

Have you invited the same friend to a BBQ this year?

I can remember an almost identical thread about a preachy, single, vegan being invited to a BBQ last summer.

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 13/07/2025 16:17

Your friend sounds great. She's easy going and open to compromise. Your DH sounds controlling and rigid.

DrowningInSyrup · 13/07/2025 16:16

I assume OP has disappeared, because she is off buying delicious vegan food for her friends and an I'm with cuntychops tshirt for herself.

vickylou78 · 13/07/2025 16:13

Agree with others your friend is being lovely. Your DH is a knob.

Cynic17 · 13/07/2025 16:12

What on earth has being childfree got to do with it?!

CatloverNY · 13/07/2025 16:11

Your husband is unreasonable.
Whats wrong with her bringing her own food ? She shouldn’t be excluded just because she doesn’t eat meat.
Gosh your husband seems uptight !

TheSilentScreamInYourHead · 13/07/2025 16:10

You need to cater for the vegan guest, and make sure you do it properly, none of this using the same fork or tongs for meat and then using same utensils for vegan food.

I suggest vegan food to be cooked inside the house in the oven or grill to keep it completely separate…

P0d · 13/07/2025 16:09

TheDevilYouKnown · 13/07/2025 16:02

I wouldn't be friends with a vegan and wouldn't invite them to my home. Sure as hell wouldn't cook for them. Eat what I cook and shut up about it. But I wouldn't have a problem, if they brought their own food. Or just declined an invite altogether.

How weird

spoonbillstretford · 13/07/2025 16:09

She can bring her own food but I would actually cater for her, it's not that hard.

I wouldn't find it acceptable for her to preach to other people about eating meat at a barbecue though and would ask her to keep that subject off the table.

LurkyMcLurkinson · 13/07/2025 16:06

CurlewKate · 13/07/2025 15:29

Yes. Preaching about how everyone should eat meat is very annoying indeed, I agree.

That’s not what I said, I said preaching about food choices is annoying. My comment relates to anyone who rams their opinion down someone else’s throat, whether they vegetarian, a vegan, sugar free, a meat eater etc. Good for you though for deciding it was targeted at only vegans and vegetarians and showing off the chip on your shoulder.

Walkaround · 13/07/2025 16:05

Is your dh always a complete arsehole? She’s bringing her own food, ffs - she’s making your life as easy as possible (probably on the basis she knows what a twat your dh is, so won’t be appropriately catered for, otherwise).

Lotsofsnacks · 13/07/2025 16:05

BBQDramaQueen · 13/07/2025 11:59

Hosting a casual family BBQ next wknd, mostly neighbours, school mums, a few mates, nothing fancy. Got the usual sausages, burgers, chicken etc. One of my oldest friends (childfree, v into animal rights, been vegan since forever, v vocal about it) asked if she can bring her own food. I said yeah fine, no biggie.

DH now saying it’s actually rude of her and it’ll put ppl off eating their food if she’s sat there going on about lentil sausages and dead animals (his words not mine lol). He reckons if we’re hosting, she should just eat what’s provided or not come. I said she obviously can’t eat what’s provided and she wasn’t making a fuss, just asked. He thinks I should message and say no now.

Tbh she can be a bit preachy but I’d rather that than her not come. Also not sure why anyone else would care what she’s eating unless they’re being nosy? But now I’m wondering if I was too quick to say yes.

AIBU to let her bring her own food? Or is DH right that I should’ve said no and it’s a bit off to bring your own stuff to a BBQ if you don’t have allergies etc?

If I was inviting my vegan friend to my bbq, I would get her some vegan food in, and make it for her, wouldn’t expect a guest to bring their own! Ps DH is not being nice to her

TheDevilYouKnown · 13/07/2025 16:02

I wouldn't be friends with a vegan and wouldn't invite them to my home. Sure as hell wouldn't cook for them. Eat what I cook and shut up about it. But I wouldn't have a problem, if they brought their own food. Or just declined an invite altogether.

JFDIYOLO · 13/07/2025 16:01

I'd be catering for her, as a guest in my home.

I'd also be listening out for any attempt to embarrass friends for their choices, and be having a quiet word.

Your husband is being a nob.

FinallyHere · 13/07/2025 16:01

The only situation in which your DH had any credibility if she has significant form for disrupting BBQ’s and pushing her animal rights agenda in a way to make those enjoying the BBQ uncomfortable.

had that ever happened, is it likely to happen?

Barrenfieldoffucks · 13/07/2025 16:00

If you're not going to cater for all of your guests, then yes she can bring something she can eat. If you're not going to provide anything she can eat, what is he proposing she does?

Her being preachy is another matter, and that isn't something I would accept.

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