Why are people so black and white about vegetarianism?

[GradeSeven]

I live with a vegetarian despite being an omnivore myself. I've got used to most of my meals not having any meat and have found it has virtually zero impact on my enjoyment of food - because generally great flavours are because of good seasoning, herbs & spices and deep rich sauces etc etc. You really don't "need" meat and I'd be happy enough if I never ate meat again.

I also increasingly think that eating less meat is better for my health and the planet - win win.

However it is very convenient if I go someplace where meat is one of the only decent options, or if vegetarian food is not done well. I can just pick a meat dish, no drama. And it's such a rare thing for me to eat meat, I know in the grand scheme of things it won't have a big impact.

Why can't vegetarians do the same as me and just accept that eating meat once in a blue moon for the sake of convenience and enjoyment will not "undo" all the good that many months of not eating any meat at all has done.

Instead they becoming obsessed with the label of "vegetarian' and having to live up to this ideal. And tying themselves up in knots in certain situations in order to avoid meat, especially if it is some tiny meat-derived ingredient that is causing the issue. It would just be easier all round to relent - just for one meal.

I understand if you are a hardcore ethical vegetarian who loves all animals you will never eat meat - but that isn't typical of most vegetarians these days is it?

I guess I'm just not such a black and white thinker about these things, and like to embrace the grey!

I would feel sick chewing on flesh I don’t want to eat it, it’s a gross dead body to me. I let me son have it as he likes it and I love him more than I love the animals (or my eco values!)

I don't know what you are trying to say.

I went vegan for 2 straight weeks i was bloody ill never again.
But tbh i dont eat alot of meat either i dont no if its just me but it was the taste of some belly pork i had then i came out in hives about an hour later.
I cant blame the pork really but i cant help think was it the pork not touched it since.
And about 12 months ago i got some cooked ribs from a polish shop as i was munching on it, it didnt taste like ribs if you no what i mean, then why i do not know but the word donkey came to my mind i dont no why.
I put it straight in the bin along with the rest of them.
Not touched meat meat since i do love a beef holahoop and other meat flavours stuff just not meat.

Im wouldnt call my self a vegetarian never have i dont no what id call my self.
Meat flavours but no meat half and half.

Donkey ribs 😂

I’m veggie and I absolutely would never want to eat meat. I would be thinking of the cow being slaughtered and it would disgust me. However I have zero judgment that you do, and like you say the less meat everyone eats the better

My father is a veggie due to poor quality meat being served when he was at boarding school. The texture of meat knocks him sick now so he wouldn’t order anything meat based. He is nearly 80.

I’m a life long vegetarian, I have never and would never eat a chicken, just like I wouldn’t eat a dog or a cat.

If a meat eater dislikes the way dogs at meat farms are treated but eats chicken, pork etc they clearly happy for certain animals to be tortured and abused and they’re happy to pay someone to do it on their behalf even if they pretend to care about certain species. If they genuinely had no problem eating meat they would happily eat dog, or cat etc.

I personally don’t know anyone who is a vegetarian for non-ethical reasons, as those who dislike the flavour of meat and fish are unlikely to turn down jelly, stock, cheese etc.

Given the ethical issues with dairy and eggs I must admit I do eyeroll at "ethical" veggies as they still eat food associated with some of the worst animal rights treatment out there. I can see where OP is coming from to be honest from that perspective- the odd bit of meat (particularly ethical sourced) is probably less bad than the foods that veggies do accept and eat. I am saying this as someone who has pondered vegetarianism for myself many times over the years and concluded I'd need to do vegan or nothing if my motivations are ethical.

I can also see that people get used to not eating meat and its just not appealing any more as well tho, and fundamentally, it's an each to their own question as it doesn't really bother or impact me.

Such a strange post and I’m surprised so many agree with you.

I haven’t eaten meat in 30 years and the idea of it is completely alien to me. I’m an ethical vegetarian, I don’t want to eat meat.

I've never needed to tie myself in knots eating out, and why would you care if the vegetarian in your group gets a meal that isn't the best? It happens to meat eaters too.

As for meat alternatives - it's perfectly reasonable to accept you like the taste of meat but don't want to eat it for ethical purposes. Personally I don't understand the argument (usually from meat eaters) that why would you want to eat something that tastes like meat if you are vegetarian. Conversely - why would you choose to eat a sentient being when you could eat something else that tastes the same but doesn't involve getting someone to kill an animal for you? But then when pressed they'd probably say it doesn't taste like meat anyway - in that case why say it?

I feel the same about courgettes so I can see where you're coming from.

Are you actually asking why vegetarians can't just relax and eat meat once in a while?!
Because we don't want to! It's really not that complicated. I don't want to eat meat, ever, ever. That's why I'm vegetarian. My DH occasionally eats fish, maybe once or twice a year on holiday. Some people have that attitude and that's fine. But for those who don't - they just don't!

What??

Several reasons -

• people transitioning from meat eating to vegetarian wanting things that look familiar so they know what to cook
• people who like the taste or sensation of meat but who want to avoid it for ethical reasons
• marketing nonsense and gimmicks (how meat like can we make this piece of textured soya protein etc)
• vegetarians being able to join things like barbecues
• catering for large groups is easier if you can make a similar meat substitute meal that resembles the meat meal

Eating things that resemble meat doesn't mean a vegetarian actually wants to eat meat.

This question made me laugh. Being a vegetarian is a binary thing. You either are, or you aren’t.

I’m a vegetarian for 35 years, you have to be black and white about it , that’s the whole point!
Principles only matter when they’re inconvenient.
I was once out at a restaurant with several couples, I had a plate of chips as there was genuinely nothing else I could eat ( this was several years ago ) and one of the other party chose a meat dish , & I told them you’re not a vegetarian in this case despite your protests to the contrary .
I also think you can’t claim to be an animal lover and be happy with their slaughter, you might be a pet lover but that’s it .

But they don't want to eat the cheese or the chicken? So there's nothing else for you to 'get'! They just don't want to. Surely you accept all adults should have agency over what they put in their bodies? Choice and preference is enough. We don't need to justify that to anyone.

I love animals but after 8 years as a vegetarian, my doctor and I agreed it was healthier for me to stop that diet (because of both my physical and mental health)

Well of course they are. You can't be a bit vegan. It's all or nothing! And again - personal choice.

Disappointing, I read that thinking you were writing a persuasive argument aimed at meat eaters cutting down. You had a good speech there until you decided to aim it at the wrong people. Exactly as you said why can't meat eaters be less black and white and accept a primarily vegetarian diet with good spices and flavours. Then as an occasional treat go to a specialist restaurant that cooks high quality meat. That's way I'd like to see the world go.

Is there a reason why you can't be more flexible and eat a bit of dog, or human occasionally? That's why vegetarians don't. It's disgusting and morally wrong to imprison and kill other animals for food you can live healthily without.

The general mumsnet approach to vegetarianism is very weird indeed and not one I have ever met in RL. It can be summed up in one or more of these ways. A meal is not a meal without meat in it. Vegetarians should cook meat for non vegetarians and not expect anyone to cook non meat food for them. Vegetarian food is disgusting and/or boring. I am allergic to all vegetarian food.

Well dog is eaten in many parts of the world and is commonly used as a racist way to target those that come from those countries so I don’t think that’s the best example!

That's irrelevant to me because I think it's morally wrong to eat any animal I don't care about cultural differences in meat eating, it's all disgusting to me.

If they genuinely had no problem eating meat they would happily eat dog, or cat etc.

My mother was clear you shouldn't eat carnivores - too close up the food chain, so more risk of zoonotic diseases.

We were on a farm with beef, dairy and pigs, and did eat meat. I suppose farmed pigs are not really vegetarian by choice. Even chickens will eat small animals sometimes, e.g. mice.

All the vegetarians I know are veggie because, like me, they love animals too much to eat them.

It isn’t the sort of thing you have a day off from!

For me, it is an absolute moral standard.

I would no more eat an animal occasionally than I would occasionally steal, rape, or murder.