not feeding "meat" to niece and nephew when they stay for one night

[SuzzieScotland]

Been vegan for 9 years and never have meat in the house.

Should I be expected to provide a special meat meal for a 3 and 7 yo when they stay over? Rather than just what I would eat, they would be getting a balanced diet and 10+ fruit veg portions.

Brother in law has kind of suggested it would be unhealthy not to have meat for 24 hours...

TheRealYellowWiggle - well, as all my friends and family know I don't eat meat (I don't like it at all) they would all prepare me something different or a non meat equivalent.

However, I did have this as an issue this weekend whilst away. We stayed in a chateau and they provided an evening meal. When we arrived the place was different to what we had expected and it wasn't, as I'd thought, a menu type restaurant in the chateau. I was a shared table and you ate what the host cooked. I told her I didn't eat meat - they had not asked for dietary stuff beforehand. The meal was a meat/veg/ rice dish - all in one. So I couldn't just have the veg. Her alternative was an omelette. Not ideal as part of a paid for menu really, but as I hadn't told her beforehand (really hadn't thought I needed to - as said reality was very different to what I hade been expecting) then I had no choice. If there had been no omelette I would have made do with the bread on the table and the cheese afterwards.

Of course YANBU and your BILL is an idiot. I say that as a meat eater.

10 portions of fruit or veg is not unreasonable in up 24 hour period seems about right to get 7+ a day in.

Frankly, I think your brother in law is out of order, i guess that being the guests they do not get to dictate the menu. They may ask you to avoid certain things due to allergies but not to demand meat.

I am a bit of a food fundamentalist and insist my child has at least 2 portions of protein and 5 vegetables a day when he is under my care-. I can assure you that no child has died for missing up on meat for 24 hours.

If he thinks they need protein, some lentils will do.

Birdsgottafly

I think you have misunderstod me.

I would always provide a suitable meal for all visitors to me home. It makes little difference to me - I already cook two different meals many nights - one for me, one for DH/DD.

However, I wouldn't expect others to have to cater for my food choices elsewhere, though hope close family/friends would do to some extent.

I'm a vegi and when people come to me they eat vegi food as a rule, because thats all I know how to cook! I have no problem with other people eating meat, they can eat what they chose but I have real issues with the 'you expect others to feed you special food, so why don't you feed them meat' argument. I have no idea how to cook meat. So you can either eat what I cook or, if you can't have a meal without meat, risk food poisoning or something tasting like shit because I have no idea what I'm doing?

We had family up this week. When they ate here they ate vegi and when we went out we ate meat. Simple as that. No one died!

"It leaves you with a plate of cooked veg."

Yes, that has been my meal on occasions when I have been to people's houses and they haven't provided a non meat version. TBH though I am quite happy to have just veg occasionally, so long as there is plenty.

YANBU.

The only area where I would be careful is breakfast for the little one. He might still be very keen on milk (cereal, porridge, just a glass of milk). Apart from that? I am sure they will both survive.

the issue here is that a lot of meat eater can not imagine how you can have a nice meal (and balanced) when being veggi or vegan. Talking as a meat eater here!

YANBU!

yanbu, but it is better to increase dietary fibre gradually, to avoid digestive upset, so if the kids aren't used to that much fruit and veg etc I wouldn't up it so radically.

I think it can feel different to provide meat if no meat is ever normally cooked in your house - if you're one veggie amongst meat-eaters, it's probably not a big deal but in a household of vegetarians or vegans it would be.

"What would you actually eat in a typical day Bun and Suzzie?"

I think you misunderstood me. I physically couldn't eat that volume of food in a day. I was asking the OP how she manages it.

No meat here, either. Ever. Visiting friends and family all know that, and some are veggie/vegan anyway.

However, I also have a BIL who thinks it's unhealthy/dangerous not to eat meat at least a couple of times a day.

I'm sure your niece and nephew will survive

Well personally I would ask the 7 year old what they like to eat and cook it.

Seems to me this is about a tussle between you and your bil and it's not really is it?

Excuse sorry typing this on my phone.

But, oats with apple and rasins.

Cue, tomayoe, Brazil but, avacado, basil, red onion, black olive salad

Snack banana and orange smoothie with frozen red berries

Steamed beans, broccoli, and peas with ground up seasme seeds, olive oil and qenoir.

For dinner I'm thinking about a curry, with cauliflower, lentils, sweet potatoes, leaks, peas

Don't really eat wheat, but will be getting them a loaf of bread and almond milk, as it is hard to adjust if you have alot of carbs.

Sounds delicious. I'll bring the wine shall I? (makes sure it is vegan friendly)

And what was the other thread?

Its not really a tussel, I just end up rolling my eyes at many things he says. The kids are fine away from their parents..

I'm glad the women here are generally switched on, he feeds them diet coke as if its healthy..I find it heartbreaking.

Sounds lovely, can I come and visit you?

Jacket potato with cheese or something?
BIL is being precious.

YANBU.

Not eating meat for 24 hrs is hardly going to kill them.

YANBU
I'm very grateful DSIL lets my very fussy DD2 have ham or bacon occasionally, because we live a long way apart and stay for several days, but I wouldn't ask her to.

Being a vegan for one day won't harm them at all.

DD2 happily does veggie for a couple of days when my Jewish DF visits.

What did BIL actually say? He's a tit anyway, I'm just nosy!

He doesn't realise that when he has a pasta arabiatta or napoli, it's vegan?

Not if the past dough has eggs in it.

Dried pasta generally doesn't.