To wonder why some people claim to be a vegetarian yet still eat meat?

[HamstersAndHockeySticks]

Not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things but I do find it odd.

I knew someone a few years ago who liked to remind people that she was a vegetarian and made a big song and dance about the fact she had to make sure she ate enough nuts and seeds, etc to get protein. Fair enough. Except this person would regulary eat fish, chicken curry and hotdogs . This was the work canteen so I knew it was actual chicken and hot dogs rather than meat substitutes. She also ate McDonald's big macs however she would tell people that McDonald's burgers weren't really made from meat, but simply animal fat . Even if that was true, which it never has been as far as I know, where exactly did she think animal fat comes from?

I've also met a couple of other people who claimed they were a vegetatian but still ate meat in some form but none were as entertaining as she was.

Friend described herself as this - ate fish and chicken - really it was only processed meat and red meat she didn't eat.

She said she called herself vegetarian as people argued less with her about her eating choices. I was a bit think is it really so hard to say I don't eat red meat. Also she didn't have to go on about it on one special occasions for us - as there was a menu with plenty of choice as we explained many times.

myusernameis - close friend on my uni course did that when we left the city, where Halal meat was available, for field work.

I could see why in the end - she also said she was allergic to dogs - if she touched them it meant some kind of purification things she had to do later - I learnt why hard way when we went to stop at a B & B with dog - I explained dogs presence and freedom to roam made our booking unsuitable to us it was because she was Muslim and woman heatedly argued with her telling her it wasn't part of her faith. Next place I stuck with allergies.

The problem with people mislabelling themselves as vegetarian for their own convenience, is that this can muddle other people's definitions of a vegetarian, including people within the catering industry. In other words, assumptions may be made about what vegetarians eat, based on a non vegetarian claiming to be one.

I think I may be a fraud...

I don't eat any meat or fish and haven't for about 20 years, I agree about "anything with a face is out!"

But I do take cod liver oil capsules for my joints. And I eat dairy to boost my bone density along with soya because I was diagnosed with borderline osteoporosis. I guess if I were to look at the ingredients on certain products there are animal ingredients. But I am now confused, because this seems to start creeping into the realms of veganism.

Oh I dont know! I always call myself a vegetarian.