To feel I almost have to apologise for being veggie...

[Loopylala7]

We were invited out tonight with a big group, but I couldn't go due to no babysitter. Anyway DH casually mentions that, well there was nothing on the menu for me anyway. This is following a holiday where being a vegetarian was considered weird, so had to survive on junk food.

These are just a few of my recent experiences. TBH I feel lucky if I go to a restaurant and have two dishes to choose from. Am I being unreasonable to think this is unreasonable?

I'm not veggie but I would avoid a restaurant without a decent veggie option. It's lazy and strikes me as a chef who has put no thought into the menu.
Disclaimer: veggie sister! I often find veggie meals more attractive when out. At home I can consider the provenance and quality of meat.

However if I'm BBQing for say 15-20 people and 2 are veggie, they will get a choice of various roast veggies, veggie skewers, garlic bread, salads etc. I don't think it's necessary to give a wider option of veggies than meats for 10% of the people.

I've been vegetarian for 30 years and a few months... things are better than they were but I have the added inconvenience of a food intolerance (which may actually have developed into an allergy as the last time I accidentally had a bit my mouth swelled up) to a very very common vegetable.

It makes life so blinking difficult!
The only safe kind of restaurant for me is Indian.

We basically never go out, as a result. My entire family (DH and DC) are also veggie. It's cheaper, easier, and more varied to eat at home. Tonight we had bottom-of-the-fridge vegetable curry, with an interesting assortment of veg plus chick peas and naan bread. It was lovely.

Jane no need for the humpfy face, it was just a question. Many meat eaters think it's fine to do that then are surprised when I veggie doesn't want the vegetables.

Yes magrat but you know, it's kind of nice to just have a few options on the menu instead of being treat as 'weird'.

Rhonda: terre a terre is definitely worth a visit, marvellous food

I've been veggie all my life and recently was diagnosed with coeliac disease. Eating out sometimes makes me want to sob.

If it's my choice I'll go for a curry as there will always be loads of veggie choices and gluten free, or a lot of the chain Italians do GF pasta/pizza now. But if it's a group choice I often end up eating a side order of veg.

YANBU

Living in London, I'm lucky that most places do cater for veggies, but some pubs (inc my local) are particularly dire. I have had a bowl of chips and a side salad more times than I'd like, and the worst thing is I feel like it makes my meat eating friends and family feel awkward. They tuck into their lovely roast/rack of lamb/mixed grill etc, and I'm sat there trying to eek out a bowl of tomato soup.
I always say it doesn't matter because I don't want to give up eating out, and i don't want to turn into a food nazi who feels they can dictate where we all eat. However, it does bother me that some places just can't be bothered to put any effort into a decent veggie selection. I mean, how hard can it be to pick one or two tasty meatless dishes for the menu? It's not always just veggies that eat them, I have lots of friends that go meat free sometimes if they think the option looks nice, which sadly is a rareity depending on where you go.
Btw, pubs and v fancy restaurants are the worst for this. I find most high st moderately priced restaurants, chains etc are quite good these days. But then I love goats cheese

miu, it's under the link "Meet your Meat".

Jane, do you only cook vegetables in different forms for your vegetarian guests? No protein at all?

I find it easy enough to get veggie dishes when out. I live in a big city, but I do notice the lack of choice out of town. A lot of folk are offended by the v word, that's why eating in groups or at a dinner party is difficult. I don't see what their problem is. I would never comment on what they eat - ugh, don't you know that sausages are made from pig scrotum? Yet they feel the need to judge what I eat. I'm pescetarian, so it's not too bad but meat often turns up in various guises. It's not ethical reasons for me, I just don't fancy meat. I wouldn't suggest a person who dislikes sprouts should shut up & eat them anyway.

I will admit to stopping inviting one veggie friend as she's a total pain to feed. Even when asked what she'll eat, she doesn't.

Rhonda there'll be salads, bean salads, cous cous etc but definitely no veggie burgers or sausages cos the only time I did them, they were left!!

Jane, judging by your previous posts, perhaps it's the way you ask her? You obviously resent catering for vegetarians who don't eat your "lovely" BBQed courgettes

Rhonda, courgettes were just an example

I do resent cooking things for veggies they say they eat tho'. Ultimately I just stop inviting them for meals etc. I'd do the same to meat eaters too, so it's not specifically aimed at veggies.

Yanbu, so many people don't understand what vegetarian means and offer fish as the one vegetarian option.

Being vegan is great fun at places like that

Fair enough. Why don't you try aubergines? Properly done, with Middle Eastern flavourings, they are heavenly on the BBQ. I also find a few slices of halloumi (soaked in lemon juice first to take away some of the saltiness) go down a treat

I think a vegan may starve in my house . Never had to feed one so I'm not entirely sure they'd starve.

Rhonda, I'm allergic to aubergines so no chance.

Allergic to aubergines? That's got to be a first! Could you just do them for your guests?

Simply no cos they may not eat them and I hate halloumi. Mozzarella ok but never halloumi. Why can't I be allergic to aubergines? I am, I've tried them 3 times and on each occasion have been off work for more than a week so never again!!

Sorry, I'm not saying I don't believe you. If they make you ill there must be something about them that disagrees with you. It's just such a shame because they are perfect for the BBQ because they go all melty.

I'm really puzzled about these vegetarian friends of yours who tell you they like something then refuse to eat it. Is it just the vegetarians who do this?

To be fair, when there's a group of us I don't particularly notice who eats what. It's the whiners that irritate me. I've no problem with the vast majority and at bbqs there's always different stuff to eat. Chicken, lamb, steak, burgers, sausages, veggie stuff, salads with nuts, mozzarella/tom salad, pasta n rice salads, breads etc so no one should be hungry. If I've specifically catered for an individual, I will tend to notice if they eat it though.

As they are adults, their choice, their bellies etc etc. if they are really unhappy they don't need to come to the next party/ meal/ occasion/ whatever you want to call it.

YANBU

If I see another mushroom sodding risotto on a menu I may have to resort to violence. For our work Xmas do, we were given 4 potential restaurants to choose from. 3 out of 4 had a variation of mushroom risotto as the only veggie option. FFS. The best was the restaurant that had two menus, a cheap one and a " lux" one. The vegetarian options on both were exactly the same I'm vegetarian, not stupid.

Jane I know waaaay more fussy meat eaters than veggies tbh, I don't think your friend is representative of your average veggie. She's just fussy, full stop. That would piss me off too.

And I also find that at barbecues and buffets, the meat eaters eat all the veggie stuff AS WELL as the meat, so if you only make 10% veggie stuff we're left with bugger all food. Big events (conferences, weddings) are the worst for this- I always go home hungry.

If Brighton is too far away, try Glastonbury town! Lots of choice in most cafes and pubs. Bath was good last time I visited and we had a nice meal in Manchester recently.
My DP and I are vegetarians and I don't eat wheat or gluten so eating out is a nightmare in most places. We tend not to eat out here in South Wales as it mostly re-heated food that tastes of plastic. We save our money and eat out at vegetarian/vegan cafes and restaurants when we go away for the weekend. I hate paying through the nose for something I would not serve at home.
Veggie lasagna and a chocolate brownie anyone?

I hate goats stinky cheese (love other stinky cheese but not the goat) and it seems to in every dish on offer.
I hope it will improve over time. Local pubs in the Brains chain mark all their meals and do offer some choice but I don't really like frozen ready meals.
I know I am seen as awkward but that is because our food here is so processed.
If they made a good lentil pie with mash, a gluten free pasta dish, anything, I would willing pay up. Do the owners actually ask vegetarians and vegans what they would like on the menu?

Jane, do you cook your vegetables with the meat at your BBQS?

I will tend to offer round the hot veggie food directly to the vegetarians first before putting it on the table for all to scoff though, which means the veggies do get some food