Vegetarian or not!!

[twocockersarebetterthanone]

We've invited my family for Christmas but one is a vegetarian. Now I've got no problem with that (and will cater accordingly) BUT she's said she eats fish. How the hell does that work? She's a veggie for animal welfare not Heath beliefs so how can she justify a fish, but not say a turkey, being killed to eat.

AIBU to want to (but obviously won't)!say you'll get what you're given. Just don't get it - someone please enlighten me!!

Inferior roast potatoes... To me veg / potatoes / chips covered in animal fat / bacon lardons / chorizo is a travesty. Each to their own, I say!
But irrational vegetarian is an unfair comment. The v force is strong in some, it's their choice what / not to eat... Respect for others maybe?

Barbara no, that's not the case. If someone says they're vegetarian, just serve them vegetarian food. Honestly, you're being ridiculous. You would probably judge me as an 'irrational vegetarian' (why on earth you feel the need to judge I don't know) and I eat none of those things and haven't for 20 years. The motivation isn't important. It's really not hard to bung in a vegetarian alternative!

Agree with Living. With all the food that's bought & all the eating that's done at Christmas, I just don't see what the big deal is...

I am the same, I say I do not eat meat and never call myself a vegetarian but my mum DM, DH, MIL and SIL all describe me as a vegetarian. I do ask if there is a vegetarian option and order vegetarian meals on planes and set menus.

I think it is hard to draw the line. For example I used to be vegetarian - no meat stock, gelatine, etc but I drank whatever alcohol I wanted, even though a lot of beer/wine isn't vegetarian. I drank milk and ate eggs - I'd only buy free range ones but inevitably ate battery ones when out (in mayonnaise, quiche, etc).

Now I eat meat. I've got a few small local farms with good ethics and I eat animals I consider to have had decent lives (eg I've got some 8 year old mutton to eat and I do not buy same season lamb as I consider it hasn't had enough of a life). Im largely happy with my choices at the moment and it allows us to eat together as a family. However when I go out/eat at friends that buy battery farmed meat I really don't want to eat it. With friends I try to explain what I do and don't eat (it's hard without sounding like you're giving someone a lecture) but when eating out I often just say I'm vegetarian. It's a lie but it's so much easier than trying to explain, especially when in other countries (I used to travel a lot with work). If there's an option I'll book vegan meals (eg on flights) even though I'm not vegan.

So OP maybe your guest does eat fish but is happier to eat vegetarian, maybe they eat for example sustainably caught fish but not farmed salmon - if they've told you they are vegetarian just buy them a nut roast, or if it's putting your nose out of joint ask them to bring something they can chuck in the oven.

Does it matter? Are you expecting her to stop eating fish?

She can eat what she likes. A lot of us would like her to stop calling herself a vegetarian though.

Well I've opened a big can of worms (obviously won't serve them to her though )

Still don't quite understand why eating one previously living creature is kinder then another one but each to their own.

Someone said it's like comparing a human to a turkey and it's to do with cognitive function - if that was the case then most people who've been on Jeremy Kyle could be eaten.

OP, there is little logic in it, but it is her body and she can put whatever she wants in it, within reason - I am still struggling ton understand why you're bothered enough to post about it.

but it is her body and she can put whatever she wants in it

True, but English is not her personal language and she can't put whatever meaning she likes on words. Vegetarian means not eating fish, it doesn't matter what she personally thinks.

Trifle

It's just the whole calling yourself a vegetarian when she's not in my eyes a proper one. It must make full vegetarians mad!

Totally understand the whole veggie for health reasons but don't see the difference in eating a fish or a chicken.

And as for bothering enough to post the original question - well maybe it was just a light hearted comment - I didn't realise only full in depth discussions were allowed

I honestly don't see why the simple misuse of a word would make anyone 'mad'. It's minutiae at best.

Sorry, OP, you sounded genuinely annoyed so didn't realise you were joking.

I'm a pescatarian, although I rarely use that word as it sounds a bit poncey. If people ask I just say I don't eat meat but I eat fish.

Ideally I'd like to be a vegan, but I'm doing it step by step. I see mammals and birds as being far more sentient beings than fish. I believe I could kill a fish if I had to, but I couldn't kill a chicken, pig or cow. So that's how I've started.

I find it odd when vegetarians get uppity about pescatarianism. I think the dairy and egg industries are horrific and personally it's more important to me to work on cutting out dairy and eggs than fish.

To those saying "it makes no sense to eat fish and not meat", it makes no sense to me to not eat meat for animal welfare reasons, but still eat dairy and eggs.

I was a "vegetarian" from 1982-1999. Sometimes I ate fish & I never worried about tiny ingredients that might not be on the label. The word pescatarian was only invented in 1992... I've only ever heard that word used on MN, actually.

I am pescatarian, eat fish but no other animals. Rather than call more attention to myself than is necessary, I often say vegetarian and hope for the best (except in the posh restaurants where chicken or beef stock seems to be used to 'enhance the flavor' of everything!) - and I always offer to bring a suitable dish when invited to eat. I have no issue with everyone else at table eating whatever they like, just don't want it on my plate or served with the same serving spoon or too close to me

I was a vegetarian at 18 but became ill, losing my hair, and found myself lacking in iron. I reintroduced a small amount of fish and got better. I sometimes said I was a vegetarian, sometimes not (but never when eating fish)

I'm another pescetarian, sorry if that annoys you OP

Like others, I aim to give up fish eventually, I only gave up meat in the summer.

I also always chose "free range fish"- not farmed so I know they've had a nice life, swimming about in the ocean. I do feel that is different to eating a chicken which has been bred and raised in the confines of a farm.

DD2 and I are vegetarian. We 100% do not eat fish; we don't eat any form of dairy because I'm v v allergic, and we won't eat anything commercially produced that has eggs in it either. We eat eggs, but only if they are from the lovely lady down the road, who has the most spoilt hens.

I guess really we are specific-egg-vegan.

Another pescetarian often using the term vegetarian simply because it's easier for others to understand and I'm not bothered either way as I only eat fish on rare occasions. I live fish though, no plans to give it up. For me it's simply the fact that I don't like the taste of meat and also I definitely couldnt get myself to hunt/kill animals we eat the meat of. However I have no qualms about fishing, happy to do it from start to finish. So I'm just following what feels right for me! And it's easier to buy sustainable/line-caught fish than free range meat in many cases...it's my choice! Sorry if it bothers you :)

love fish not live...

Another pescetarian often using the term vegetarian simply because it's easier for others to understand

It isn't easier to understand because you are telling lies. you might as well say I'm a vegetarian, well I'm not but I like the label so make me special stuff and then I';ll eat the fish anyway."

You're pissing evryone off.

You know fish are actually animals too.

I don't think anyone is bothered by pescetarians. Eat only fish if you choose, it's clearly your choice. But it's incorrect to call yourself a vegetarian, and this causes some unfortunate assumptions for vegetarians when people think they will eat fish.

User147 Lies. Really? Wow.

So very very glad I never have to eat at your house.