to think it is too late to tell me she is now vegeterian?

[listsandbudgets]

having 2 couples round for dinner tonight. this was arranged about 3 weeks ago.

just had text message from Mrs W

"hi lists just to let you know I decided to turn vegeterian just before Christmas.. so no meat, fish, gelatine , meat fat etc. Thanks."

AIBU to serve jersey a tin of macaroni cheese while everyone else enjoys starter of smoked salmon followed by roast lamb and all the trimmings?

jmh740 omg really? Maybe they'd had a load of 'veggies' as for fish or chicken recently
Really does bug me!

Pyongyang I've found a smile and a breezy "I don't really like meat!" has worked well for me. Most recently with my boss, who I've worked with for 2.5 years but hadn't actually noticed until he saw me eating the in his opinion, totally unappetising veggie menu at the work Christmas do (it was bloody lovely). It also helps on the rare occasions when I do fancy something with meat or the odd McDonald's if we can call that meat that no one questions me.

I still get a lot of both "I thought you were veggie" and "I didn't know you were veggie" but I find that answer covers all bases without getting into too much boring detail. We all have to find our best solutions.

By that logic User, as everything is grown in shit in a round about way, nothing is truly vegetarian

Vegetables are vegetarian, no matter what shit they grow in. Much wine is not though.
You don't have to explain yourself to anyone, but the facts remain the same. If you regularly consume non vegetarian products, you aren't actually a vegetarian.

Rhoda I decided a few years ago that it was easier to say I am vegetarian than to say "I dont really eat meat.....well I do but only certain types and cuts and it depends on my mood. Oh and I am fine with meat gravy and veg cooked in meat fat/juices

Easier for you maybe. Not easier for the vegetarians who get given non veggie food because people like you confuse the issue with this nonsense. You might as well say "I'm a vegetarian, except I'm not at all, I'm just a big fibber£

Very rude of your guest to drop this on you at the last minute and expect you to comply. If it were me, I'd have the consideration to ask you to just leave the meat off the plate and give me the veggies.

BTW OP, how did the party go?

I think she should have been (reasonably politely) told that telling you at that point isn't enough notice as the shopping's been done and would have asked her to bring something along.

Hope it went well anyway, but it always gets my goat when the onus is on you to be reasonable about unreasonable requests.

I would always try to put it back on them. So they feel the consequences of their unreasonable request rather than you. I'd have been seething all night otherwise!

Vegetables are vegetarian, no matter what shit they grow in.

Well, not to get all technical but that's not actually true. Many plants extract nutrients from dead animals and insects; eg tomatoes trap insects on the sticky hairs on their stems and then 'eat' them through absorption.

If you're a vegetarian you don't eat products derived from meat and fish, how come so many "vegetarians" conveniently exclude things that they like, eg wine?

Because they are adults and you don't make their rules?

"I'm vegetarian and don't give a fuck about how my wine is filtered as it's served generously. I just won't eat meat.'
So, you're not a vegetarian then..,,,,

Interesting about wine and sieving thro dish guts 😱

How did dinner party go op?

Daily fail - you're right, you can eat exactly what you want and don't need to explain yourself (and in fact, eating less meat and meat products is a nicer thing to do).
But, as soon as people say they're vegetarian, that means the host has to go to extra effort to produce a different meal for you. (Whether it's demanded or not, as often the host will anyway just to be nice).
This is unfair when you yourself are picking and choosing which bits of vegetarianism suits you.

Can't believe the late notice she gave. I'm wondering how it went, but a big part of me expects that the vegetarianism went out the window as soon as she saw what you'd cooked.

I have a lot of respect for vegetarians (god knows I could never be that self-controlled) but this has just a whiff of attention-seeking to me.

Tomato plants eat insects?

arethereanyleftatall I don't eat meat and am not picky about wine. Not sure how my telling a host I'm vegetarian puts anybody out. When I'm a host and someone tells me they're Kosher or Halal (even last minute) it doesn't put me out.

How did the dinner party go?
Did she enjoy her nutroast?

I just tell host I don't eat meat these days.

I'm not veggie but don't eat meat. I do eat fish and she'll fish, and I drink wine and cheese that's not veggie. I don't have meat fat etc on potatoes and in gravy etc.

Mine is more of a taste issue and that some upsets my stomach. Not eaten it since I was 13.

I do tell hosts in Ada Dd and explain I'm happy for them to not go lots of time and hassle etc and I'm happy with the veggies etc for a roast. And I offer to bring an alternative for myself if easier.

Of course it puts them out. They have to cater, individually, for you. Which would be fine if you were consistent in your convictions.
But if you're anything like the utter pita vegetarian we have in our group; we have to use separate pans, separate BBQ, etc to cook for her - fish! - whilst she glugs the non veg wine like a fish, followed by a latte made with horrendously cruel milk, whilst wearing leather, and feeding her dc chicken nuggets made in the worst way etc etc.
I'm sure you're not like that, but fuck, this particular girl really gives vegetarians a bad name. And breathe.

daily

You're missing the point. Actual vegetarians (who avoid all animal products) are constantly told that so-and-so's friend is vegetarian and eats fish / gelatine / rennet so they thought it would be ok.

Gradually people begin to believe that being vegetarian is a flexible thing, and that anyone who isn't prepared to overlook the idd animal product in their meal is being "picky". So yes, eat what you want but you are contributing to the confusion by not being consistent.

• odd

"Of course it puts them out. They have to cater, individually, for you."

Now this I really don't get. Why? Will meat eaters explode if they have a meal without meat? If one of my guests is a vegetarian then do is everyone else for that meal.

Actual vegetarians don't avoid all animal products SuburbonRhonda actual VEGANS do. I think part of this so called misinformation is spread by idiots who have no idea how to tell the difference?

bertrand

Come on, you've been on these threads long enough to know that many omnivores - or "carnivores" as they sometimes call themselves - will literally die if they eat a vegetarian meal.

I actually don't believe in the fish eating vegetarian who demands a separate barbecue and gives her children chicken nuggets. And if she does exist why the fuck does anyone pander to her?

Oh, sorry, Rhonda. I forgot for a moment. Poor things- it must be so restrictive for them...

If you're going to start name-calling, daily, I'll leave you to your own mis-information.

When I go to my vegan friends house I bring my own food. When he comes to mine he brings his own food. Avoids a whole world of issues!
Although he did object to me cooking my daughters fish cake in the same oven as his hashbrowns but I told him to stop being such a nob.