VEGETARIANS

[DaisyRaine90]

I understand people who REALLY don't eat meat, but people who sometimes do but then make you cater for them?

Should I pander to it or just say "I saw you eat a bacon sandwich last week so if you don't want to eat meat bring your own main"

[Floellabumbags]

One of my friends tried to convert me to goat butter. It was awful.

[Pearlsaringer]

Mike keep that suggestion to yourself, goat's milk tea is a trend we don't need starting!.

[MikeUniformMike]

Buffets usually don't have enough vege options and it will be eaten by non-vegetarians too. Vegetarian foods are usually less filling than meaty ones too.

[MikeUniformMike]

Some people are vegetarians who don't eat cheese but do eat eggs.

[MikeUniformMike]

Pearl, bloody goat's cheese. On every sodding vege option.
Starter and main. I want to ask if they'd do me a cup of tea with goat's milk too.

[speakout]

People have different reasons for not eating meat.
It may be health, welfare, aesthetics etc.

I will always choose the vegetarian menu or the non meat stuff at a buffet.
I do sometimes eat meat, but is my reason for eating the vegetarian stuff on a buffet less valid than a "real " vegetarian?

[speakout]

But some people may not eat " flesh" but be happy to eat non vegetarian cheese, or non vegetarian wine, or gummie bears.

They are technically not eating flesh.

[SuperSharpShooter]

"There are different degrees of vegetarianism". Its not so absolute after all.
Really?
Veggies - don't eat meat/flesh
Vegans - don't eat any animal products.

[LipstickHandbagCoffee]

I don’t have a preference about someone else diet,I just don’t like preachy food zealots

[Scholes34]

The "vegetarian" who occasionally eats meat or fish is much more preferable to the meat eater who cannot eat a meal without meat in it .

I eat meat, but won't eat duck, because they're cute.

[LipstickHandbagCoffee]

Also, vegetarian since 18yo, and I do get a laugh at all the vegetariancomelatelys, esp when they try explain the complexities of vegetarianism to me. No it’s not hard, you plan,you cook your own food. Simple as that.

A fridge & freezer full of quorn isn’t being a committed vegetarian-it’s simply eating convenience food that doesn’t contain meat.

[oslolou]

I am 47 and have been vegetarian since I was 17. It is easy and these tits who say they eat chicken or fish and are vegetarian are dicks

[alletik]

sadeye

" I think it’s not an absolute term, but one where there are many shades of grey.

Sorry, but No! It is an absolute term! Words mean things. You are vegetarian or you're not. Nobody cares if you're not, but don't make life difficult for the rest of us!"

Trouble is - which absolute term about vegetarianism do you want to be absolute about?

Vegetarian society defines vegetarianism as not eating: "This includes meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, insects, by-products of slaughter* or any food made with processing aids created from these."

But if you read the Oxford English Dictionary, it defines a vegetarian as someone who "A person who does not eat meat or fish, and sometimes other animal products". Now as you say, words mean things and meat specifically refers to the "flesh of an animal". So according to the Oxford English dictionary, you could eat gelatine or cochineal and still completely fulfill the dictionary definition of a vegetarian.

Of perhaps, the Cambridge dictionary definition, which again only says vegetarianism is "a person who does not eat meat". Again, no reference to gelatine, or cochineal. Interestingly, this time no reference to fish or shellfish either (although I think it is covered by meat).

But go back a few years, and Webster's 1913 dictionary defines a vegetarian as someone who "holds that vegetables and fruits are the only proper food for man." I'm guessing they don't eat pasta either!

So whilst you may be clear that a vegetarian is someone who eats no meat, no fish, no by products of slaughter. There are others who quite legitimately define vegetarian in a very different way, and will happily eat fish, but not meat, or will not eat meat but will eat gelatine etc... All of these are techincal definitions of vegetarian, depending on which definition of vegetarian you use!

And that's before you even begin to think about Ovo or lacto (or both) vegetarians etc...

So Yes, I would definitely say it is shades of grey. Perhaps that's why the Vegetarian society itself says "There are different degrees of vegetarianism". Its not so absolute after all.

[SimultaneousEquation]

Okay then Carmella... I identify as a vegetarian and would like society to treat me as one. Is that better now?

[Pearlsaringer]

Eeeww goat’s cheese, don’t get me started @heron98! Why has every Cafe/gastro pub/restaurant replaced its cheese based dishes, which taste of cheese, with goats cheese, which tastes of (I’m guessing) goat?

[heron98]

I do not describe myself as vegetarian because I'm not.

However, I do my best to eat as little meat as possible and choose the vegetarian option most of the time unless I don't like it (this usually means if it's goat's cheese, halloumi or mushrooms, all of which I hate).

I think it's ok to try and do the right thing and not eat meat, even if you don't do it all the time.

[Pearlsaringer]

The Vegetarian Society defines a vegetarian as follows:
"A vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, fungi, algae, yeast and/or some other non-animal-based foods (e.g. salt) with, or without, dairy products, honey and/or eggs. A vegetarian does not eat foods that consist of, or have been produced with the aid of products consisting of or created from, any part of the body of a living or dead animal. This includes meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, insects, by-products of slaughter* or any food made with processing aids created from these."

Being vegetarian is about what you do or do not eat. So I would say my earlier post about it being an absolute term still applies. But I do take the point about further lifestyle choices such as not wearing leather, etc which are consistent with those principles.

And yes, I have been the guest at events where the vegecurious have cleared the buffet and left me nothing to eat bar a few carrot sticks and a dip!

[Iwanttobe8stoneagain]

If I'm out and about I often have the veggie option (after 20 years being veggie at a time it was really unusual). If people ask me over for dinner I will eat whatever they have been kind enough to provide me. If I really don't want to eat something, I'll either eat the other things on the plate or try some of it! So rude when guests who are being provided with food, drink and kindness start demanding food. Often as a veggie kid i would end up with a salad sandwich at a friends house.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

I don't like all these new terms like flexitarian, part time vegetarian, pescatarian, etc. It's like people want the 'cachet' of being vegetarian without actually making the dietary sacrifice.

But I do like faux-gertarian. I think that is spot on.

[CamelliaSinensis35]

Camellia If you have travelled to very different cultures from this one, and been welcomed into the houses of strangers who are honouring you, you will understand that it can be completely incomprehensible to them (and very hurtful) if you reject certain luxury foods.

Whatever extreme example you create, the fact remains the same: if you eat meat you cannot and should not call yourself a vegetarian. Vegetarians do not eat meat.
Eat what you like for whatever reason you choose but don't claim to be vegetarian if you are not.

I don't know what people are struggling to understand in this very simple concept

[PumpkinSquash]

I rarely eat meat (partially because I don't want to catch sone horrible disease from low quality meat) but mostly to keep my husband who is full time vegetarian company. It's not always easy for him so I tend not to eat meat in front of him.

Wow, my husband is a really strict vegetarian but I still eat meat. Each is our own choices. I get that it's hard to be a veggie when out and about (even wanting a portion of chips is hard as traditional places insists on frying them in beef dripping!)
Be buggered if I'm missing out though. Surely he's a grown adult and that's his choice?

[amibeingaprude]

Blimey, ttbb, your husband is an adult and should be able to monitor his own food intake without finding it difficult.

Also, what disease are you going to catch from low quality meat??

[Ttbb]

I'm not vegetarian per se but I rarely eat meat (partially because I don't want to catch sone horrible disease from low quality meat) but mostly to keep my husband who is full time vegetarian company. It's not always easy for him so I tend not to eat meat in front of him.

[sadeyedladyofthelowlands63]

I think it’s not an absolute term, but one where there are many shades of grey.

Sorry, but No! It is an absolute term! Words mean things. You are vegetarian or you're not. Nobody cares if you're not, but don't make life difficult for the rest of us!

[JaneEyre70]

People who eat meat occasionally are NOT vegetarian and I'd cater accordingly. And I would give them short shrift for their comments if they made one. That isn't a dietary preference, it's called being a pain in the arse.