I want Vegetarian choices, not just Vegan!

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

For 25 years I have eaten a vegetarian diet. I am vegetarian because I don't enjoy meat or fish.
I like eggs, cheese and all other dairy products. So I am not vegan.
This summer has shown to me that increasingly restaurants and supermarkets are making their vegetarian dishes vegan. So using substitute milks, cheese etc. I do not want substitutes. I am not vegan. I do not like any of the substitutes (I have tried them as I had a dairy free son for 3 years).
What can be done to protect those who are vegetarian? I am actually genuinely concerned about how places are doing this. It's much more common than people probably even realise (unless you're a vegetarian!). I want food choices when I eat out.

Yanbu, I've been veggie for a similar amount of time and we've gone from being offered fish to being offered vegan.

I stick with cuisines that have naturally veggie dishes like tapas, Italian and Greek so they aren't special as such.

People find it difficult to sustain a vegan diet so I think it will fizzle out a bit.

Yanbu - I've just posted about this on the Gregg's thread. It's easy to see from the comments on there why this is happening. So many ignorant people don't understand the difference. I want real dairy and eggs not processed crap and just asking for them to sprinkle a bit of cheese on the vegan option does not fix the issue.

I keep telling myself that vegan is a fad (at the current rate of popularity) and should end soon.

I think we veggies should maybe start writing to places we have eaten at where the veggie options have been reduced and point out that vegan and veggie are not the same.

Yes, clearly vegetarians need some of needless cruelty added to their food in order to feel like they're not going without.

Perhaps the question you should actually be asking is "what can be done to protect the cows and chickens that have to suffer because of my pointless diet?"

Honestly, vegetarianism is an utter waste of time. Either eat meat or cut out animal products entirely, what's the point in dithering between the two? Either pay for animal abuse or refuse to pay, if you're halfway between then you're just a hypocritical omni.

People find it difficult to sustain a vegan diet so I think it will fizzle out a bit

No, they don't. I think you'll find the number of vegans in the UK is gradually on the increase, and will only continue to be

@aliensprig maybe the OP just doesn't enjoy eating meat and it's nothing to do with the cruelty aspect.

What can be done to protect those who are vegetarian?

“Protect” is a ridiculous word to use.

I'm vegetarian because I don't enjoy eating meat. I've noticed exactly the same.

I’ve noticed this too. I hate tofu. Noticed a lot of veggie options have gone, in favour of fucking tofu 😁

Honestly, vegetarianism is an utter waste of time. Either eat meat or cut out animal products entirely, what's the point in dithering between the two? Either pay for animal abuse or refuse to pay, if you're halfway between then you're just a hypocritical omni.

I'm veggie because I don't like meat. Not because I'm on some save the animals crusade. I'll still be veggie long after this vegan fad has fizzled out and many return to bacon sarnies and maccie D's. So in the long run I'm probably doing more for animals and the planet.

I also think animal proteins are part of a balanced diet.

Yes OP this is happening to me
Eggs and cheese seem to have vanished at work catered things

I don’t eat out much so I don’t know, but frankly I miss quiche and goats cheese etc. now the options are - chicken dish or vegan dish.

I want vegan not vegetarian because I hate the treatment of dairy cattle and egg laying chickens. I have been vegan for decades and am happy that more and more people are embracing the ethos.

Also, a vegetarian can eat vegan food, but a vegan can’t necessarily eat vegetarian, so it makes sense for restaurants to cater for a vegan market not just a vegetarian one.

Surprisingly enough - Nando's veggie burgers/wraps etc are brilliant. You can add halloumi onto it too! 😍

maybe the OP just doesn't enjoy eating meat and it's nothing to do with the cruelty aspect.
And you expect restaurants and shops to provide an entire menu to suit someone's personal preverences

I agree! It's great places are offering vegan options but annoyingly it's often the case that it is instead of a vegetarian option when there should be both. I'm happy to eat many vegan meals sometines, but like you have said, many of them are processed.

YANBU, I was literally talking about this the other day! I was veggie for years, I do eat fish and chicken now but love vegetarian food and don’t agree with a vegan lifestyle yet everywhere now ticks the box by offering vegan food with substitutes for cheese etc and nothing for vegetarians.
Given the choice I usually pick vegetarian option where it’s good but I avoid vegan as I think it’s unhealthy.

Aliensprig I wrote in my OP - I don't like meat or fish. I do like eggs, cheese and other dairy. Hence why I eat a vegetarian diet. I'm not doing it as some sort of fad.

Ive noticed this too. What bothers me more if that the vegan dishes are often full of meat substitute type rubbish that is high in salt. I like vegan food when its whole foods. Tofu is gross too.

YANBU. I don't eat meat or fish (I don't like it). It does seem that vegan dishes are now the catch 'em all option on menus. It makes me feel robbed.

Just said this to my partner yesterday after getting incredibly frustrated at being limited to were I can eat out and very poor options. Why assume just because you don't eat meat/fish that your automatically a vegan now 😤

Noticed the same too . After 30 years of being vegetarian I’ve noticed vegetarianism being a fad for a few years a few times , and then the options available scaling down as people move on . I’m enjoying the vegan options available at the moment, for some it’s undoubtedly a passing fad . What worries me more is the bias towards heavily processed vegan choices out there .

@MrsDimmond hahaha wtf. I don't expect anything. You're barking up the wrong tree for a vegan/veggie argument with me, dear. Vegan here. Just not a preaching whining son of a bitch one.

I think yabu OP.
Providing plant based, cruelty-free options is fantastic.

I honestly don't understand vegetarians who object to eating animal products on moral grounds but eat dairy and eggs.

“Honestly, vegetarianism is an utter waste of time”

Well, I don’t like meat and find it hard to digest. I’m not on a moral crusade.

YANBU

I’m not a vegetarian but I’m a coeliac and have noticed simple things like buying a coffee is more difficult due to the trend of using oat milk. According to the coeliac U.K. charity, lots of places can no longer guarantee their hot drinks are suitable for those with coeliac / gluten intolerance because of the cross contamination aspect.

Me too! Tired of having vegan food only options. Agree with the post that vegan food can be full of salt/fillers etc. I’ve been vegetarian for 20 years and gone through the token lasagne vege option to loads of choices and now none. I refuse to eat vegan cheese as it’s full of rubbish.

For goodness sake, just tell the server you’d like the vegan option with normal cheese etc. I spent years creating entrees out of side dishes from menus and I love that I can order a vegan meal in most places now. It’s not an attack on vegetarians, you don’t need ‘protecting’. I also don’t think vegan dishes are replacing vegetarian ones for the most part, additional options are added so companies can capitalise on the vegan trend.