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.

Wagamama took the egg out

Took the egg out of what?

Surely people remember the days when the only vegetarian options on most menus were omlettes or cheese salad

Over time the options got better. The same will happen with vegan options which will increasingly move away from meat substitutes and vegan "cheese"

YANBU. I don’t want to eat weird fake meat/milk/cheese either.

I’m fine with “naturally” vegan foods )hummus, bean stew etc).

M&S Dinner for £12 - I’m looking at you. Please bring back a vegetarian (non-fake meat/milk/cheese) option.

@Wiltshirelass2019 I use olive oil. Just as rich. But your preference is fine - it doesn’t make the vegan food ‘processed crap’ if it’s cooked with olive oil instead of butter, does it?

I don't want to eat your stupid oil cakes that don't rise or your gross substitute cheese. I just took the piss a bit and brought pop and crisps.

Why would you put oil in cakes?

Not entirely sure why you would think crisps and pop is somehow taking the piss though. Lots of crisps are vegan as is pop so you did what you were told and brought vegan food . Not sure why you thought you were being clever...

FFS first world problems. I have a dairy allergy and eat meat, and I'm not moaning about the vegan stuff, I'm excited about the vegan options because it means I can finally eat out at more places. If you're that fussy eat at home or go to a veggie-only restaurant! Plenty of those can't be bothered to do vegan options.

Why would you put oil in cakes?

Lots of cakes are made with oil, for example most carrot cakes.

But my sister is vegan and loves cake. I have tried hundreds, from many different cafes (she always insists I try) they have never tasted as good as real cake.

I’ve got a friend like this too, they are constantly forcing their gross vegan cakes on me, I have to force it down and pretend I think it’s nice 😂 I think he might be part of some minging vegan cake cult 😂

I’m really baffled. I’m vegan. The only place I see vegan cheese or cakes is in Pizza Express, Zizzi etc, where there are definitely vegetarian options too. Everywhere else either offers meat and vegetarian dishes (and I have to order a bowl of chips and a salad) or meat, vegetarian and a vegan curry (I’m so sick of sweet potato curry!) I’ve genuinely never seen anywhere other than the chain pizza places using vegan cheeses etc. Maybe it’s different in different parts of the country?

This thread has reminded me why I try to avoid ever having a conversation with a vegan.

I’ve never had a nice vegan cake, vegan ‘cheese’, vegan ‘milk’ it’s all horrible processed crap that must be so bad for you.

As opposed to non-vegan cake which is so nutritious and full of goodness...

Oil in some cakes are nice and appropriate , like Italian olive oil cake. But I have noticed vegan cakes have a very unpleasant oily texture yuk

I don't see the problem here. How often do you go out to eat? And why can't you eat a vegan dish on some of those occasions?

The rest of the time you can just cook your own food. I really don't see the issue.

HugsAreMyDrugs at least its real ingredients if homemade... vegan cakes are full of shite

The only vegan cakes I’ve had were way better than other cakes!

I don’t bake so I’ve no idea why.

I find this annoying too. I’m allergic to nuts and a lot of the fake cheese is made from cashews etc. So my choices have actually narrowed! I don’t mind vegan if it avoids all the fake dairy crap.

YABU OP.
It's time everyone realised the serious damage to the planet which eating animal products causes.

I am glad that options at restaurants are catering for vegans at last.

Why are so many people on this thread referring to veganism as a fad? Are you completely ignoring all the news reports stating that we have to make changes to our diets to slow down the effects of global warming? People are vegan for all sorts of different reasons - for some it may be a fad but it’s a diet that has been on the rise for many MANY years! Just the increased importance of eating vegan has encouraged more people to make the change.

To answer your question OP, personally I think YAB a bit U but only because I still find it quite hard to find decent vegan options in most (non-chain) places and plenty of veggie options. I think most places need a lot more vegan AND veggie options to tempt people away from eating meat all the time!

Now I REALLY want some cake.....

As a vegetarian who loves cheese... I think you are being very unreasonable. It makes perfect business sense for the restaurant and - just as we veggies have been saying to meat eaters for a long time! - there is no harm in eating one meal that consists entirely of things you can eat, but which doesn't include something you particularly like. Obviously don't go back to places that don't offer anything you like, and see if enough people agree with you for it to sway the business. But it's horrible to complain about vegans actually being catered for, and it's madly unreasonable to expect that every menu provides for your individual likes and dislikes (see also: vegetarians who make a big fuss is something contains goats cheese or mushrooms because they, personally, don't like them and that should apparently shape all menus)

Dd, ds and I are all dairy intolerant and this seems to be on the rise.

I wonder if that's why so many places offer a vegan alternative as then it covers dairy free as well.

Agree vegetarian should be an option too tho, not just vegan.

Although for us it's great to see so many vegan options available!

Not entirely sure why you would think crisps and pop is somehow taking the piss though. Lots of crisps are vegan as is pop so you did what you were told and brought vegan food. Not sure why you thought you were being clever...

Because it was a nice party we were supposed to bring a dish. I knew it was vegan obviously.

Honestly, vegetarianism is an utter waste of time
So as a vegan you’re encouraging all vegetarians to eat meat?

I said took the piss a bit

Talking to a chef today, he is producing more and more vegan food. Between the meat eaters/pescatarian/ vegetarian/vegan/gluten free diets designing a menu is becoming impossibly difficult. Spare a thought for the kitchen. Unless you go to a specialist restaurant you may be disappointed.