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.

@Wiltshirelass2019

Not just Oreos, no (although they do seem to the go-to accidentally vegan biscuits). Lots of other biscuits are accidentally vegan and no doubt eaten by people on this thread without realising it.

Idontlikethatship yeah it’s complete bollocks from the NHS there, veganism made me sick

YANBU!

I bet you drive, fly etc.. that’s not great either - Are you giving that up?

As do a lot of non-vegans. Are you expecting them to give it up? Or is it just vegans who have to be perfect at all times?

As someone with a dairy allergy I’m delighted... it’s gone from plain pasta and tomato sauce to actual choice!!

lily I miss mushroom risotto!

yeah it’s complete bollocks from the NHS there, veganism made me sick

Ah well, your knowledge is clearly far superior to the NHS

Oh so you know better than the NHS wiltshirelass?

Great, I'll know who to take dietary advice from

I was vegan for around 2 years. Whilst I absolutely don’t mind quintessential vegan dishes, it can get a bit bland after a while. I think certain vegan foods (which happen to be trendy and therefore commonplace) are an acquired taste and I would definitely prefer something vegetarian instead. Yes I can eat the vegan options as a vegetarian but vegetarian options tend to taste better due to being less restrictive. Poor examples but vegan cakes and pizza never really taste ‘right.’

Cross posted with hugs😁

@aliensprig -well vegetarianism isn’t a waste of time for me, my body can’t digest meat properly and eating it makes me feel quite ill for a while.

Everyone is different, great you have found something that works for you.

Clara Yep, as a veggie I could eat all those things. But I’d like the choice to have the paneer.

Are you a meat eater? It’s like the world suddenly deciding chicken is the only meat that should be eaten. As a meat eater, of course you can eat it. But you miss steak.

HugsAreMyDrugs Vegans are very preachy so yes they do have to be perfect 😂 especially when they try to make people feel guilty for eating a bit of dairy because it’s not great for the environment.....

YANBU I am not vegetarian or vegan. I happen to like and choose vegetarian food.
What I don’t like is fake meat and fake cheese.

I WANT ALL THE CHEESE!! 🧀

See I have no issue at all with places only having vegan options... in theory, but I don’t particularly want to eat fake cheese or fake meat.

If they were offering actual food as the vegetarian and vegan option then I’d be quite happy.

I'm a vegetarian (by choice), Coeliac and have multiple food intolerances (not by choice). I have also noticed more places offering vegan food, which is great, but I can't tolerate soya, things made with oil, processed products, mushrooms or meat substitute items, etc. I sound unhinged as I end up sounding like one of those fussy vegetarians questioning what exactly is in their vegan meal, when all I really want is ordinary food. Just no meat products or heavily processed items.

DH and I found a vegan restaurant in a UK holiday town and (despite him being a meat-eater), suggested we ate there for my benefit as they apparently catered for all sorts of quirky diets (basically me). All the dishes on offer were "chickin" or "fish-style" meals - there were no naturally-made vegan dishes, fresh veg or salad, or anything remotely what I would call "normal" vegan food. I don't want look-like-taste-like-meat dishes. We didn't eat there.

I am happy to see more places cater for people like me, but it sometimes feels like it's become harder than ever. I don't envy catering establishments, I sometimes think they can't win.

The sheep cruelty involved in wool production Oh give up

@Wiltshirelass2019 all the vegan desserts I’ve made use natural ingredients like dark chocolate, nuts, seeds, root vegetables, avocados, dates, no “shite” in them

Hugsaremydrugs And your point is?

Vegans are very preachy so yes they do have to be perfect

@Florabritannica
Yes! Wish I had said that too obvs

I’m a gluten free veggie... I just loves BUTTERRRRRR

Yes I eat meat, though I'm planning on slowly going vegetarian then hopefully vegan.

I'm afraid that I don't see the need to have dairy constantly. I don't understand meat eaters who say they can't have a meal without meat either.

I have noticed this, I am annoyed but in a mildly irritated kind of way and know that it's not really rational! I think some of the vegan dishes are ill thought out and produced in a bit of a rush as veganism has become more popular.

Some vegan foods seem excessively "meaty" and as a long term vegetarian I find things like jackfruit a bit hard to swallow.