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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to chose the vegan option at work cantine?

171 replies

redchocolatebutton · 09/09/2019 14:35

a colleague says iabu. apparently it's reserved for vegan colleagues Confused

I'm neither vegan nor vegetarian.
the vegan option is usually very impressive and tasty. the chef is really creative and the food is very very good.
I want to reduce animal based foods.

sooooo aibu to eat it?

OP posts:
Original poster
redchocolatebutton · 09/09/2019 15:01

she is a bit like the sulky teenager in the meat replacement advert years ago 'what am I supposed to eat now that vegan isn't special anymore'

OP posts:
littlepaddypaws · 09/09/2019 15:02

p.s i want to visit your canteen chef sounds fab EnvySmile

NameChange84 · 09/09/2019 15:06

As long as they make enough that the actual vegans won’t be deprived of a meal if they run out YANBU.

As a Coeliac I've had problems in the past with gluten eaters eating/buying the gluten free option in the canteen or in cafes meaning there was literally nothing left for me and other people with the disease or a genuine intolerance. That used to massively piss me off.

zxcvhjkl · 09/09/2019 15:06

What PurpleDaisies said.

Since when is vegetarian/vegan food just for vegetarian/vegan people?! What nonsense. The only exception would be if it is pre order or a limited supply and you're at the start of the food service. In that case I would ask first.

YANBU.

Your colleague on the other hand is BU and seems to think they are the food police. Hmm

Funguy · 09/09/2019 15:08

Well tell the chef you want vegan food! Or did you just want the choice? It's not fair if the chef cooks only x amount for the vegans.

Elodie2019 · 09/09/2019 15:10

The only time you shouldn't take Veg/Vegan Dodd is if it's pre-ordered. Any other time you take what you like. YANBU
Your friend is wrong.

Elodie2019 · 09/09/2019 15:10

'food'

Myriade · 09/09/2019 15:11

Yep I didnt know what not being not vegetarian or vegan meant you had to have dairy/meat/fish in every meal you are eating.....

As for leavibg enough for people who are vegan. I would imagine that the chef doesnt have a list with numbers of how many people are vegan in your company? So he is preparing according to how many people are taking that dish. He will just prepare more accordingly.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 09/09/2019 15:12

Purple daisies. It is one of my local pubs, I know/knew all the staff well, we eat out a lot, the staff said that the vegan option was only available for vegans. I do often mention the incident when I go there, they still seen bemused that a non vegan wants a vegan meal. I agree with you food is food.

OtraCosaMariposa · 09/09/2019 15:12

Not at all. I'm a meat-eater and will regularly choose a veggie or vegan option.

HugsAreMyDrugs · 09/09/2019 15:13

I'm a vegan and I think it's a good thing. The more people who choose the vegan option will mean that more vegan options are made. So YANBU.

violetswordfish · 09/09/2019 15:13

You can eat what you like. I don't suppose anyone thinks that chips ought to be left for vegetarians. Or salad only for people on diets. It's madness.

dollydaydream114 · 09/09/2019 15:14

You can choose whatever you bloody want. I think most vegans are actually quite pleased when non-vegans make vegan choices, as ultimately their wish is for more people to eat more plant-based meals.

Do they regularly run out of the vegan option, I wonder? Although even if they do, all that will do is prompt the chefs to make more or add more options next time, which should surely be a good thing for your vegan friend.

I'm very much an omnivore but I enjoy a lot of vegetarian and vegan dishes too.

higgyhog · 09/09/2019 15:14

Both the Vegan and Vegetarian Societies are keen to encourage meat reduction. If it is helps save an animal they should not be so sniffy with you.

AryaStarkWolf · 09/09/2019 15:14

Unless it's reserved then of course YANBU, I think it's great as a vegetarian mre people are choosing veggie/vegan options, the more people that do this the more options will become available for us

BertrandRussell · 09/09/2019 15:15

I’m a bit on the fence here. Is there any way you can find out whether there’s enough to go round?

TimeIhadaNameChange · 09/09/2019 15:16

Might it be an idea to speak to the chef and ask if there is extra made for non-vegans?

At one college I was at I more often than not preferred the vegetarian option to the other. The veggie option was limited, but the chefs would just include me in the number. If I didn't want it that was fine, someone else would, but they'd keep one aside for me just in case.

violetswordfish · 09/09/2019 15:17

I’m a bit on the fence here. Is there any way you can find out whether there’s enough to go round?

Why should she have to? Do you also think anyone who wants a salad instead of a sandwich should check first to make sure all the gluten free people have enough first? It's a canteen, she can order whatever she bloody well likes.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/09/2019 15:17

posterlittlepaddypaws

One of my work clients is owned by an Indian company and they have a lot of workers who come over from India to work at their UK site, either temporily or permanently.

They have an excellent canteen that I have used a few times and the last time I ate there, 3 of the 4 main course choices and all the sides, soups, starters and salads were vegetarian.

I think more food providers should take this approach. It would stop situations where the vegetarian food ran out because a couple of non vegetarians happen to choose a meal without meat in it.

This is especially a problem with buffets where far too many of them seem to be ham sandwiches, pork pies, sausage rolls and scotch eggs and the token cheese sandwich or onion bhaji, of course being attractive food for most people, especially those looking for more variety than processed pork four ways.

IHaveBrilloHair · 09/09/2019 15:18

Choose whatever you like, I would.

BeanBag7 · 09/09/2019 15:19

Humans are omnivores, not carnivores, but some people are really odd about a meal not being a meal unless it has meat in it
My DH is like this if a hot meal doesnt contain meat/fish/meat alternative. The other day I made a vegetable pasta dish and he asked if he should fry up some bacon to go with it Confused

OP your colleague is definitely the one being unreasonable, enjoy your vegan dinners.

KUGA · 09/09/2019 15:20

Who the hell does your colleague think she is ?the food police .
Your money your choice.

NellieEllie · 09/09/2019 15:20

One of the most irritating things is being vegan, and a load of meat eaters polishing off the vegan option before you can get to it. Happened to me All the Time at work dos. People would dive it, finish it off then go and get a load of meat - or use the vegan stuff as a “side dish” Aaargh!
As long as there is plenty to go round, Id say absolutely fine. If not, you are being v unreasonable as it means people will not have anything to eat.

Londonmummy66 · 09/09/2019 15:20

We had this at college - only vegetarians could buy vegetarian dinner tickets so there was a black market where we'd buy them off the veggies. Bff was a veggie and I'm pretty sure the office staff couldn't work out how she could eat all those dinners and still stay slim.

BertrandRussell · 09/09/2019 15:20

“Why should she have to?“

She doesn’t have to of course. But personally, i’d rather not do something that meant someone else got no lunch if I could avoid it......