To not understand why some people dont eat meat free meals

[reducingfootprint]

I do not call myself vegetarian but i eat meat rarely for health reasons (bowel cancer is common in the family) but i am happy to prepare it as my dh eats meat but enjoys meat free meals around 4 times a week. DC also eat meat free around 4 times a week. My siblings and their partners are also part time vegetarians and pre covid we all enjoyed getting together for meat free feasts.

When DM comes over, she refuses to eat anything without meat. Butternut squash soup? Needs bacon.
Halloumi fajitas? Needs beef.
Goats cheese and onion omelette? Needs chicken.
Plowmans salad? Needs ham.

AIBU to think ffs one meal without meat wont kill you!

I eat as little meat as I can.
The less meat you eat the better it is

I don’t understand people who eat veg for every meal. How boring.

@LordEmsworth Quite easily. Can't stand fruit or veg, except for mushrooms.

We eat 50% meat free.
When I met my husband and he moved in, he NEVER ate any meat free meals, but I was almost 100% plant based so he didn’t have a choice when I cooked for him.

I don’t know why some people have such an aversion to veggie meals, I think it was how they were brought up.

being rude about what you are offered as a guest is...very rude.

stop cooking for her.

being oh-so-puzzled about other people's food choices is also rude.

@wewearpinkonwednesdays flexitarian as defined in the cambridge dictionary: a person who eats mainly vegetarian food but eats meat occasionally

I'll eat anything you serve me, and am always grateful not to have to cook.
That said, I enjoy a meal with meat infinitely more than one without, and would always be hugely disappointed to be served a veggie option. I wouldn't be so impolite as to make it known, though.

@RightIsRight
It isn’t just veg though.
I think that is what some meat eaters think.

I agree, it’s odd. Some people see it as a point of principle - like refusing to ever have meat free meals is something to be proud of, or a quirky personality trait.

Everyone will have to eat less meat as today’s levels of consumption become more and more unsustainable, so you’d think people might want to start getting used to it now!

YANBU. I love meat, but we have plenty of meals without it. You don't need it in every meal.

“Animal fats are healthier than vegetable oils and other industrially produced oils. Responsibly sourced meat is also more environmentally friendly, as is most meat compared to soy alternatives so... that's why. I do like halloumi though.“

This is not true.
And what does halloumi have to do with anything? It’s the same as saying “I do like carrots though”

Some people just really like meat.

And I know some people who don’t feel it’s a ‘proper’ dinner unless they have meat.

I’ve tried, I really have, but I have IBS and a lot of vegetarian products trigger it off. So legumes, soya and Quorn products, cheese etc and I have Coeliac Disease.

I don’t eat meat every day. For example I don’t eat ham and processed meats. Dinner might be tuna pasta, prawn curry, egg based things but I do eat poultry several times a week, red meat at least once a week etc. It’s personal taste too. And that’s ok.

I agree op. I've cooked my FIL a nice veggie curry before and he's fried a sausage to have on the side. Really riled me! I suppose it works both ways though, as I don't like to be preached to by vegan family members either.

I'm not vegetarian but when eating out am more likely to have a vegetarian option than not.

Beat me to it. There is also everything in the dairy, pulses and fruit spectrum.

I don't eat red meat at all (mainly as I don't like the taste, but the health benefits of not eating it are a bonus), but usually have chicken, turkey or something with one meal a day. I find it quite hard to find things to bulk out my meals, I don't mind jackfruit but not all of the time, and not a fan of the meat replacements or tofu etc. Similarly though I could go without meat if needed, my DH eats loads of it though.

My husband likes to have meat with every evening meal. I would love to hear what your meat free meals are. Could always do with new ideas for me and the kids.

@DestinationFkd you are the epitome of people with this attitude. Very toddler like. “Me only meat”, “me no fruit nor vegetables”

It is odd. Things like beans on toast, a cheese and onion quiche, pasta arrabbiata, potato and leek soup or a cheese and pickle sandwich aren’t Vegetarian meals they’re just meals. When someone will quibble over a bowl of soup because there’s no meat in it then I think it goes beyond preference.

I don’t understand people who eat veg for every meal. How boring.

There are 300,000 edible plants, including garlic, lemon, chilli, vanilla, basil, tomatoes, rosemary, potatoes, paprika, leeks, limes, olives, rice, cocoa, coffee, sweet potatoes, asparagus, raspberries, rhubarb, spinach, peanuts, coconuts and mint. If you think that’s boring, it’s just because you’re a bad cook

i wouldn't want all meat free or all meat. My food choices are based on taste alone and whether they have meat or not, doesn't factor.

As it happens approx 60% of our meals involve meat. DH would happily have even less for health reasons, but my repertoire of nice veg meals isn't that extensive and I'd miss some of my favourite meat meals.

I'm happy to try new meals of any ilk.

@Mrsmorton

Animal fats are healthier than vegetable oils and other industrially produced oils. Responsibly sourced meat is also more environmentally friendly, as is most meat compared to soy alternatives so... that's why. I do like halloumi though.

Have you read any research on this at all??

I love meat, but it's a fact that meat requires FAR more resources to rear, and harms the environment more, and it's also a fact that animal fats are (sadly ) worse for our cardiovascular system than the vegetable-based alternatives.

I'm no saint, I eat meat every day, but I'm not fooling myself that it's either healthy or environmentally sustainable.

One meal without meat wont kill you but you can't tell other people what to eat. Each to their own and all that.

I love meat.
I love fish.
I also like meals with different natural proteins - cheeses, pulses etc.
I am not keen on meat supplements, just as I try to avoid processed foods.