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!

Part time vegetarian/flexitarian= wanker who is best ignored.

I've always found meat revolting. I just can't stand the taste and texture.

I'm happy meat free but yabu to believe that vegetarian diets are protective against bowel cancer. There's been lots of surprising findings that bowel cancer is the one cancer that does not correlate lower numbers to veg diets. Processed meats, that contain nitrate preservatives are likely a bowel cancer risk (and there is scary research that areas with more nitrates in the water have more bowel cancer) but non processed meat - really no good evidence that it is a risk for bowel cancer

www.nhs.uk/news/cancer/red-meat-free-diet-not-proven-reduce-overall-bowel-cancer-risk/

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142427

We are slowly exiting a Coronovirus Pandemic.

Eat what you want

You do realise that human activity such as animal husbandry and slaughter houses are responsible for animal viruses crossing over and causing pandemics don't you?

There's some truly pathetic and projecting comments on this thread.

How sad people are that they cannot enjoy a singal meal without the death of an animal being involved.

Single

Cows and pigs are quite large

Yes, when was growing up, at one stage we ate beef 6 days a week. I reckon we ate 3 cows a year. (A hind quarter from the butcher once a month, which was apparently the cheapest way to buy meat.) We had chicken on Sundays and turkey at christmas, so that's roughly 3 cows, 51 chickens and 1 turkey for a grand total of 55 dead animals a year, 11 per person.

(I no longer eat that kind of food, my cook is Asian, so I have to laugh at people who call vegetarian food boring. They are probably people like my father for whom vegetables were boiled carrots and peas to go with your meat and potatoes. I still like meat, but I bet an Asian cook could conjure up 100 different flavourful vegetarian meals for every 1 meat dish a traditional English person has in his or her repertoire.)

I wonder if people who think vegetarian food is boring are aware that there are whole religions in which eating meat is completely forbidden. Do they really believe that millions of people from a culture that has been vegetarian for centuries haven't learned how to make delicious food without using meat?

@eaglejulesk

If some people never want to eat meat and that's fine, then why is it not fine for people to want to eat meat every day? Everyone is allowed to make their own food choices - it's not up to you to judge them. I only eat meat two or three times a week myself, but I understand that others want it every day - it's not a crime you know! Of course one meal without meat won't hurt anyone, but it's their choice not yours.

I don’t think you’re being judged!

I find whenever meat eaters vs non meat eaters come together to chat about these kind of issues. The non-meat eaters do appear more calm, less rude and judgemental, and the meat eaters go a little crazy thinking they are being accused / judged etc.

Eat meat if you want to. I don’t eat meat. I cook meat for others.
For taste and ethical reasons I do not eat it. But I don’t try to control others.
It doesn’t mean meat eaters can’t be open to enjoying meat free meals. Many meat eaters appear to put blockers up on this suggestion. Why?
Meat production causes as many environmental issues as flying. Meat production causes pain and suffering.

No judging, but we all make choices. I fly a lot. You might not. But I do not eat animals.

Let’s all calm down and be a bit realistic. You don’t need meat at every meal, you can also enjoy amazing meat free meals if you experiment!

I agree OP, I find it baffling. Also I wonder why some restaurants only have 1-3 vegetarian options on a large menu. After all, all meat eaters can eat the vegetarian options but vegetarians cannot eat any of the other options.

I wish I knew how to enjoy eating meat. I would not eat much but just being able to eat a bit would help me with anaemia. To those who have meat at every meal, do you ever experience a horror at it being the flesh of a formerly living being? Please understand, I am not saying you should feel that. I am asking how to stop myself feeling that. I would continue to be mainly veggie for other reasons, but would like to to have that disgust be a part of it.

To not have that disgust be a part of it I mean. Ethical and environmental reasons are enough, but I would like to know that I could eat it if I wanted without being disgusted.

Yes this does my head in! My partner hates veg and insists on having a meat based dinner every night, and my fussy toddler only likes beige food. I find it really dull and Id love to have meat free meals but it's just so much hassle preparing separate food I rarely bother.

I really want a lentil moussaka now 😭

@RandomLondoner I agree about Asian food, most of the meat-free meals we eat are Oriental as they are so flavourful. Stir fries, curries, teriyaki sauces. I also love Asian food as it doesn't have any dairy in, it's coconut milk instead.

@Thenextplateau

Yes this does my head in! My partner hates veg and insists on having a meat based dinner every night, and my fussy toddler only likes beige food. I find it really dull and Id love to have meat free meals but it's just so much hassle preparing separate food I rarely bother.

I really want a lentil moussaka now 😭

If you’re solely prepping meals, cook what you want my love!

That said I make 3-4 meals for my fussy lot so can’t really talk ☹️😂

@LongPauseNoReply

Nope I’m carnivore. All I eat is meat.

Are you a wild animal? Do you eat just a steak, no chips, no veg with it?

Animal fats are healthier than vegetable oils

Seriously?
I don’t think so. Are you really saying that lard is healthier then olive oil Mrsmorton?

I’m staggered at the responses. I’m an omnivore, which means I can eat meat or not eat meat depending on how the mood takes me. I’m surprised that there are so many people who can’t eat even one meal without meat. There are loads of dishes/snacks that are meat free without trying to be vegetarian – macaroni cheese, margarita pizza, onion bhajis, egg and chips, beans on toast, cheese on toast, risotto, all sorts of veggies pasta sauces, falafel, dhal, quesadillas, etc.

I’m not vegetarian, but we eat mainly vegetarian food because DD is vegetarian and either she cooks or I CBA to make two different meals. It seems to me that too many people are unable to think outside of the box and see meals as meat and two veg.

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

This ^^ clearly illustrates my point, and is a classic example of someone who lacks imagination when it comes to cooking.

The ignorance on this thread is depressing. I think perhaps the posters who think that a meat free meal is boring just don’t know how to cook well.
@EatsShootsAndRuns that aubergine recipe looks lush.

Eating less meat and more plants is the future so fortunately we won't have to put up with the 'it's not a meal without meat brigade' for too much longer
Done bet on that
There will always be many humans who like and choose to eat meat

Some of the comments on this post disgust me. You feel like you’re entitled to the death of an animal at EVERY meal because you ‘prefer’ it? Wake up.
Not every meal needs meat (in fact, no meal needs meat but thats a whole other argument that I’ll get hated for).
I mean you;ve only got to blame yourself when obesity, heart disease and cancer come after decades of daily meat consumption
Im allowed to eat as i please, for taste, yes. Thats the beauty of choice
You need to wake up if you think we all want the same diet as you.
For us, it isnt a full meal with no meat and really, bacon makes everything better.
Many vegans and vegos die of cancer, heart issues, all the same things meat eaters do, being vego not some cancer, disease shield

I’m not a vegan activist, but I am vege and don’t eat meat.

The responses on here make me very sad. Some people appear to have such guilt over eating meat they turn and attack for no good reasoning.

Meat production contributes about 16% of greenhouse gases.

A fair chunk.

Are the posters replying, the same ones that moan about the 4th run way, green house gasses, being green, doing the right thing, recycling? Because If you are, and you feast on meat, you’re not thinking and can’t preach.

To those who have meat at every meal, do you ever experience a horror at it being the flesh of a formerly living being?
Nope, its just food to me, always has been.
Im aussie, meat is a huge part of our lifestyle, i mean it just not a true BBQ if all thats on it are tofu and BBQ veg
As a kid, our neighbours had a pet pig, my god he tasted amazing when the time came.

How sad people are that they cannot enjoy a singal meal without the death of an animal being involved
Not sad, cycle of life.
Humans like it or not, are generally top of the food chain, unless you swimming with sharks or in a lions den that is, then we not and we just part of the food chain

I don’t understand people who eat veg for every meal. How boring
This ^^ clearly illustrates my point, and is a classic example of someone who lacks imagination when it comes to cooking
So what, not everyone likes cooking, its bloody tedious. Not everyone wants to spend hours experimenting. If its so good, why the need for so many spices, herbs and chilli in veggie meals? Chilli is food of the devil IMO
Plus texture is huge for some of us, many veg, beans just dont pass muster on that one

The responses on here make me very sad. Some people appear to have such guilt over eating meat they turn and attack for no good reasoning.

you take annoyance at judgement of legitimate food choices as guilt?
Right, your wrong
Hows about, you eat your diet, i eat mine and be done? I quite honestly DGAF about gasses created or whatever. I eat on taste. Meat tastes great

@squeekums

*The responses on here make me very sad. Some people appear to have such guilt over eating meat they turn and attack for no good reasoning.*

you take annoyance at judgement of legitimate food choices as guilt?
Right, your wrong
Hows about, you eat your diet, i eat mine and be done? I quite honestly DGAF about gasses created or whatever. I eat on taste. Meat tastes great

I think you missed the point.

You in fact accentuated OP point.

Eat your diet. No one cares what you eat, only if your sad, thick, pointless life caused pain and death to another life.

...Which it does. Eating meat causes death, blood, pain, climate change. I’m sure you can’t live without a though burger right?

Do you think it comes down to past interpretations of the idea of a balanced diet? You know, that healthy eating plate poster? Maybe in earlier generations there weren't so many easily accessible/ affordable options to hit all the food groups? Or the knowledge of what to do to hit them? The range of foods we can pick up off the shelf now that would have been considered rarities/luxuries now compared to 25-30 years ago is astounding, and we take it for granted. Halloumi for example... never heard of it growing up. We have so many more options now. I grew up with older parents (much!) and our main meal always had meat and two veg, usually potatoes too. So protein, carbs, different vitamins. That's been inbuilt in me for a long time, have had to work hard to get past that.

Also, meat = easy source of filling protein (yes, I know there are others)

@LastTrainEast ‘ ^Dead animals are lovely! They taste so good.. As for your obsession with other people's diets that's something you'll need to work through^’

Disgusting words. You must be proud.

I have sympathy with people who cannot eat certain foods: sensory issues, sensitive taste.

But as for people who are so spoiled they will insist that they have to have a certain ingredient when they are guests in somebody else's house- no, didn't allow my toddlers to behave like that.

Even if, as some posters here have said, you don't feel full without meat- why can't you just eat what there is and have something more to eat later? Will not feeling full on one specific occasion do you any harm?

I enjoy animal produce but having researched the industries I'll only now buy from sources where I can be assured of the health and well being of the animal and the sustainability of the farming techniques. It means less animal protein but amazing produce combined with a cooking course makes professional standard dishes.

Less is more

YABU. Some people like to eat meat everyday, there is nothing wrong with that. Why should you impose your thoughts about meat free meals on them?

Their choice

YANBU. We don't need to eat meat in every meal. For most of history most humans didn't. I'm an omnivore and regularly eat vegetarian meals by choice.

A PP mentioned getting hungry again. I do tend to serve somewhat larger portions if it's vegetarian, because it often won't have as much calories and protein as a similar dish with meat would.

Environmentally, there is land in the world suitable for raising animals but not growing crops, such as the Scottish and Welsh highlands. Our current consumption is not sustainable but everyone going 100% vegetarian or vegan isn't the answer either.