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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Catering for a vegetarian?!

516 replies

Magenta3 · 14/10/2023 13:01

My brother's gf is a vegetarian. We're having everyone over next weekend for a get together. My family eats a lot of meat and I feel a bit unsure of what to cook her, and if I'm being honest I don't see why we should change our catering for one person.

I asked my brother to bring along some of their own food for her (he eats meat so will be fine, it's literally only for her) and he seemed annoyed at me. He obliged but I could tell he wasn't happy. When we've been to theirs she doesn't cook meat for us so it feels one sided. She jokes she'd probably poison us as she doesn't know how to cook meat but realistically she doesn't want to cook it, so why should we for her?

OP posts:
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5
TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 14/10/2023 19:01

Having meat at every meal, particularly highly processed meat like bacon/sausages, is a recipe for poor bowel health.

Mercurial123 · 14/10/2023 19:26

Cowlover89 · 14/10/2023 17:18

You can disagree. But nothing wrong with it.

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Weird you can't survive one meal with meat etc.

Lilithlogic · 14/10/2023 19:30

Bertiesmum3 · 14/10/2023 17:03

No I don’t!
maybe the OP don’t
Even our sandwiches for a pack lunch has meat in them 🤣 when I say meat I don’t mean pre packaged ham, I cook fresh chicken/beef/pork or gammon to go in them
Breakfast most mornings is either bacon or sausages.

Even with us being big meat eaters, I’m still able and willing to cook for a vegetarian, and I’d more than likely cook a selection for all of us

Edited
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What about a nice cheese and pickle sandwich?

GettingStuffed · 14/10/2023 19:41

If i suggest a veggie meal to my husband and son they act as if I'm trying to kill them.

I totally agree about curry being easy to do vegetarian, we always do a veg dish whenever we have curry, either at home or in a restaurant.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/10/2023 19:45

Bertiesmum3 · 14/10/2023 18:57

Yes every single dish has meat in it, sometimes fish.
its not a full English weekday ps only bacon/sauasage sandwiches or an omelette with bacon, tomatoes &mushrooms

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Really, really unhealthy, and very bad indeed for the environment. Expensive too, unless it's really cheap meat, which is even worse for health and of course really bad for the animals as it means they didn't have a great life. We are not vegetarian but try to limit the amount of meat we eat, mainly for health reasons. It's not just bowel health, it's not great for the cardiovascular system either.

Insommmmnia · 14/10/2023 19:45

GettingStuffed · 14/10/2023 19:41

If i suggest a veggie meal to my husband and son they act as if I'm trying to kill them.

I totally agree about curry being easy to do vegetarian, we always do a veg dish whenever we have curry, either at home or in a restaurant.

Do you not find it frustrating living with people insisting on a restrictive diet?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/10/2023 19:46

I couldn't do it. I love vegetables and pulses.

Run4it2 · 14/10/2023 19:46

Super easy option - gnocchi with fried mushrooms and blue cheese - salad in the side. Tastes amazing and minimal effort to make

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/10/2023 19:48

It sounds delicious, @Run4it2 - I will be trying that!

Mrsgreen100 · 14/10/2023 19:48

Completely bonkers , of course you need to cater to all you guests food requirements.
why invite people if you can’t cook 👨‍🍳
often have a mix of vegans carnivores and the
gluten free guests etc
get it together fgs

EtiennePalmiere · 14/10/2023 20:08

You can't think of literally one vegetarian meal?

SacAMain · 14/10/2023 20:21

DinnaeFashYersel · 14/10/2023 18:12

@SacAMain

If you don't know how to cook them you are probably right.

But if you do - then ready meals are rank in comparison to home cooked.

Not once have I ever wonder if the meal I was served had been made by the hostess, or came from a pack.

If I have high expectations, I book a table in a nice restaurant.

You having such a high opinion of your own cooking doesn't mean everyone eating it would agree 😂

steff13 · 14/10/2023 20:26

What about cheese lasagna with salad and garlic bread? Or spaghetti with marinara sauce?

Nopenopenopenopenopenope · 14/10/2023 20:34

Fuck me. Make a vegetarian meal for all of you.

meganorks · 14/10/2023 21:02

My DH likes to cook a roast when we have dinner with his Veggie mum. Will do Yorkshires, Stuffing and Cauliflower cheese and maybe a few extra roasted veg (squash and parsnips along with the usual potatoes). His mum can then have everything but the meat and gravy, but he will do a Veggie gravy.

AInightingale · 15/10/2023 02:36

Frankly there's nothing as difficult or expensive to cook as meat. And as the OP's guest has said, it is the easiest thing to get FP from.

DinnaeFashYersel · 15/10/2023 12:08

@SacAMain

You can tell the difference quite easily

Daftasabroom · 15/10/2023 12:22

meganorks · 14/10/2023 21:02

My DH likes to cook a roast when we have dinner with his Veggie mum. Will do Yorkshires, Stuffing and Cauliflower cheese and maybe a few extra roasted veg (squash and parsnips along with the usual potatoes). His mum can then have everything but the meat and gravy, but he will do a Veggie gravy.

Bistro and most other gravy granules are vegan.

AGovernmentOfLawsAndNotMen · 15/10/2023 12:34

Purplebunnie · 14/10/2023 16:55

I eat some fish and its easier to say I'm vegetarian than pescatarian, I know other vegetarians who say this as well and I thought it was worth checking if the GF also ate fish.

I also eat ordinary cheese and don't check my wine, in fact I've no idea what you'd call me - probably bloody awkward😂I just don't eat meat

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I’d call you a person who doesn’t eat meat
you’re not a pescatarian as you’re fine with non vegetarian cheese

KirstinBlest · 15/10/2023 13:12

@Purplebunnie , your 'vegetarian' friends aren't vegetarian either.
I get annoyed when people say 'But some vegetarians eat fish/chicken'

Universalsnail · 15/10/2023 13:51

I understand why your brother is annoyed. If you invite people over for dinner you should adhere to any dietary requirements they have. Otherwise don't invite them. It's not that hard to make a veggie option or even just do a veggie dinner for everyone if it's easier to cook one thing. Like do max and cheese or something. Yabvu

AGovernmentOfLawsAndNotMen · 15/10/2023 14:02

KirstinBlest · 15/10/2023 13:12

@Purplebunnie , your 'vegetarian' friends aren't vegetarian either.
I get annoyed when people say 'But some vegetarians eat fish/chicken'

And then there’s these ‘vegetarians????’ Who eat bacon butties 😳😳🤣🤣

AGovernmentOfLawsAndNotMen · 15/10/2023 14:06

diddl · 14/10/2023 13:57

Mushroom risotto??!!

I'd make a vegetarian meal for once although I'd probably get their help to do it.

Just remember not to put in Parmesan.

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 15/10/2023 14:18

You can get vegetarian Parmesan. Sainsbury’s value range Parmesan is vegetarian.

AGovernmentOfLawsAndNotMen · 15/10/2023 14:34

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 15/10/2023 14:18

You can get vegetarian Parmesan. Sainsbury’s value range Parmesan is vegetarian.

Its Parmesan ‘style’ in sainsburies
The equivalent in tescos is called Pecorino

Ive never eaten Parmesan so I don’t know if they taste similar but a friend said they taste much the same.