To think it's selfish to eat from special dietary requirements when you have none?

[IndividualMini]

At a work conference, where a catered lunch is being offered. There are specific sections for dietary requirements with limited supplies eg vegan, gluten free, nut free, along with a larger section for ordinary non-vegetarian sandwiches with ordinary bread. The guy ahead of me takes something from every single section including the ordinary non-vegetarian section, so clearly is not a vegan with gluten allergies! Why do people do this? As someone with specific dietary requirements I've been left many times with very little to eat because others have eaten food without thinking about whether others might actually need it.

ime, the gluten-free & vegan options especially go in the bin at end of events. I've not been at a single work event where that stuff wasn't heavily left over.

I was consolidating piles of food at end of an event while a gal chatted next to me. Suddenly she exclaimed, "you can't mix that, it's vegetarian, with the non-vegetarian items! "

I look around the room, these items were served for lunch at 1pm, it's now 3pm, 90% of our colleagues have left, our event is finished, it's just me tidying up waiting for her to get out of the way so I can get to some leftovers, access to which she was blocking. I barged almost into her at that point to separate the items which no doubt all went into the bin 5 minutes later.

Ruddy purists.

I went on a course recently where all the catering was vegan, with the exception of the option of cows' milk for tea/coffee. It was very nice!

What was on the menu? Personally, I would struggle to do vegan only food for an event but I do really like that idea.

You are most definitely not being unreasonable!
I saw this behaviour on a cruise ship once. I’m at the gluten free section. ( ceoliac) only a few gluten free scones out it’s afternoon tea time. A couple of people wander over from their huge selection to this limited in amount and choice section and start placing the tiny gf scones on their laden plates! When I say this is gluten free points to huge sign I got oooh I just thought I’d try them too! Felt like saying it’s not a choice people! but they are never as nice as normal scones so I’m sure they had one bit and left them. So entitled!

A variety of sandwiches and wraps with fillings based around falafel, humous and various roasted vegetables and salad leaves. Also apricot flapjacks and chocolate brownies. It was very nice (so long as you like chickpeas!).

Exactly this. It's the fault of the caterers @IndividualMini Many people picking the food probably don't even think! There should be separate queues for the vegan food, the food with meat, the vegetarian food, the gluten free food, the nut-free food, and the lactose free food etc.

Having everyone queue for the same table(s,) (that has everything on it/them!) and just having the plates labelled up and mixed with everything else, is just asking for trouble quite frankly.

Also a few people have mentioned some people have a preference to have the crusts cut off their sandwiches? WTF? Are they 5? 😆 Do they want their sausage cutting up too?!

Also, I do wonder why there are so many different 'dietary requirements' these days? Never hardly used to hear of it pre 21st century. A few vegetarians were about, but very few, and no vegans. Now you have vegetarian food, vegan food, lactose free, gluten free, nut free, shellfish free, FODMAP free, etc etc. WTF?

No-one puts on their dietary requirements "meat only"

If my diet is "anything" then I will choose "anything" from a buffet if it is presented as everyone's food with some labelled as vegetarian.

It is labelled for so vegetarians know out of the options these are suitable for them, they are not exclusively provided for them. The veggie pakora and egg sandwiches etc would likely to be there, and probably labelled vegetarian even if there were no vegetarians present.

The problem is the caterers have misjudged the quantities.

Yes it’s the amount of gluten they shove into bread wheat based products to make it rise quickly or thicken quickly, it’s triggering more allergies in people especially if you have already have an auto immune condition. The body thinks gluten is a danger it must get rid of, hence the horrible symptoms . They used to let bread etc rise slowly factory processed foods are causing a huge rise Even in Italy the coeliac rates are high they are testing babies for it now,

I’ve got coeliac.

a good caterer does not put special requirement food on the main table but keeps it back ready for the gluten free / dairy free people etc

I’m not a strict vegetarian as I will eat meat but only if I’m in the mood for it. Most of the time I prefer non-meat products. So while I will eat the odd ham sandwich or sausage roll, I don’t think this makes me any less deserving of a cheese and onion roll or an egg sandwich.

I agree with regards to allergens. It is selfish to take the free-from stuff if you don't need it (plus dairy or gluten free rarely tastes as good so why would you?!). But IMO vegetarian things are up for grabs with the meat options. A decent caterer would have made enough of those to go around. They wouldn't expect someone who eats meat to choose only meat, surely. Because most people who do eat meat have a mixed diet, they're not solely carnivores.

Yes but again, how are you phrasing this?

If you're just saying, "This is gluten free", they probably interpret that to mean, "Hey, just warning you this is gluten free in case you prefer to eat normal food, haha!"

You need to actually say, "Excuse me, this is gluten free food for people who can't eat gluten, and if you eat it when you don't need it there won't be enough left for the people who do need it."

Gluten free could include many things also intended for the main buffet though? No way I'd choose gf bread, but salads, meats etc should be available for all (or a separate plate provided)

It drives me crazy. I have to attend events regularly for work and they always order veg sandwiches and then put them out on the buffet. By the time I get there there is almost never anything left. I inquire, they say “we ordered veg sandwiches, and always gone. If people like caprese and/grilled veg so much order more and less ham since there is always a load of ham left. And I cannot get to the buffet earlier because I am from a small program and have more roles to complete.

at another work event two people took almost all the gluten free pizza. I am not gluten free and know they are not either. I told them that must have been ordered for the gluten free people and they looked puzzled that I thought they should not take it. They took the gluten free because they thought it was healthier and more like keto. So selfish.

Oooh don’t worry ( Glaswegian) I did make it clear but they kept on piling high all the gf foods ! my husband had to say stop policing the gf section!
This was the same cruise a man at a table we joined told me all these dietary “ fads” annoyed him! It annoys the hell out of me I’ve never met a cake/ pastry/ bread I don’t like… sadly those days are gone.

Oh give the fuck over

If everyone is considerate about leaving the food that somebody else might want, nobody would eat anything at all.

A buffet gives people last minute choices. Sometimes the sandwiches are crap looking, so you choose something else that you prefer to eat.
Expecting people to eat meat because they can makes no sense.
I am not vegetarian/ vegan, but I eat vegetarian food more often than not. As do most people that I know.
We wouldn't tick the 'vegetarian' box, because it wouldn't be true.

The objective of a buffet is the opposite of people being restricted. It exists to offer choice.
It's human nature to choose food that looks the most appealing. We are biologically programmed to make those choices.
Survival of the fittest!

The people who take half the buffet clearly have little interest in the needs of others, or are extremely hungry. Neither is wrong, but both are difficult to understand, and frustrating for others who are impacted.

Some people are programmed to judge other people's choices as selfish, so they can feel virtuous in comparison.
It never pays to be the martyr at the buffet though.

If you are truly vegetarian or vegan you will get sick if you eat meat.never mind the fact that it is a religious choice for some.

Well then they are just selfish wankers.

What is wrong with some people?

I think YABU calling veganism a dietary requirement, I don't think it's in the same category as dairy-free or gluten-free, it's a dietary preference if anything. It's a bugbear for me as I have to arrange catering for events and will have people put "I don't like mushrooms" in the dietary requirements. Sorry, I am not catering for that. You don't likeit, don't eat it. Not the same as not being able to eat it...

Exactly @CornishGem1975

And for this with life-changing allergies or sensitivities: nut allergies or Coeliac disease, this food should be reserved & served separately.

But if all catering started with at least 50% of food as vegetarian, then it shouldn't be a problem.

You realise PKU is a life threatening illness and you’re not portraying yourself well here?

I say this as an omni who eats meat once or twice a month. How selfish and self absorbed.

@MadamVastra I eat meat but I have a friend with PKU and it is so life limiting for her. Ordering a specialist option and having someone eat it would mean she literally couldn’t eat anything at all. I can’t believe your response would be “give the fuck over”. How fucking weird.

Its easily prevented by meeting/event facilitators inviting those with dietary needs to be first in line for the food.

But as stated, Vegetarian or Vegan food is not a dietary 'need'.

I think in that case I'd have said something like, "Look, twatface, to save you the bother of just trying the gluten free food to tell you what it is like, I'll tell you how this is going to go. You'll take one bite out of it and leave the rest because gluten free food is not very nice. You'll then go back to eating the normal food. I would also rather eat the normal food than the gluten free food, but I can't. And I would rather eat the gluten free food than not eat at all. But if selfish greedy people like you have taken it all just to try it, there will be no food left for us. And worst case scenario, you might have touched the gluten free food with hands or cutlery that have touched food with gluten in it, and you'll go off and enjoy yourself, completely oblivious to the fact that you might now have made someone else very ill. Stop being so bloody selfish!"