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

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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.

So thoughtless isn’t it. As a veggie I’ve experienced so many occasions at parties, conferences etc where I’ve seen the meat eaters gleefully hovering up the small plate of veggie stuff just to try something different. Greedy fuckers. Gives me the rage every time.

Do you really think people that eat meat solely want to eat meat for every meal?

I think offering paltry amounts of vegetarian food is not of this day and age anymore.

Exactly. Plus why do vegetarians always use such ridiculous language about this? 'gleefully hovering up' 'Greedy fuckers'.

Plus you're way off about 'trying something different'. We're omnivores. Which means that we eat a wide range of food, so we're probably picking up a cheese sandwich, an onion bhaji or a portion of spinach and ricotta lasagne because it's food that we like and eat regularly. Just because we sometimes eat meat it doesn't mean that we have to only eat meat, almost no-one eats like that.

Direct your rage towards caterers who don't offer a balanced selection of food and usually offer a menu that's dominated by processed pork, pastry and crap bread. Many offered that sort of food are going to choose something different.

@shatteredmama · Today 21:55

So thoughtless isn’t it. As a veggie I’ve experienced so many occasions at parties, conferences etc where I’ve seen the meat eaters gleefully hovering up the small plate of veggie stuff just to try something different. Greedy fuckers. Gives me the rage every time.

Good grief, get a grip. People can eat what the F they want. How rude you sound. As well as very angry and entitled. I eat fish and chicken, and no other meat, and I do eat veggie meals sometimes. I will make sure I eat as much veggie food as possible at buffets now! I will gleefully hover over all the veggie food to deprive the vegetarians. Ya know, deliberately!

I see what you're saying Op, but if you don't speak out nothing will change. My sister did a further education course through work. She was there one day a week for a year. Food was provided. She is a vegetarian. Where she sat was furthest away from the buffet (apparently everyone sat in the same seats each session). Every week there was no vegetarian food left apart from fruit and crisps. So that is what she ate. She never said anything. All she needed to do was say there was a problem. It could have been as simple as the caterers putting on more cheese sandwich's and less meat. Drove me mad that she wouldn't just speak up.

Agree with this. I understand the issue if it’s an allergy or GF thing, but if I’m at a buffet, I won’t just pick the meat option, because I like none meat stuff too, so it wouldn’t cross my mind that I had to limit myself to just meat options.

I went to a work event a while back where lunch was provided (only about 5 of us, a training day) and the organiser had decided to order the whole sandwich lunch to be gluten free even though I think we all ate gluten! The sandwich fillings were nice but the bread was horrid. V happy to leave those to those who need them!

i technically eat anything, no allergies, quite a carnivore, but if it’s a sandwich lunch I have taken to saying I’m veggie when asked in advance for dietary requirements as I far prefer egg/cheese/houmous sandwiches to anything meaty, and often feel bad when all those ones go first. I do like a tuna sandwich but not keen on ham/chicken/beef/prawns in sandwich form.

1. If it's a smaller do or limited to your own workmates where you have been asked to specify your dietary requirements and you didn't put vegetarian, it's tough if you like the look of the veggie dish. You can't have it. It's not a bit thoughtless if you start salivating and can't help yourself. You can't get away with it by saying you didn't think. People need food to function so don't eat others' food. Grow up and be fair you selfish, crappy people. We live in a society. Just do the right thing.
2. If it's a sit down do with limited dishes and you take a vegetarian dish when you didn't order it or specify, you are worse than thoughtless. You are a sh*tty person. Simple as. I sat opposite a colleague on a team do on a table of 12 with sharing plates, where not only had we registered our dietary requirements but we had an opportunity to change the order as the restaurant was really flexible at the beginning. There was also an open conversation about it and we realised that there was not enough vegetarian/vegan food. Nevertheless, after downing three or four meat starter thingies, when the vegan option (which had been ordered especially in front of everyone as we had assessed there was not enough vegan food for the vegetarians present) arrived, the same colleague proceeded to essentially eat my starter. I smiled and pointed out that she was now eating my food. I had eaten one and was hoping for another one or two, but the meat eater ended up eating five portions, two of them vegan. She said that she does not always eat meat and enjoys vegetarian food. I was gobsmacked.
3. If it's a bigger buffet and the caterers are taking a good guess at what is needed, even if you have specified, if it's a free for all, you just need to get there first, and even push in a bit (politely saying you are going to the vegetarian food before it runs out) if you are in any doubt. I don't think you can expect people nowadays not to want a variety of food on their plate if there's a big spread (unless there is veggie food dotted throughout and then a separate, marked section somewhere in which case common sense would suggest that that section is not for you).

GLuton Free should be clearly marked,sealed and placed away from other dishes with separate plates/ utensils to prevent cross contamination or sealed in individual supplies. This is assuming its for ceoliacs and not choice. Somebody up thread said there was always a lot of GF left, well if its not separate it's left as the ceoliac crowd can't risk crosscontamination from muggle.food as my daughter says.

As an omnivore/ meat eater, I am not declaring a dietary requirement in advance just because I might want a cheese sandwich 😂

Why would anyone eat gluten-free if they don’t need to? Because they like constipation?

This! A buffet is the last thing someone with allergies, intolerances should eat off.

No matter how careful the caterers are, there is bound to be some cross-contamination - not least from other people eating from the buffet.

YANBU. I was helping run a work event and we gathered dietary requirements in advance for the caterers, we had gluten free, veggie and vegan colleagues. I fall into the latter category.

Due to helping run the event, I didn't get to queue for food until a bit later, but wasn't concerned as I knew I was catered for. Turns out other people took some of the food made for those with dietary requirements. Leaving me with fuck all!

That was a long day!

This depends on how it is labeled. Did it say "reserved for people with lactose intolerance" or something similar? When I attend conferences I ask for a dairy free meal. When things are served buffet style I often miss out but the issue is the food is labeled "dairy free" but people still look and think, "that looks good" and take some. I'm disappointed, but if it is mingled with the rest I don't think there is an understanding only people with that specific dietary need may have some.

I take it because coleslaw or a cheese sandwich for arguments sake is vegetarian but is something everyone can have, tomatoes and salad are vegan people can't be expected to know what this thing is vegan or vegetarian is only catered for x amount of people. When I cater I make the vegan/vegetation food in the same proportions as the non, for instance chicken nuggets and plant based nuggets. If someone has celiacs or a food allergy their food should be separate anyway incase of food contamination.
It's not a individual issue it's a poor caterer if issue. If they are only making coleslaw with vegan mayo for 15 people who are vegetarian, vegan and egg allergies they should have this plated meals with names or have a section which is separate and has a staff member who checks who's who. This also means the people can ask questions and any issues can be dealt with.

Yes I’ve been veggie then vegan for the last 36 years. I’ve ended up with many a work lunch with nothing because people fancied a bit of the veggie option. In the end I just learned to ask to go first.,it always made me awkward but better than hungry. People are selfish/thoughtless/stupid and don’t consider others. But nowadays caterelers nearly always provide a separate vegan plate.

I’ve also found people complaining where there is a buffet (esp on cruises) that there’s a vegan/veggie option at all. Apparently it limits their choice!!!! Every day I’m faced with people behaving like twats about me having a vegan diet!

Vegetarian and Vegan are choices. I do not medically need to eat vegan. I've never heard of anyone who could not eat any animal products. There are specific egg, milk, seafood and even beef allergies and intolerances, but in general we choose not to eat animal products for either health or moral reasons. Not because we will get sick if we don't.

Many "normal" foods are vegetarian. I've always understood the labels to be to help those of us with dietary issues choose what is ok for us. I've never considered it to mean it is reserved for us. When my conferences happen they don't ask if it is buffet style, they just provide a variety. They only ask if we are getting individual plates served at the table.

Yes it’s annoying. I am a vegetarian but also have a dairy allergy. I usually take my own lunch or else risk missing out. I’m pretty good at being first in the queue though!

Raises hand. I can’t process meat products. I’ve been vegetarian for 36 with the exception of a few months where abusive ex forced/coerced me to eat meat -I became extremely Ill. Many on one side of my family can’t tolerate meat.

I developed a severe intolerance to dairy and eggs after my covid jab. So became vegan.

For some it’s less of a choice.

It’s possible to have pork and poultry allergies too.

Can it be called a 'sharing plate' if there are no plans to share?

I am aware of people who cannot digest beef as well as milk and egg issues. I had not heard of pork or chicken allergies. I stand corrected.

AS a coeliac, I wouldn't eat from a buffet. End of.

A buffet is a buffet though, unless something specifically says to not eat then I can see why people grab whatever they want

Just because items are vegan or gluten free doesn’t mean those who don’t have those restrictions won’t eat them

If saw those labels I would assume it was just telling those with restrictions which items were safe to eat, not that nobody else should eat them

No. Just because someone might eat meat does not mean that that’s all they eat or should eat. This is a ridiculous assumption. And you also haven’t considered whether someone might have GERD or IBS so is selecting food according to that. Or someone who is lactose intolerant might eat from the meat options but also need to choose food from the vegan options. Or someone might be autistic with a food sensory disorder. Unless you have asked said attendees what they put down for their dietary requirements you are simply judging them by the food on their plate without knowing their situation. Far too many assumptions on your part about the attendees. It’s simply that the caterers have not provided enough food for vegans and you need to take that up with the caterers themselves rather than bitch about attendees who you know nothing about on mn where it has absolutely no influence on future conferences you may attend.