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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

vegan option work Xmas lunch baked beans

118 replies

Ceci03 · 19/12/2023 18:48

So there was an Xmas lunch provided on site where I work today. When booking you were asked if you are vegetarian or vegan .

But there was very little veg options. The soup was chicken. The starter was scotch eggs or prawn balls or lamb koftas. There were plain tomatoes and cucumber and some undressed lettuce so I had a bit of that.

The Main course was turkey and the works. I was pointed to some very dried out jacket potatoes and baked beans. There was some
Cheddar cheese I guess for vegetarians.

For dessert I had a bit of watermelon.

Aibu that this was very bad form for
Vegans and vegetarians???!!!!

OP posts:
Sausage1989 · 19/12/2023 19:09

BlueberryVelvet · 19/12/2023 18:50

YABU, veganism is a dietary choice.

I say this as someone who eats 99% carnivore. I don’t expect people to cater for my dietary choices.

Coeliac etc is wholly different

Totally 1000000% agree. It's a lifestyle choice. A very unhealthy one at that. Why do you expect people to cater for you? Go to a vegan restaurant. Its not the norm to be 'vegan'.

And hi @BlueberryVelvet I eat mainly Carnivore too..its the best isn't it 😍

HangingOver · 19/12/2023 19:09

is it really? Surely not?

Yes ethical veganism is a protected characteristic. Why not? If religious beliefs around diet are protected then logically veganism should be too. It's a philosophical stance.

Shadowsindarkplaces · 19/12/2023 19:11

I often choose a vegetarian or vegan option if I eat out even though I'm a carnivore more often than not. I eat meat free up to 4-5 times a week. I would be disappointed in that offering!

Ghentsummer · 19/12/2023 19:11

roarrfeckingroar · 19/12/2023 19:04

@HangingOver is it really? Surely not?

It's one meal OP and your diet is a choice. It's not the end of the world.

Unfortunately it seems that it may be - being an ethical vegan seems to be a protected belief. https://lighterhr.co.uk/blog/veganuary-a-fad-or-a-protected-characteristic/#:~:text=Yes.,under the Equality Act 2010.

Veganuary - A Fad or a Protected Characteristic?

Veganism has been estimated to have had a 360% rise in the UK during the past decade, so should it have a protected status in the workplace?

https://lighterhr.co.uk/blog/veganuary-a-fad-or-a-protected-characteristic#:~:text=Yes.,under

Sausage1989 · 19/12/2023 19:12

Ghentsummer · 19/12/2023 19:11

Unfortunately it seems that it may be - being an ethical vegan seems to be a protected belief. https://lighterhr.co.uk/blog/veganuary-a-fad-or-a-protected-characteristic/#:~:text=Yes.,under the Equality Act 2010.

Show quote history

Right and they've provided a vegan meal. It might not be what she wants but that's the way the cookie crumbles if you decide to limit your diet.

Dilbertian · 19/12/2023 19:14

The reason for the OP's food choices is irrelevant.

So there was an Xmas lunch provided on site where I work today. When booking you were asked if you are vegetarian or vegan .

This implies that they were offering to cater for vegetarians and vegans.

How difficult could it be to serve a vegetable soup? To make one starter vegetarian? To not dress the veg in butter, but have butter available on the side? To provide an alternative, non-meat main?

Ridiculous and unpleasant behaviour from the caterers or those instructing them.

HangingOver · 19/12/2023 19:14

I could never be Vegan, I love my food too much

I also love food 😁 You just don't want to, and that's fine!

amylou8 · 19/12/2023 19:17

Yeah that's rubbish. Swap the kofta for falafel, use vegetable oil on the veggies, would have taken very little thought.

Teapleasebobb · 19/12/2023 19:19

That's awful!!! You can buy vegan alternatives everywhere! (Aldi have an awesome range!). There's really no excuse not to cater for vegans, Im a meat eater but dh and dc are vegetarian and there are so many plant based alternatives available.

AgnesX · 19/12/2023 19:19

BlueberryVelvet · 19/12/2023 18:50

YABU, veganism is a dietary choice.

I say this as someone who eats 99% carnivore. I don’t expect people to cater for my dietary choices.

Coeliac etc is wholly different

Don't be so bloody minded. It's pretty normal these days and not beyond the capabilities of 99% of kitchens (bar your football match pie stall). At least it oughtn't to be.

Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 19/12/2023 19:24

BlueberryVelvet · 19/12/2023 18:50

YABU, veganism is a dietary choice.

I say this as someone who eats 99% carnivore. I don’t expect people to cater for my dietary choices.

Coeliac etc is wholly different

Being vegan is a protected characteristic 🤷🏼‍♀️

Enko · 19/12/2023 19:27

Dilbertian · 19/12/2023 19:14

The reason for the OP's food choices is irrelevant.

So there was an Xmas lunch provided on site where I work today. When booking you were asked if you are vegetarian or vegan .

This implies that they were offering to cater for vegetarians and vegans.

How difficult could it be to serve a vegetable soup? To make one starter vegetarian? To not dress the veg in butter, but have butter available on the side? To provide an alternative, non-meat main?

Ridiculous and unpleasant behaviour from the caterers or those instructing them.

100% this

susiedaisy1912 · 19/12/2023 19:29

Wow that is piss poor op why the fuck couldn't they do fake turkey or a vegan bake and veg with vegan gravy all of which is widely available. I would complain.

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 19/12/2023 19:30

Some real twats on this thread already

Quite a few. Total eejits.

ilovesooty · 19/12/2023 19:31

HangingOver · 19/12/2023 19:09

is it really? Surely not?

Yes ethical veganism is a protected characteristic. Why not? If religious beliefs around diet are protected then logically veganism should be too. It's a philosophical stance.

Where does it appear in the Equality Act?

ilovesooty · 19/12/2023 19:32

It's poor provision for known dietary requirements though.

bellac11 · 19/12/2023 19:32

LammasEve · 19/12/2023 18:55

If you're an ethical vegan, it's an ethical decision not just someone being fussy. Are you going to say a Muslim is being choosy for not wanting to eat pork?

That's appalling, OP, it's definitely not unreasonable to expect something decent to eat.

Show quote history

You choose to be a certain religion and you choose to follow food restrictions in that religion as not all Muslims or Jews dont eat pork actually (many like a bacon sandwich - no not turkey bacon either)

Its not the same as a dietary need from a medical issue

Haydenn · 19/12/2023 19:33

surely all of this depends on the workplace and the set up for lunch.

susiedaisy1912 · 19/12/2023 19:35

BlueberryVelvet · 19/12/2023 18:50

YABU, veganism is a dietary choice.

I say this as someone who eats 99% carnivore. I don’t expect people to cater for my dietary choices.

Coeliac etc is wholly different

It's a protected characteristic, it comes under the religion and belief part of the equality act. A quick google showed me that.

Bigminnie1 · 19/12/2023 19:35

This reply has been deleted

This is a goady troll so we've removed their posts.

Oh fgs- really?

I don't eat meat and I would be bloody pissed off with a dried up shitty potato, manky beans and a bit of cheese while everyone else was tucking into decent food.

It's 2023, not 1984.

ilovesooty · 19/12/2023 19:36

ilovesooty · 19/12/2023 19:31

Where does it appear in the Equality Act?

Show quote history

Scrap that - just seen the link.

MartyMcFlysPurpleUnderwear · 19/12/2023 19:38

BlueberryVelvet · 19/12/2023 18:50

YABU, veganism is a dietary choice.

I say this as someone who eats 99% carnivore. I don’t expect people to cater for my dietary choices.

Coeliac etc is wholly different

Why did they bother asking about dietary choices if they weren’t going to provide something decent?

MartyMcFlysPurpleUnderwear · 19/12/2023 19:40

Sausage1989 · 19/12/2023 19:09

Totally 1000000% agree. It's a lifestyle choice. A very unhealthy one at that. Why do you expect people to cater for you? Go to a vegan restaurant. Its not the norm to be 'vegan'.

And hi @BlueberryVelvet I eat mainly Carnivore too..its the best isn't it 😍

Show quote history

How do you know someone is a carnivore?

Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.