To not let my sister bring her own meat on Christmas day!

[FelizNavidadAmiga]

First off, we are a strictly vegan household for moral reasons. I invited my sister for Christmas lunch as she is recently divorced and has nowhere else to go. I usually put on a magnificent spread with roast vegetables, tagine, stuffed peppers, vine leaves, falafel, home made hummus etc. My sister has just sent me a message saying she's going to bring her own chicken to cook. AIBU to say no way! I don't want chicken cooking in my nice clean vegan oven! Plus the smell makes me feel ill 🤢 I don't want to upset her as she's very sensitive at the moment but surely she can do without chicken for 1 day.

I think of you invite people to your house then you should at least try to accommodate their dietary requirements. My daughter and son in law are strict Muslims and also only eat organic food, and whilst I really do not like having Halal meat in the house, let alone eating it, I buy an organic halal turkey each Christmas when they are here, and adjust everything I cook if they are eating with us. So no goose fat for the potatoes, plain sprouts, no bacon over the turkey when it's cooking, separate gravy, etc, and I even have to make my own Christmas puddings because I've yet to find a ready made one which doesn't contain nutmeg. It's a pain, but if I'm having guests in my house then I feel it's only right that I try to give them food that they can eat and that they will enjoy. I don't expect anyone to have the same taste as me.

Your food sounds great but not what I would associate as Christmas dinner so she probably feels the same.

You really think you're an expert on vegan food because you've got one vegan relative who's not a good cook, and you went to a vegan restaurant once or twice? Get over yourself.

Well that's just your opinion, and your taste buds. Not every meal has to revolve around meat, but it sounds as if it does for you. If you also think that a 'celebrated vegan restaurant' serves 'awful' food, then it's not her cooking to blame.

Never said it was. I think it's the inherent limitations of the diet. Not so much no meat, but no cheese, no dairy, no eggs, no honey.

I’d ok her bringing cooked something, but cooking meat in your oven is so rude of her, no way. (I’m a total meat eater)

I’m with the I don’t find that a magnificent spread side, other than the roast veg and as long as it’s not coated in some seasoning or sauce, there is nothing I’d eat and I spent many years eating very little meat based food. I’m also nit a fan of Middle Eastern food.

Maybe add a nut roast or something. Lidl and Aldi do some nice ones. They have quite a lot of vegan options. I’d ask your sister to either pick one of those or she will have to eat what you provide.

Eating meat in a vegan house is extremely rude let alone wanting to cook it.

I agree about accommodating guests, but there are no ethical or moral objections to any of the plant based food on offer.

The guest can actually happily eat all the food available.

Would you go and ask to cook pork in you son-in-law's oven?

If the sister was also vegan, and was bringing her own nut roast because she doesn't like Mediterranean/Moroccan food, would you feel the same?

In more formal relationships, I would expect to just make the most of things, but among such close family, I would hope that we could be honest about what we enjoy eating. I think it's understandable that you don't want meat prepared in your kitchen/ oven, but I also don't think it's unreasonable of your sister to want something other than what you have planned. Surely there's something she would enjoy and could bring already prepared that wouldn't offend you. I would expect a vegan family member to graciously allow me to bring a pre-cooked meat dish to eat in their home. You don't have to, of course, but in my experience it is more the host's responsibility to be gracious than the guest's.

Are you doing lots of sweets. Can't do a cheeseboard obviously as even vegans think vegan cheese is revolting. What a vegie lasgna with oat milk instead of proper milk Obviously it will be missing the cheese , sprinkle it with bread crumbs and paprika instead. Eggplants, stuffed, are warm and filling. I'd suggest spanakopita but you've got the cheese problem again.
I'd let the sister bring some slice pre-cooked chicken with gravy on it on her own plate and she can heat it in the microwave. I'm sure your house will recover.

It just shows ignorance. For goodness sake even at the most basic level have these posters never been in an Indian restaurant? Even now after decades I still end up struggling to eat everything I've ordered.

Tell her to cook it at home if she really desperately wants it.

But she sounds a bit ridiculous tbh. If someone was cooking me christmas dinner, I wouldn't give a shit what it was (within reason) so long as it was nice.

@FelizNavidadAmiga is this thread a joke? And I really don’t mean you, it’s some of the responses

take back the invite or let your sister know she can eat her chicken in the garden or street. I can’t believe all the posts saying let her cook and eat the meat in your house

i eat meat but am intolerant to some meats. I'd let the generous host know but wouldn’t want or expect them to change anything for me

if your sister wants to come tell her to eat her chicken in the street and you'll throw her some vegetables

Maybe she doesn't like tagine. I love dates and apricots, but not in a savoury dish. I would definitely not be keen for Christmas.

Well there's no carbs, and hummus is just a dip..Didn't see any mention of dessert either.

Your house your rules, but your feast sounds a bit ordinary. Pretty much what dd cooked for he veggie sister tonight. I wouldn't be impressed by that on Christmas day. Make our own hummous as standard.

Why are you suggesting loads of non-vegan food but without the animal products?

There are plenty of inherently plant based options.

Why are you attacking me? I support the OP and think the sister is very rude. However, I don't think that veganism is especially healthy: it certainly is not for me. I also don't like the kind of vegan who tries to force their belief on others. However, I also don't like people like the OP's sister who think it is ok to cook their own food in someone else's home. Either suck it up or stay at home.

I think it sounds lovely, I would be very happy with that. Maybe she is feeling a little bit sad about the divorce and although your meal sounds great, it’s not a traditional Christmas Dinner. Could you add some roast potatoes and veggie gravy? Or some more traditional items, that don’t take a lot of effort.

But, YA NBU to refuse the chicken.

Because it’s the vegans house.

If I’m invited to a vegans house, I’m not going to be shocked when I’m not offered turkey for Christmas.

Which is why I wouldn’t accept an invite or I’d eat before I go. It’s obviously very different to expect a vegan to cook meat, catering to a vegan doesn’t go against my beliefs for a start.

Rude

I'm a total carnivore, but one meal without meat is no hardship. Also, what you describe done well would be an amazing spread. Please ignore the naysayers!

I don't like meat eaters who try to force their beliefs on others either.

No one asked you for your unfounded opinion about the healthiness of veganism.

I will be having roast pheasant on Christmas Day and have
venison, grouse and patridge in the freezer. The limitations imposed by vegan cooking come from unimaginative and limited cooks and poor cooking- not the ingredients.

I merely mentioned that to show that I am not supporting the OP because I agree with her diet. I am supporting her because it is her house and her rules. I don't try to force my beliefs on others at all, but if someone tries to shame me for eating meat and dairy they will get short shrift.