To be annoyed that vegan options have replaced vegetarian?

[Sacredhandbag]

It's only a silly gripe in the grand scheme of things but it's bloody annoying.

I've been a vegetarian my whole life but since veganism has become more popular and more and more people are becoming part of the movement (and good on them!) it's like restaurants, cafes and hotels have skipped adding vegetarian options and thought "well vegan options covers both so we'll just add a few of those"

No! I am not vegan. I am vegetarian. I still want my eggs, my cream, my cheese, my butter. I want a stilton and broccoli bake, not a grilled bit of cauliflower!

Afternoon tea (I'm a fan and have one as often as I can) is the worst for it. There's an ordinary menu and then there's a vegan menu and that's it. You order one or the other. I don't want chicken or fish sandwiches but I sure as hell want my scones with proper clotted cream! So I have to be specific about the sandwiches and say I want some from one menu and some from the other. Bloody annoying.

Any other veggies feel the same?

Oh yes of course everyone who eats any processed food now and again suffers rrom a lack of intellectual ability. Direct correlation!

I 'd argue that that comment alone is one of the most idiotic things I've ever read.

I had better call the university who gave me my post grad and tell them they've made a mistake. I'll call work and tell them I'm far too stupid to be teaching a level 5 qualification, sorry for the confusion! 🧐

YOUR eggs? YOUR cream? YOUR butter? Get over yourself

Could you point me in the right direction? I can only find stuff saying there's no evidence of a link or even a suggestion of the opposite effect.

I don't want to eat animal products but I'm terrified of dementia.

https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000210286
I haven't checked the credentials in fairness, of that particular study or its academics however it was literally the first result that came up when I Googled.

I think that's just a way some people phrase things isn't it?

'I like my butter'
'I like my glass of wine of an evening'
'I like my little evening walks with the dog' etc?

I do eat meat but prefer to eat vegetarian for a variety of reasons and will always order from the veggie menu when out. I have found this, too, and also find it frustrating. I love cheese and butter, I don't like vegan "cheese" and I don't like the amount of processing a lot of vegan food goes through to replicate something that it simply is not. I don't want the vegan option, thank you, and it frustrates me that that's often the only choice now.

ETA: I'm also not posturing as some super healthy, "unprocessed food is the only way" poster child. I love sweets, biscuits, and crisps. I just used to work in the food sector and hearing how vegan 'bacon', for example, was produced by a manufacturer, and the ingredients that went into it, was enough to put me off (and I know real bacon is bad, too, before anyone starts).

I' m vegan and I have been for wonderful afternoon teas. Some fillings for the sandwiches were carrot and hummus, fake beef slices and horseradish, tofu egg and cress, vegan Philly and cucumber. Oh there are lots you could have and lots of little vegan cakes - brownies, macaroons, fairy cakes and vegan scones with jam and vegan cream. Tea obvs and vegan Prosecco. Pfft. I'm staring at my PG tips and toast now with disdain.

I'm confused! I was talking to the poster who said a vegan diet was "A sure way to early dementia"?

@Sacredhandbag I'm vegan and my husband and kids are vegetarian and I agree with you. It is lazy for some places to not do both vegan and vegetarian options, especially when you think of all the different meat dishes they do. Some restaurants are lazy - the vegan options are usually burger or chilli or something else that is a normal meal I eat at home - and the dessert is usually a bloomin brownie. No imagination. On the rare occasions I eat out I like to eat something a bit special that I wouldn't usually cook at home (ha ha I don't mean a chicken/cow before someone suggests that)

There are some very special vegan restaurants where I am sure vegetarians and meat eaters would be amazed at how good vegan food can be. If anyone is ever in Nottingham try a place called No. 12. It is wonderful - no fake processed stuff just delicious food served in a wonderful way. They really make an effort.

The Cornish Vegan is lovely too ☺️

Most vegan food in the UK tastes like cardboard. So sad when there are whole vegan cuisines to draw on from across the world. Vegetarian food used to be like this (God, nut cutlets!) but has looked around the world for ways to cook vegetables and dairy without meat or fish - frequently the vegetarian option is the best choice on a menu. Not so the vegan - and don't even mention vegan cheese.

Some restaurants refuse to 'contaminate' vegan food with dairy. There's an example of this earlier in the thread. One reason suggested is that idiot militant vegans have shamed a restaurant (I can't remember which one) by posting video footage of 'contaminated' (i.e. improved) food.

Ah sorry! I thought someone had responded saying that there's actually links between red meat and dementia, after that and I thought you'd responded to that one. But anyway, might be worth remembering that the vegan 'industry' is TINY compared to those lobbying you will, for people to buy more meat.

Studies are funded by those who have the power and the money.

You'll find arguments for both sides in anything scientific and the ones with more clout are almost always the ones heeded because they're larger, more heavily funded and make more noise so to speak. This applies to everything unfortunately. It's difficult to know what's actually right.

But although not that particular article, I've read up on credentials of academics involved and a lot of original papers are fairly easily accessed which I do tend to do if I care enough about something, and I am comfortable in my belief that eating red meat especially some types of processed red meat, are unfortunately not great for brain health. That's not the reason I wouldn't personally eat it, but it plays a part.

Thank you for that, I'm going to have a look!

Do animals following carnivorous diets tend to use human restaurants?

No, that's the exact opposite of what I am saying - and of what I have been saying throughout the thread.

Agree, it's pandering to whatever is the latest trend, in this case veganism. Same with allowing fecking dogs everywhere, a trend which they think will bring in more money.

If you've been following the thread - including my own contributions - you will have noticed that I was responding to a post that appeared to be dictating to other people what their food choices 'should' be and what they 'should' be content with having available to them in general restaurants.

Yes, unless there is an allergy in the mix, it is a choice to never include any foodstuff in your diet. That choice may be because of your religious faith, your ethical stance or just what you do or don't like the taste of.

All of these are 100% valid. I just object to people expecting others to live with their personal choices - and framing it as 'you can' but 'I can't', so I get to choose for both of us.

I'm not saying any of those things aren't a choice, I am saying this thread is about choices. We know it's a choice. A poster saying 'vegans/vegetarians 'can't' eat whatever it is, obviously doesn't mean they literally cannot insert it into their mouth and swallow it. Saying 'won't eat' just isn't a normal way of conversing about it.

Lots of the vegan options are not in any way helpful to the planet. The trend for fake meat is definitely not more environmentally friendly that a locally caught fish, for example. Vegetables may also be shipped from the other side of the world.

I'm veggie because I don't like meat and for health reasons. I don't eat UPFs generally so offering me fake meat is not particularly helpful. It's nearly impossible to get a decent bean burger these days as it's always fake meat and fake cheese upf crap now.

Asian and middle Eastern restaurants are your best bet for veggie these days. A lot of the Asian stuff is naturally vegan by default but I'm fine with that.

Almond milk is bloody dreadful, environmentally speaking. 50 billion bees dead in one season. How many bees are worth a calf, I wonder...

I've just been to look at the menus for the "Lounge" chain of resaurants as there's one within half a mile of me so friends often suggest it as a place to eat.

There are two menus - standard and vegan.

10 main courses with meat
8 vegan main courses
1 vegetarian main course

Given that there are about 5 times as many vegetarians as vegans (according to the article I saw) you'd think the veggies might merit more than one, but I guess even one is better than none.

I've got gut problems atm, and have just discovered plant based Philadelphia!! Tbf it's not bad when used to replace dairy in things like sauces. And yes, I can't eat dairy or wheat, and was given the vegan menu for deserts !!

I've recently tried the Dairylea Dunkers, actually really nice and felt like a kid again 😁
Tasted pretty cheesy.
Unlike the Babybels I tried, thought they were disgusting 😓🤢