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Original poster

Blinking vegetarians

133 replies

codswallop · 15/08/2003 15:35

I am sorry I am very unsympathetic to vegetarianinsm - purely because of the hassle factor of catering for them.

Have veggie(but eats fish) friend coming - thought I would bbq.

what should I do?

Is it bad form to do her and her bf fish and us have lovely meat?

He used to eat meat but has compromised with her so she eats fish and he doesnt eat meats. CRACKERS

OP posts:
aloha · 15/08/2003 17:35

We always do fish or purely veggie food for them and don't mind but still wonder why...

SoupDragon · 15/08/2003 17:40

And a completely irreverant thought that occurred to me today : do vegetarians kill flies and wasps etc??

Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 18:09

soupy... are you stirring?

would there be fewer flies if there wernt so many animals bums for them to swarm around?

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Janstar · 15/08/2003 18:12

Why do people feel that vegetarians and non-meat eaters should explain their reasons to everyone? If anyone shuns certain foods that is their business. If someone refuses puddings and cakes no one says anything about it.

Surely we are all entitled to eat what we want to without having to explain our reasons to everyone we meet? I don't eat meat, but I don't ask meat eaters to stop eating it, nor do I expect them to give me their philosophy about why they eat it. When they come to my house I cook meat for them, and I cook it for my husband routinely. When I am invited to someone else's place I eat what I am given, except meat. If they find it a hassle I just tell them to cook whatever they like but just give me the vegetables.

I think the real problem is that these people have foisted themselves on you when you would rather not cook for them. If you give them something inadequate maybe they will leave you alone in future.

Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 18:18

I would cook I just find the veggie thing annoying.

OP posts:
Janstar · 15/08/2003 18:26

I can't believe all you meat eaters never eat any vegetarian food yourself anyway. I bet you eat cheese & tomato pizzas and pasta with garlic and mushrooms and lovely veggie soups and fresh colourful salads etc. And since these people eat fish too...your diet includes fish dishes, surely?

It is a little more tricky with a barbecue but some yummy things have been suggested here. Tuna steaks are good on a barbecue. Corn on the cob. Shark! Sardines - loads of different fish in fact.

In my experience people who have a problem accepting that others are vegetarians usually don't really feel comfortable with their own philosophy Otherwise why would it bother you?

SoupDragon · 15/08/2003 18:32

No, Coddy, I'm not stirring at all! It's just one of those stupid thoughts that pop up every now and then.

Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 18:37

are tuna steaks good? I have always found fish kebabs stick.

current plan is fish kebabs and halloumi. some ricey cous cous y thing and to stat pitta and greek stuff - you know taramaslata or hoummus or something

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Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 18:39

Ps jansatr I am not anti veggies on theoretical grounds - just annoyance factor and I am not so good at veggie bbqs

OP posts:
Janstar · 15/08/2003 18:41

Tuna's quite a meaty textured fish and it's good on barbecues because it doesn't fall apart like some fish do. If you rub oil on it it shouldn't stick. Your menu sounds yummy, but if you give them that they will be back every weekend.

Janstar · 15/08/2003 18:43

I understand that it gets on your nerves, I just don't understand why. I don't understand why my choosing to eat or not eat certain foods would be of any concern to you.

Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 18:46

No janstar - really ! Thats fine.Good to stick to principles.

This friend ate meat with gusto till really recently and Ijust find it hard now I have no veggie friends to think of things to give her that I want to eat too and dont entail loads of hassle - I have 3 boys under 5 at the moment all at home and one a baby!!!

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Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 18:47

janstar i feel doubly bad now. She is a friend who I like just is annoying with the veggie thing. My problem I am sure. Feel suitably chastised!

OP posts:
Janstar · 15/08/2003 18:52

I've just spent a few days with a friend who has 3 under 5s, one of whom is a baby. She was in perpetual motion all her waking hours. She can perform any task with a baby on her hip. I don't know how she does it.

I think you should get your guests to cook the food while you sit and sip wine.

scoobysnax · 15/08/2003 18:52

Janstar, I can't imagine that YOUR vegetarianism would bug anyone!
I think there is an important courtesy and hospitality issue at the heart of this, which is that you should try to make others feel at home when you entertain them at your house, and try to serve food to them which they will enjoy.
As an avid carnivore myself, I always make an effort to cater for vegetarians, and would expect them to cook meat for me when I am at their house. Unfortunately I have found it unusual for vegetarians to serve me meat, and that's where a lot of the antagonism starts!

Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 18:55

scoobysnax - what about a chicken drumstick sandwich fromn the fridge in the haunted house?

OP posts:
scoobysnax · 15/08/2003 18:57

Codswallop - if your friends don't serve you meat at their house, they can't really expect special catering at your house, so you could cook as normal, and just miss the meat off their plates! Or in fact, serve the meat as normal too and if they say anything about it claim you forgot but that they can just leave it on the side of their plates. What a trouble maker I am

Janstar · 15/08/2003 19:01

Scooby is right. What makes these things into problems is when people believe their way is the only right way and do not respect other people's right to make their own decisions.

Janstar · 15/08/2003 19:03

Isn't it funny how these practical questions always turn into an erudite philosophical debate? I think it stems from having to talk baby babble all day. We need this to remind us that we can think intelligently.

Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 19:08

I cant! I cnat even remember my boys names half the time.

Must go.. story time mark 3

OP posts:
aloha · 15/08/2003 19:16

I'm not demanding anyone explain themselves, I'm just baffled and would love to know why some people eat fish but not meat. It can't be on moral grounds surely, so wondered why.

JJ · 15/08/2003 19:38

Aloha, for environmental reasons. Beef, especially, take up a huge amount of land and other resources to produce. (I'm a devoted carnivore, but do really respect that line of thought.)

Codswallop, take an aubergine and slice it into kind of thin, maybe more thin to medium, slices. Soak it in a vinaigrette for just a bit and then throw it on the bbq until tender. Very yummy. Whole trout is easy too -- just coat with a teeny tiny bit of oil (to keep it from sticking) and cook on both sides until flaky.

Original poster
codswallop · 15/08/2003 19:49

I should leave out he pepperami then?!!

OP posts:
Zerub · 15/08/2003 19:53

Not all veggies are veggies because of cruelty to animals. Some other reasons:
Not liking the taste of meat
Health - its much better for you
Environment - its more efficient use of land - 20 vegetarians can live off the land required by one meat eater.
Morality - each year the UK feeds its livestock enough grain to feed 250 million people while 30 million people starve to death in the third world

So I guess any of those reasons makes it ok to eat fish and wear leather?

Or perhaps fish-arians think that they want to do something, and giving up meat is as much as they can manage - fish & leather as well would just be too hard?

Me, I'd rather eat luvverly meat and give money to Christian Aid...

On the original question, I remember going to a BBQ once where there were bowls full of chopped veg and chopped meat (separate) and you had to thread your own kebabs. Veg-only kebabs had one end of the BBQ to themselves. It was delicious. And to make it even less work you can ask your guests to help chop stuff up when they arrive (I always find that putting my guests to work helps the conversation flow - everyone gets busy and stops feeling awkward and polite!).

MIL has liver failure and can't eat meat (or a whole load of other things) so I'm used to being creative about food and I quite like it now - we get to eat some nice new things. Although she is great about just having the veg if we want a roast or something!

easy · 15/08/2003 19:56

Oh Coddie, I am so pleased to hear from another devout carnivor. I luv meat, and don't understand how anyone lives without it. However all are welcome to their own way of life. But veggies coming here have to accept that we eat meat. I gladly prepare them something different, but would regard them very rude if they huffed about us eating meat at our own party.