Blinking vegetarians

[codswallop]

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

Tallulah - children eating out don't have to eat children's meals! They could share with an adult - this is what we have done with our daughter since she first started on solids, just given her bits from our plate or asked if a smaller version of an adult meal can be prepared. Sadly, in today's world of naff food in most places, delivered by some mass catering company, the latter isn't always an option.

We're not vegetarian by the way - I just have an aversion to 'children's meals' of the nuggets/burgers/fish fingers variety.

codswallop, I have a friend who eats no meat or spices, does eat fish and shellfish. My DH hates fish and I don't eat shellfish! Friend's DH would eat a chair leg, lightly seasoned When we have them round for dinner, it always means preparing something separate for her but I try to make something with sauce e.g. chicken with roasted red pepper sauce (made separately) and then will grill a tuna steak for my friend and serve with the same sauce, veg etc.

Barbecues are easy since we just bung tuna, swordfish, prawns etc on the bbq, make up some veggie kebabs, and also do meat.

I went away for a week and this is still running!
wobblymum was asking why call yourself 'veggie' if you eat fish and it was something I was just thinking of as I always feel a real fraud with the 'veggie but eat fish' line but I think I use it just cos most people understand instantly what you can/can't eat more or less anyhow and it's quicker than saying 'I don't eat chicken, pork, lamb, duck etc' and then I'd probably forget to say one and it would end up on the dinner plate.
any ohter ideas apart from I'm a pesky?

Coddy, you didn't tell us how your barbecue went in the end.

ah well - will post later when more time

As a veggie I have now completely given up trying to eat in pubs due to 1) lack of choice (vegetarians do eat other things besides cheese,pasta and baked potatoes[with cheese]); 2)rude service (how rude can a 'host' be when asked if a meal is suitable for vegetarians? So many places simply don't mark their food veggie are we expected to simply assume and take the risk?); 3) and being ripped off (penne pasta with sauce,seemingly from a jar, and some grated cheese on top, and hardly melted is not worth £10 imo). Feel like splashing the name of the pub from most recent hideous experience (yesterday) across Mumsnet... but won't. Not really adding anything to this thread just having a rant.

The Bengali kids in our neighbourhood persist in calling themselves "vegetarian". "Don't you mean 'halal'?" I ask, because they're Muslim, I know Halal is what they truly mean. "No, vegatarian!" they insist, eagerly scoffing any tuna I offer them. Their mothers just assume Westerners will never understand.

Winnie, IKWYM, we're often down to a choice of chips or chips since ds doesn't like cheese (I know, it's a pain). Some places also say they can't do pasta completely plain. Err, why ever not?? Presumably because it all comes pre-packages and/or frozen with the sauce on the top.

I Love cooking for my vegetarian pals as they are always so appreciative if you make a bit of an effort. I am often shocked at the rubbish they get served up in pubs in the name of the vegetarian dish.
I could honestly give up sex, music, or colour vision sooner than I could give up meat so I view my vegetarian pals with a degree of bewilderment and awe

I get annoyed with fish/meat eating 'vegetarians' as I have had so many people assume that all vegetarians eat fish. I lose count of the times I have had 'vegetarian' meals cooked for me which turn out to be fish or chicken.

Can you not just say "I don't eat meat, but I do eat fish"???

anais- used to annoy me too! Unfortunately times change. Anyway, I wouldn't say that or I'd get some fish I wouldn't eat, as I will only eat white fish... (My inlaws don't know I eat fish, it isn't something I advertise).

Suew, I know children don't have to have children's meals, but when you have 4 of them (total 5.5 years apart), children's meals are all we could afford! The benefit of set meals is that the drinks etc are included in the price. Otherwise it would be picnics only (& DH loathes picnics).

Tallulah, I'm a freelance writer and am doing a piece on men who have changed some aspect of their life as a result of their partner/wife. is there any chance you and your husband would appear in this article about your husband not eating meat in the house?

Meant to say it's for the Daily Express

Whoops pls ignore Dirty Des comments on other thread then!

Tasa, don't know if he'd want to be photographed TBH... what would it involve?

wickedwaterwitch- BurgerKing don't grill their vegie burgers with normal burgers, or at least they didn't used it. The veggieburgers are deep fried. However, it is done in the same oil as the chicken burgers and fish. The fries are done seperately though. I used to work there part time as a sixth former many moons ago.

I still tend to say that I am vegetarian even though I do eat fish (don't like meat). I just find it easier when out to say it than going into an explanation. I don't question why someone chooses not to eat chocolate, or to not drink, or if they change there diet so really don't understand why veggies always seem to have to.

Thanks claireandrich. That's just as bad though, frying in the same fat! Yuk!

I know, horrid! Mind you, not as bad as some of the stuff that happens in those kitchens believe ne!!!

OK, resurrecting this thread following a fruitless trip to Tescos in search of a hassle-free ready-made veggie alternative to Christmas dinner.

any suggestions??

m and s have filo mushroom tarts

I'd looked in my veggie cookbook actually and had kind of settled on some sort of nut roast. There was a chestnut one which at least sounded a bit festive. (but means I should have bought chestnut puree in Tescos today - bah!)

Quorn roast. Find it in the freezer section with the other Quorn stuff.

Eggplant and lentil moussaka is quite nice. Or nut roasts, as everyone suggests. For chic starters I sometimes do goats cheese balls (covered in crushed almonds etc) with slivers of avocado and salad.

followthatstar, I have to disagree on the Quorn roast thingy, most veggies I know don't like fake meat flavoured dishes IMHO (actually I don't like it that's why I say it!)

The best ready meal I have had in recent years is the M&S nut roast - I think there is one with a cranberry sauce sachet which is great.

Tinseldragon I have to say I would prefer M&S food hall than mucking about making my own nut roast. Although I do usually do a really yummy one with a chestnut, cranberry and leek mix, which has lumps of goats cheese hidden in it and puff pastry lattice on top. This year however I can't be bothered and I'll go ready meal since it's just me!!