How hard do you find it, being a vegetarian?

Ilona

1. No.
2. No.

I don't buy sweets, they rot your teeth and too much sugar is bad for you.

I don't eat out, except for the odd bag of chips. A couple of months ago I was invited out to lunch in a pub with my sister, a once a year occasion. There was a good vegetarian choice on the menu.

I cook nearly all my food from scratch, and check the labels on the back of packets and boxes.

I have no desire to eat dead animals, the thought of it makes me feel sick.
Ilona

PasturesNew

If I bought some goodies and realised they weren't vegetarian, I'd still eat them - and just learn from that.... if there's no health reason for being a veggie, then once they're in your basket and out of the shop they're fair game.

It's not like a diet, or drinking booze, or smoking .... being a veggie is entirely a choice that it's not "important" that you slip up with sometimes.

NewShadow

PasturesNew wrote: »

If I bought some goodies and realised they weren't vegetarian, I'd still eat them - and just learn from that.... if there's no health reason for being a veggie, then once they're in your basket and out of the shop they're fair game.

It's not like a diet, or drinking booze, or smoking .... being a veggie is entirely a choice that it's not "important" that you slip up with sometimes.

While I wouldn't say "not important" - some think it's very important to them, i do agree with the idea of live and let live.

I find it a little silly that people get offended if someone checks if they eat fish or derivatives - because people who call themselves vegi but aren't 'pure' are inferior?

Personally I wonder how many 'pure' vegetarians call themselves christian but never go to church...

edwink

As a vegetarian of 36 years now. I just say that I don't eat anything that had a face on it.

We cook from scratch because it is cheaper if are a vegetarian or a meat eater (my hubbie eats meat). Plus we feel the ingredients are better for you.

[Deleted User]

NewShadow wrote: »

I find it a little silly that people get offended if someone checks if they eat fish or derivatives

It's a problem, because it blurs the line.

Every "vegetarian" who eats fish, chicken etc., perpetuates the myth, that fish, chicken etc. are actually vegetarian foods.

The number of times I've been asked "So, do you eat fish and chicken?", or words to that effect.

[Deleted User]

edwink wrote: »

I just say that I don't eat anything that had a face on it.

That's my general philosophy too, but, of course, there are one or two things I won't eat, that don't fit that description.

NewShadow

But it's a blurred line anyway!

It's all down to individual preference.

Some won't eat lumps of meat but will eat minor ingredients (e.g. gelatine or rennet), some (as mentioned above) won't eat anything with a face (which I assume permits molluscs or insects), some won't eat animal derivatives (but will still eat animal products - honey, milk, eggs...), some won't eat eggs but will eat milk or honey, some would only eat 'happy' food - organic and free range, some will eat fish - but only if it's wild caught... I could go on.

You can arbitrarily say some are vegi, some are vegan, some are pesca, or fruitarian, or paleo, and some are whatever, but all of them have just as much right to self define as 'vegetarian' in the same way you have the right to define as Christian or Druidic, or Wiccan, or...

Saying you're vegetarian is often the easiest way to ensure you can eat whatever arrives. I've done it on flights before now because I don't eat pork and don't like the idea of halal (where I tend to travel halal chicken is often offered as the alternative).

Surely the worst that happens if you're asked to confirm your specific requirements - which may be irritating but isn't exactly a bad thing.

Either way - getting too worked up about it is a little pointless (what I called silly before) - you and I both have the right to explain what we eat and why in any terms we choose. I don't think we have the right to say others are bad for doing the same thing.

Bettie

https://www.vegsoc.org/definition

I find it easy to be a vegetarian except when eating out. I get fed up with uneducated menu planners, chefs and waitresses that don't have a clue as to what is or is not vegetarian. It never helps that some self professed vegetarian has dined there and "always eats fish so it must be vegetarian"
I am going to a wedding soon and the only "veg option" is not vegetarian but no doubt there will be quite a few vegetarians that will eat it so it must be ok!

VfM4meplse

Bettie wrote: »

I am going to a wedding soon and the only "veg option" is not vegetarian but no doubt there will be quite a few vegetarians that will eat it so it must be ok!

Perhaps eat a sandwich before you go?

I often accept invites but ask not to be included for catering purposes. It often makes the host think twice about the menu (although that's not why I do it, I just dislike eating out).

HornetSaver

NewShadow wrote: »

Saying you're vegetarian is often the easiest way to ensure you can eat whatever arrives.

That's both true, and not exclusive to those that choose to avoid meat. Notwithstanding my previous comment, "mediocre" is still better than "inedible swill" if there's good reason to doubt the quality of what's about to be served.