How hard do you find it, being a vegetarian?

NewShadow

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!

I have a similar problem with my nut allergy, but at least you're compromising your ethics rather than your health...

I might suggest raising the topic with the wedding party or caterers to see if they can provide something you'd be happier with?

beautiful_ravens

My husband and his mum are veggie, and if we eat out they have maybe 2 meal options and I have at least 10 to choose from, can't help feeling a bit sorry for their lack of options.
Another thing Ive noticed is that a lot of meat eaters don't choose the veg option, because its for vegetarians...as if meat eaters shouldn't be eating it - there should be more options in restaurants that are meat free or meat dishes with a veggie alternative version.
At country shows the veggie burger vendors hardly ever have a queue so its much quicker to get food there!

moneyistooshorttomention

I'm a pescetarian these days - partly because being vegetarian does restrict the choice so much I feel. That's down to me being a bit of a "foodie" I guess - so it does get upsetting to have fewer choices when eating out.

I guess I got rather fed-up personally with trying to get "equal rights" to meat-eaters (ie equal amount of choice/being charged appropriately less for vegetarian food because the ingredients are cheaper/etc).

I do find it difficult - even with that - to think along the currently fashionable "clean eating" lines - as such a high proportion of info. about this on the Net focuses round an Omni diet. So it makes it more time-consuming to have to plough through and discard all the info. that includes meat.

I am someone that needs a lot of variety in my diet too (well quite a bit of variety in everything) and it's noticeably harder to find the amount of variety I need now that I'm not living in a city any longer (now semi-rural in Wales). It was a lot easier when there was a Waitrose nearby:(. I pounce on any "new" foods fitting my criteria that the local supermarkets come up with - and cross my fingers they will keep stocking it (along with all the countless junk food they have in).

So - 95% of my diet is vegetarian (with just the odd bit of fish thrown in - hence I'm a pescetarian) and I confess that sometimes my low boredom threshold does mean I cant be bothered to have to "work" at getting the amount of variety I need. As a single person as well - that is rather exacerbated - as its harder to get the low quantities one needs of more "minor" ingredients.

System

Accidentally buying something you don't realise has gelatine or crushed insects is an easy mistake, you get to know what to be wary of but its not always obvious so don't be hard on yourself over a mistake. Bear in mind that creatures of our size will inevitably kill things accidentally just by walking around or farming crops.

I never liked meat as a child or school dinners so it was easy for me to give up for moral reasons. I have the occasional dream that I've eaten meat, but I hate the smell of it, and consider fish to be meat. Couldn't give up dairy or eggs though and don't feel so much moral obligation there as there's no killin ( free range though)

Bettie

NewShadow wrote: »

I have a similar problem with my nut allergy, but at least you're compromising your ethics rather than your health...

I might suggest raising the topic with the wedding party or caterers to see if they can provide something you'd be happier with?

Not only would I be ill if I ate it ( mental aspect) I am stressing and making myself ill for weeks before. I am "Mother of the bride" sort of, (step mother) All I get is "Mum is being awkward again" and despite EVERYONE knowing my diet for nigh on forty years they can't get it right at get togethers.
They feel embarrassed as they discussed it with the caterers and then the menu is printed clearly saying my option which I won't eat. yes it can be sorted by going back and making demands but I get fed up with this at every event.
Went on a mini cruise and found out after that despite the v on the menu none of the cheese was veggie. I wasn't very happy after eating it and lost all trust in any food offered. I feel the same about the wedding, if the chef is so ignorant how do I know any of the food is ok for me

Bettie

VfM4meplse wrote: »

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).

Think I will have to take a few packed lunches as staying the night before and the night of... veggie pasty in my room and plenty of crisps lol Such a waste of money as it's about sixty quid a head and I won't be eating much.. so not very :money: :rotfl:

candygirl

Bettie wrote: »

Think I will have to take a few packed lunches as staying the night before and the night of... veggie pasty in my room and plenty of crisps lol Such a waste of money as it's about sixty quid a head and I won't be eating much.. so not very :money: :rotfl:

But why should you have to do this, in this day n age? It's outrageous :mad:

Simillar

BrassicWoman wrote: »

shopping is easy especially if you cook from scratch; I go to a few trusted restaurants; the most irritating thing is people who finds bacon "jokes" funny.

The same problem was also with me. Not too thrilled with this:mad:

ALIBOBSY

Bettie wrote: »

https://www.vegsoc.org/definition

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!

We went to a wedding last year where the ONLY vegetarians in the whole room were the bride and groom, BUT the whole of us were only served a veggie meal and tbh it was pretty horrible and everyone moaned. My kids didn't eat, but the bride saw and asked the catering manager if he could do something quick for them only. He offered the kids a few quick choices and they ended up picking ham sandwiches and chips, lovely they were too lol.

We are meat eaters, but we live in a semi rural area so are able to source meat from animals we know exactly how they have lived and been looked after, or have been hunted locally and so have had a wild and free life.
Our Christmas turkey was running around our friends field for months before he met a swift end right there without the stress of travel and a large mass slaughter house. We face the reality that an animal has lived and died to feed us, just like our ancestors did and we use every bit of that meat.

We also keep chickens for eggs, and grow alot of veggies for ourselves.

Also for health reasons we like to have two days a week veggie and one on fish/veggie.

However I did live for 10 years as a vegetarian when younger and can appreciate what a challenge it can be at times, but do think things have much improved since the 80's.

We all make our choices, but at least I can look a vegetarian in the eye and say the meat I eat I respect and know exactly how it lived and died. It upsets me to see the "meat is a product wrapped in plastic wrap who cares where it comes from just how much is it" brigade ignoring the reality of what they are eating.

Ali x

Smoosh

I find it very easy, but I've been doing it since I was 13 (11 years). I think some people find it easier than others as they're less strict with what they eat. I'm very strict but over the years I've just got used to knowing what products I can't eat and looking for V symbols on most things.

I am a huge lover of Quorn products and without them I don't think I'd cope so well with being vegetarian.

Most of the time I find eating out ok, however I'm always shocked by the amount of places that will try and put parmesan on vegetarian dishes :eek: