Are you vegetarian but your significant other is not?

Question

What happens at mealtimes as far as who prepares it, and what do you eat? Will the nonvegetarian eat vegetarian meals, or are there complaints about lack of meat, etc?
I became vegetarian in October, and I no longer want to touch meat. My husband, who rarely has time to cook, often turns his nose up if the meal has no animal flesh. He often orders out.

Answer 1

Been there sister. I went veggie last March and my bf that I live with is a meat eater. When I first made the decision he immediately had a tantrum, like many of my male friends, but first I explained why and why make it a problem he eventually saw the light. When it came to meal time I would make him a meat dish but now I don't anymore. If he doesn't like what I am having then he has to make time to do it himself or get take out.
At first I tricked him into eating a veggie meal, sometimes he didn't notice but when I said that the meal he just ate was meat-free he went all strange as if he's a lesser man. Now he is great at trying what I am making. At first there was a nose in the air put that really upset me so I said first he had to try it before he can say he doesn't like it. Now I know what he likes and might not so he gets a warning that he might need a backup meal in case.
Since your hubby is most of the time too busy to make his own so then when he does have some time he should make a big dish and freeze some of it for later.
Another idea is make something that is close to the taste of the meat version. For example make "meat"balls but use eggplant or mushrooms as the mince meat. Or make a lasagna as you normally would but instead of the meat use TVP. That way he may get used to taste thru familiar meals.
Try this website for ideas for yourself also www.allrecipes.com

Answer 2

I am a vegetarian and my hubby is a meat eater (he tries to avoid red meat, but eats chicken and fish). I also don't want to touch meat ( I am a vegetarian since early childhood, I never touched meat), but if I have to, I take those thin plastic gloves that the saleslady at the butcher would wear. That would maybe help you, too, because you wouldn't really come in contact with the meat.

Besides, my hubby almost everytime eats soy products. He likes most of all soy sausages and burgers. He also says that the soy hamburgers taste the same as real hamburgers, so you should try them once at your hubby (if he's against soy stuff then just give it to him and don't tell him it's soy, he probably won't recognize the difference!).

All dishes that are done with mincemeat can be also done with a vegetarian, mostly soy, substitute for mincemeat. I feel the pain of you American vegetarians, you don't have always the possibility to go to a shop where they sell good substitutes for meat. I can buy anything I want in the vegetarian version, so this is maybe why my hubby almost everytime eats also vegetarian. He eats something non-vegetarian maybe once a week. All the other time he eats what I eat. If he eats meat, to 99% he prepares it himself. I just can't stand to cook with meat. I never really did. But if your hubby is open minded (this is why you always should shoose your partner wisely before you marry him...), then it won't be a problem for him to eat sometimes vegetarian dishes.

Answer 3

I'm a vegetarian and my hubby and kids aren't.
I cook during the weekdays, and my husband cooks on the weekends. We cook 2 different meals--1 veggie, the other non-veggie. The kids can choose what they want. I used to have a hard time even touching the meat, but I'm better. I don't feel like my family should have to be a vegetarian just because I am.

Instead of having your husband order out and eat THAT food---try cooking some meat to make him happy. I know you don't want to touch it, but it does get easier over time. Plus, once I started cooking meat (again) my husband started cooking some amazing veggie dishes for me. He even bought himself a veggie recipe book!

Good luck! ☺

Answer 4

it's like the scene in pulp fiction when jules is gettin ready to eat the big kahoona burger and he starts explaining that he doesn't get many chances to eat burgers anymore because his woman is a vegetarian and that makes him pretty much a vegetarian. It comes down to the meat eater being capable of preparing veggie meals but it probably not being a desirable option for the vegetarian to prepare a meat meal. I often help with all the veggies and then my girlfriend prepares any additional meat for herself.

Answer 5

I have the exact same problem, I am Vegan, and will not sit down at the table if anyone has meat. It has taken me 3 years for others to try my meals and appreciate that they are also very tasty as well as healthy and animal friendly.
It took me years for people to get over their is not enough protein, which is not true, a correct vegan diet covers all the requirements of the body.

Answer 6

I am a vegetarian and my significant other is not. I have made it a habit to prepare my meals ahead of time in bulk. That way when he eats what he likes (meat) I do not feel obligated to do so. I just heat mine up and we can still eat together. It does bother me that he eats animal but I have learned to accept it, just like he has accepted the fact that I do not.

Answer 7

I am vegetarian and cant stand the smell of meat cooking. It is hard. My man cooks his own meat. What I really detest is the mess from cooking meat. If he cooks a roast, the oven is splattered in fat and guess who has to clean it. Vegetarian cooking is clean, you dont have that yukky fat to clean up.
I love him, he respects my chosen eating style and knows I wont cook meat, so I dont give him flack.
Compromise is the answer.

Answer 8

Honey, I'm a vegetarian but my man is not. He prepares meals for both of us. He cooks vegetarian meals for me, and meals with meat for him (i.e. veggie burgers for me, real burgers for him). Also, we find common food to eat (grilled veggies, spaghetti - with no meatballs, etc...).

Don't worry, your man will eventually get used to you being vegetarian. In the meantime, try making tasty foods that you both can eat (i.e. spaghetti, vegetable lasagnas, etc...) Use Soy meat and see if he can tell the difference :)

Answer 9

Then your husband should continue ordering out. You aren't running a restaurant and if he's so pigheaded that he won't even *try* what you are cooking, I feel very sorry for the both of you.

Answer 10

Make things where he wont miss the meat or use substitutes. We make lasagna, pasta w/ sauce, stir-fry's and vegetarian versions of it's meat filled counterpart.