Should I allow tofu dogs in a hot dog eating competition?

Question

I am organizing an open hot dog eating competition including friends, co-workers, and their friends. Anyone is invited but it has typically been the same 25 or so eaters the past 2 years.

This year, a vegetarian wants to compete but refuses to eat hot dogs. This person wants to use tofu dogs instead. This person is very competitive and not a bad eater, relatively speaking, but has no chance to win the competition.

Some people say this person should be in because it should be inclusive and friendly and they are not going to win anyways.

Others say that it is a hot dog eating competition and you should not enter if you dont eat hot dogs.

What should I do?

Let me clarify things. I understand that tofu dogs can be more filling than other "hot dogs." However, as commish, I am purchasing all the same dogs and buns so that it is fair.

I understand that vegetarians don't eat meat. I am not trying to discriminate against vegetarians, there are other types of eating contests that don't involve meat.

But how do I draw the line? If I allow tofu, why not allow sausage or french fries or popcorn or celery?

Shouldnt the food you are eating count as something? Do you think there is a difference between eating 2 lbs of hot dogs and eating 2 lbs of jalepenos?

Thank you for the responses, I would like to get some more though.

As you can probably tell, I am against allowing anything but hot dogs in the competition.

I feel that I need a better reason to let someone besides "you should include everyone because a tofu dog is like a hot dog to us." But its not the same, thats the point. Thats why there is hot dog eating record and a tofu dog eating record.

Isnt deciding to be a vegetarian mean excluding you from certain things? Why should I sway the rules of the competition? Any better answers out there?

Answer 1

eeeep tofu hot dogs..... are these people crazy?lol....how dare they try to taint an American classic contest!!!!! yipes! heck nooooooo! lol... but if you do decide to ... they should definitely supply their own tofu... why should you have to buy / touch that? why its sacrilegious! whats next tofu apple pie?lol..

Answer 2

I agree that this person should be in because it is a friendly competition. If it was a professional thing than I'd say no.

However, I think you are well within your right to ask this person to supply their own tofu dogs. OR perhaps you could have a seperate tofu dog contest?

Answer 3

it may be more filling, but it's different. the whole idea of competition is the fact that it is fair to all contestants. if you have enough vegetarians, you should just start a tofu dog eating competition!

Answer 4

Yes, include them, don't discriminate. It's a hot dog eating contest. There are many different types of hot dogs; meat, chicken, turkey, tofu, etc. It would be unfair to not let them enter when you can easily accommodate them.

Answer 5

veggiedogs are just as filling :-) (they might actually be more filling.. I'm a vegetarian and I can't remember the meat kind being as heavy as the veggie kind)
The fact that she wants to enter the competition might seem kind of strange.. but it's not really..
It's just as weird as the fact that veggiedogs are on the market. Maybe she isn't against eating other people meat... but doesn't want to do it herself?
I don't see why you wouldn't allow him or her to eat tofudogs.. I don't believe it's unfair :-)

Answer 6

Hot dogs are my favorite food! I think Tofu would desecrate the game!

Answer 7

in a tofu hotdog eating contest that would be acceptable but not in America you dont

Answer 8

Yes, otherwise you are discriminating against vegetarians.

Plus, tofu is far more filling and much harder to chew. The competition for her would be much harder.

Answer 9

get tofu hotdogs, the other people don't have to eat them so what does it matter to them? I like how this got put in the sports catagory

Answer 10

i think you should let them join in. i'm vegetarian & if i had the chance to enter a contest such as that, i'd want to. yes it's technically not a "hotdog" to meat eaters, but to us, it's a hotdog - just different ingrediants.