Vegetarians how do you handle your non vegetarian friends, family etc when they eat meat infront of you?

Question

Do you just ignore it or let them know if you're coming round to dinner etc that you'd prefer if they served something else that you both/all agree on?

I'm an Omnivore who isn't a huge fan of Red Meat incase you're wondering.

Answer 1

My family and friends know I am a vegetarian, so if I go to their house they usually make lots of food and there are vegetarian foods for me to eat. They also can expect when they come to my home to have a vegetarian meal, in fact I started getting some of them to enjoy tofu. I don't care if they eat meat, that is their choice I also do not try to push being a vegetarian on them, if they ask about my diet I explain to them.

Answer 2

I'm a little alone in this. I've met a few vegetarians but I'm not extremely close to them. Sometimes people will start talking to me when we have that in common though I had a best friend who became a vegetarian with influence from me once. I felt like she did it to feel cool or something though, because whenever we stopped being friends she ate meat again. Sometimes it seems difficult to be the only vegetarian in a southern family. My family doesn't mind though, they make sure there's something for me to eat at gatherings and stuff.

Answer 3

I'm not too keen on people eating meat in front of me. It puts me off my food. I don't like the sight of dead animals. If it's just a bit of meat in a dish, it's okay, I just don't look at their plates too much. But once I was invited to a meal where everyone was eating seafood, and they were breaking the lobsters legs and stuff all around me, and I just couldn't eat a thing, I felt sick. I'm invited to the same kind of meal again this year (for Christmas, again). I think I'm just not going to go.

I think it's kind of a lack of respect on their part, actually. I try not to say anything even though I don't agree with them killing animals, so I think they could make an effort when they are eating with me.

My friends aren't so bad though. Quite a few are veggies, which helps :-P The others tend to stick to a vegetarian diet when I'm around, which is nice and I appreciate.


Go vegan!

Answer 4

If you're a control freak you try to make them serve non-meat dishes when you are there, but if you are well brought up, you either let people eat the way they want or politely decline the invitation.

"If someone has a dietary restriction whether it is vegetarian, no salt, low fat, or restriction of certain foods due to religion, ethnicity, etc., the host should welcome being informed in order to accommodate their guests. However, the entire meal need not be catered to the one(s) with dietary restrictions. But, there should be at least one other selection to the main entree, and not just side dishes of alternatives from which to choose. For example, when you visit your relatives, they could have a meatless pasta dish. Actually, many people who eat meat would enjoy a meatless pasta dish as well.

On the other hand, the relative who feels that you should serve meat because it is the preferred cuisine of your guests is wrong in his assumption. He does not have a dietary restriction, only a preference. Therefore, he should be gracious and enjoy whatever meal you prepare."

Answer 5

Around family and friends, it's generally they eat what they eat, I eat what I eat, and if they want to try whatever I'm eating they totally can.
You should let the host of a party know that you're a vegetarian, but understand that they aren't going cater the meal to you.
Suggest a pot luck dinner occasionally, especially if you're the host. That way you can make what you like, and if others desperately need their fix of meat, they can bring whatever they like.

Answer 6

I typically don't say anything, but have left the table a few times. This is only because the smell nauseated me. And as a mother of two with a strong sense of the ittiest bit of something stinky, I can't help it! However, I never make anyone stop eating or leave for my sake. I just wait it out and eat after the rest have finished!

Answer 7

I eat around meat eaters all the time. It doesn't really bother me and my family and friends are all very veg-friendly so there's plenty for everyone to eat. I'm not out to judge everyone who hasn't made the same choices as me, especially if they're respectful of me. I get annoyed at the idiots who take big bites of meat and make exagerrated orgasmic noises to show me what I'm "missing" because they all seem to think they're the first person to ever do it.

Answer 8

I eat my food and they eat their food; I don't say anything about it. Since the majority of people eat meat I don't think it be right for me to make an issue of it. Sometimes vegetarians get the reputation of the being a pain; I don't want to give anyone a reason for thinking that.

Answer 9

It doesn't bother me, I have food that tastes a million times better than theres anyway, I tell them they are missing out. Some of my friends and family are pretty open to trying some of my soy and tofu foods and they are surprised that they are not real meat. If I go to an event, I bring my own veggie items and let anyone have a taste. It usually goes quite well.

Answer 10

Unless they're tearing into a whole carcass it doesn't usually bother me so Thanksgiving dinners are out. I let people know ahead of time I'm a non-meat eater but I would never ask them to prepare something special just for me. It's often a great excuse for getting out of dinner parties!