I respect vegetarians. I respect what they do, and if they are concerned about animal welfare, I understand why they do it. My best friend is a vegetarian.
Having said that, I don't understand those who eat fish, wear leather or use milk and cheese. For instance, if you don't believe in eating veal (ie those calves for whom the milk - and indirectly, the cheese - were intended), then surely you shouldn't be endorsing the killing of calves by drinking their milk. Either you do the whole thing properly (apart from eating eggs. Chickens seem to like laying eggs, though why anyone would want to go through the equivalent of childbirth every day, defeats me), or maybe you shouldn't bother at all.
And one last plea to any vegetarian who visits me. Please, please tell me before you arrive that that's what you are. Because there are few things more annoying than the guest who announces his chosen lifestyle just as you are putting a plate of roast beef in front of him. And no. "Just give me the vegetables" simply won't do. Martyrdom at the dinner table does not make for a cosy occasion.
An excellent post for the vegatarians, excellent to read.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
I know I could never ever go vegan (as opposed to vegetarian) because I like my milk, cheese and eggs too much.
ReplyDeleteBut the wearing of leather shoes/handbag is a moral dilemma I face all the time, Frances, and I don't have a solution to the slight feeling of hypocrisy that I carry when I slip my feet into my leather sandals. I do try not buy too many leather shoes or bags, in the hopes that the poor beasties who have to sacrifice their lives for my comfort are kept to a minimum. It's not an ideal solution, but it's better than doing nothing.
As the rest of my family all eat meat (including husband, so I cook two meals) I'm well-trained in politely mentioning to my hostess that I don't eat meat. Everyone is always very nice about it, and pleased that I mentioned it.
Your post has made me glad that at the moment the bag I'm using is a cloth one. Whew! :)
Judy, South Africa
Thanks for your comment, Yvonne.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I really sympathise, and thanks for your honest reply. If I lived on my own, I might well be vegetarian. As it is, I live with a ramapant carnivore, and frequently cook for many more. It's the cheese and the milk (and the leather) that bother me. Life without cheese....and yet there are all those dear little calves. It's a dilemma. But three cheers for the cloth bag!
I don't think it's martyrdom at the dinner table, Frances. Veggies are used to taking whatever's on offer. I'm been a veggie since I was three and realised what meat was. I'm also allergic to eggs. I would certainly let anyone I was visiting know of my diet and, as so often happens, when they panic I would offer to bring some of my own food. I don't know why so many panic at having to cater for a vegetarian. Surely a meat-free meal is a simple enough request? Also I dislike people who say they are vegetarian and then announce they eat chicken or fish. Vegetarians eat no fish, no flesh, no fowl.
ReplyDeleteHi, Lynne. I think you've got me wrong! I'm perfectly happy to cook a veggie dish (without any panic) if I know in advance (one of my children was a veggie for years, and I always cooked separate meals for him). But as a host, I feel uncomfortable seeing someone "just" eat the veg when everyone else has something more exciting, even if the vegetarian doesn't! All I'm asking for is prior warning.
ReplyDeleteHello Frances My sister has never understood me not eating meat is has always seen it as me being a pain in the butt.
ReplyDeleteWhen I try to explain that I don't like meat, never have never will in the same way as some people can't eat beetroot or pickle onions. I call myself a vegetarian as it is the easiest way of explaining my dislike of meat. I love fish, but can't have too much milk, cheese or chocolate because of migraines.
As the poor cattle have been killed because of meatlovers I think it is a shame that their skins can't be use to make another things rather than them being wasted. I'm against animals being killed just for their skins i.e the fur trade. At the moment I'm not happy about the cat that lives across the road from me because it has killed two of my slowworms. If I get hold of it it will have one life less to live, I would..... Only joking! But it has upset me a lot. Poor little slowworms I just love them
I agree with you completely, Frances.
ReplyDeleteI think most vegetarians are perfectly reasonable people who politely stick to their choice and principles. The others can be quite annoying.
Sad, but true. I have a vegetarian friend who does this. I'm so glad I found your blog. I'm stopping by from the A to Z challenge and I look forward to visiting again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Jarmara and Patsy, and welcome Sylvia!
ReplyDeleteSylvia, I have to say that while I've enjoyed the A to Z challenge, it's been quite hard keeping up with it, especially during famiy visits. But I'm glad I've (nearly) done it!
I'm a bit like Jarmara. I'm only a vegetarian because I don't like meat (or fish either, in my case). I'm sorry to say I don't have any moral issues with it - I'm perfectly happy for everyone else to eat whatever meat or fish they want, and to do whatever they want with any skins etc too, as long as I can presume the animals have been slaughtered as humanely as possible. I'm sorry that I don't give much thought to this, as I am an animal-lover but I am also a realist and accept that eating/using animal meat is normal for human beings. It's me who is abnormal, and it's not the killing or the moral issues that put me off: I just don't like meat, and can't even bear the smell of fish. As I was 'vegetarian' from early childhood (but this word wasn't part of my vocabulary, so I was just known as a fussy child), I never had any special provision made about my diet and never expected it. My mum dished me up the dinner minus the meat. I ate plenty of cheese, a few eggs (I also don't like milk) and grew up healthy, strong and one of the biggest in the class! It's only in recent years that restaurants have catered for us; I'm happy as long as I have just one choice on the menu, and sometimes abroad there's been nothing so I just ask for a salad or some bread! I know it's ME being awkward, not them. So I do sympathise with the dinner guests who say they'll just eat the veg: I have sometimes said the same, but it's not being a martyr -I mean it sincerely. I often have just veg at home: I'll grate cheese over it, sprinkle it with nuts, and that's a perfect meal for me. I do warn people in advance about not eating meat or fish, because I'd hate them to feel embarrassed, or to waste a meal. But I also don't want anyone to go to the trouble of creating or buying me a special meal. I know a lot of people say they want to and enjoy doing it, but it isn't necessary - not for me, anyway. Sorry this is so long, and it is of course only my own view!
ReplyDeleteHi, Olivia. It's the telling people in advance that matters, as you (rightly) do; that way, the cook can choose whether or not to cater for the vegetarian, if only by making one of the veg a cauliflower cheese (for example).
ReplyDeletehaha, Frances, Husband is also a rampant carnivore!! South Africans in general are great meat eaters. I mean, we even have a National Braai Day under the patronage of Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu. (although some people call that public holiday Heritage Day!!)
ReplyDeleteJudy, South Africa
What I don't understand, or rather one of the things because goodness knows there are plenty, is vegetarians who buy things like vegatrian bacon (?)
ReplyDelete