Entertaining omnivores - how do you handle it? (dinner, barbeque, food)

[DontH8Me]

I've always wondered how vegetarians/vegans handle entertaining omnivores. This thought occurred to me because I have always accommodated vegetarians/vegans when entertaining by ensuring there was a wide selection of vegetables and at least one non-animal protein source.

I'm adding a poll - if you select other, please explain by posting a reply - thanks!

[plaidmom]

I voted

I only prepare and offer food that I would eat myself

When I visit omnivore friends I really don't expect them to cook something specifically for me. It's nice if they want to try, but I can usually manage to find something to eat and I can supplement my protein intake at home.

[calel]

I'm not a vegetarian, but I would think one could cook vegetarian food and leave out anything "foreign" like seitan or tempeh if you don't think the omnivores are adventurous. I don't think a vegetarian should be expected to buy meat and cook it; it's a lot different than an omnivore choosing to leave meat out of a dish or two.

[groar]

Originally Posted by calel

I don't think a vegetarian should be expected to buy meat and cook it; it's a lot different than an omnivore choosing to leave meat out of a dish or two.

for sure.

a vegan/vegetarian diet includes foods that are entirely within an omnivore's diet. an omnivore can eat anything a vegan can.

an ominovorous diet includes foods that are outside of a vegan or vegetarian's diet. so a vegetarian or vegan can't eat everything an omnivore can.

so yeah, i don't think a vegetarian or vegan making only food they would eat themselves is the same thing as an omnivore not providing anything that a vegetarian or vegan could eat. the latter is serving food that your guest can't (or won't) eat and the former is not. the concept way more simple than this longass post of mine merits!

i serve vegan food in my house, and i haven't had any complaints, cause i'm a good cook! i am ok with omnis bringing their own non-vegan food into the house if they want to though (say if i'm having a potluck or big family dinner).

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by groar

the concept way more simple than this longass post of mine merits!

It's just all so simple, isn't it? Not a big issue at all.

I agree with groar's post. I've never had a problem finding food to eat when dining at friends' houses - even when they don't make anything "special." Normal people eat a varied diet, so it's not like all they eat is flesh.

My friends care that I feel at ease in their homes and vice versa. Friends and good hosts do that! If they want to bring something to my house to eat, no problem. But firing up a barbeque or cooking meat in my kitchen? Not happening ~ .

[Lilybeans]

If I felt ok buying meat and preparing it, there isn't much of a jump to eating it. Be true to your principals.

[uptown_urbanist]

I agree. Most people don't eat meat at every meal anyway, do they? Maybe some do, but even so, they can eat and enjoy a non-meat meal. If they're allergic to something or don't like a certain food I'll avoid that (or make sure there are sufficient options), but we're talking about the exclusion of certain foods, not the inclusion.

Besides, I can't imagine anyone would want to eat any meat that I prepared, anyway, seeing as I don't know how to cook it.

[groar]

some people have to have meat at every meal, or at least they make it out that way when they're faced with a vegetarian meal. those people tend to be pretty immature though.

when i was growing up we often had vegetarian meals - in fact my grandmother used to feed us steak after steak when we came to visit because she thought we were going to die of malnutrition. but my point is, it made it really easy to become fully vegetarian - a ton of my favorite meals were still on the menu and my mom knew how to cook for me (i was 12).