Random Musings: vegetarian

Recently I've come across a few posts about people feeding other people's children sweets etc at parties, and that maybe the child's parents don't want their child full of sugar.

On face value, I agree with the statement, then I read a post from the other side of the argument, basically saying (unless it's a genuine allergy that could hurt the child) that as a parent it is up to you to police that, not the parent throwing the party. I realised after seeing both sides, I am more in agreement with that statement. Why should someone else have to play bad cop and tell your child they are the only one who can't have cake!
I'm not going to go into this issue any deeper. I'm not a parent and certainly don't think I should be handing out parenting advice!

But it got me thinking about the wider issue of people making dietary choices and then forcing them on everyone else.

My main gripe with this is vegetarians and/or vegans. Sorry in advance to the vegetarians and vegans out there who don't bitch and complain, don't force their views on others and generally get on with their lives without letting diet be a big thing.

What irritates the life out of me is at parties when they sit moaning about the limited choice they have. You made the decision to exclude one or more major food groups, not your host.

Unless your host shares your food issues, they probably don't know that many vegan recipes! Plus when you are catering a party, the majority of the food has to appeal to everyone! If this is somehow going to offend you, is it so hard to eat first? Or ask the host if you could bring something yourself? Or just suck it up, accept you made the decision and move on?

This is even more apparent at dinner parties. Again, I'm sure the host will make you something different if you tell them prior to the event. It isn't a good idea to not mention it then turn up and complain when the food on offer contains things you choose not to eat.

But how many vegetarians or vegans would be happy to provide a meat dish for their guests? The majority, it seems, expect guests to eat whatever they have made which fits in with their chosen diet. Double standards anyone?
If I was in this situation, I wouldn't for a second expect a vegetarian to serve up steak or a vegan to have a cheese platter. I would eat whatever they were serving, even if that was a struggle.

If I was to host a party and invite someone who falls into one of these categories, of course I would want them to tell me so I could make something they could eat. And all I would ask in return is if you come to me and get served vegetable casserole when everyone else has something slightly more exotic, you just eat it without complaining. Or don't eat it, whatever, but don't make a big scene about it!

I'm sure this post will offend some people, but I want to make it clear that I don't have anything against vegetarians, vegans, or any of the other weird and wonderful dietary choices people make.
As long as you're not lecturing me for eating meat, I won't lecture you on your lack of protein (and yes that was tongue in cheek, obviously meat isn't the only source of protein!)- each to their own!
The group of people I have something against are those who think they are the centre of everyone's universe and everything should revolve around them,
then consequently ruin someone else's party with their incessant whining! Remember, no one forced you to make the dietary choices you made (unless it's medical)!