Do You Make Separate Dishes For Vegetarians?

May 20, 2009

Recently I served grilled bacon-wrapped jalapeños at a party. Since my girlfriend Melissa — who's a vegetarian — was in attendance, I made some wrapped in basil instead of bacon. While I normally try to offer a meal that everyone can enjoy (without creating more work for myself!), this wasn't the first time I've made one dish for vegetarians and another for meat-eaters. How about you? Do you accommodate the vegetarians in your life?

40 Comments

danakscully64 3 years 51 weeks

When I say rude, I mean how would you like it if you were invited to someones house, they knew you were Jewish, and every single dish had pork in it? (Religion is a choice, remember?) I'm not one of those people who expects to be catered to, but I would be insulted if I were invited somewhere to watch everyone else eat. When I'm invited to someones house, I usually offer to help out with the cooking or bring something of my own, but that shouldn't be reserved for just vegetarians, everyone should do that. :)

danakscully64 3 years 51 weeks

Oh, and before I was a vegetarian, I would always accommodate my guests, it's RUDE otherwise. It's SUPER easy to plan a side dish or two that omnis and veggies can eat. Also, many meals can be made with the meat on the side. I don't understand why some meat eaters freak out about it, EVERYONE eats vegetarian food (or at least I hope, you'd be severely constipated otherwise). Some side dishes include: mashed potatoes, salad (no meat or the meat on the side), green beans, fruit, rice, grilled veggies, stuff like that, foods that should already be incorporated into a meal.

danakscully64 3 years 51 weeks

I'm a vegetarian, as is my boyfriend, I ONLY cook vegetarian meals :) "I even had vegetarians try (and love) the thanksgiving turkey. " -So... you had meat eaters eat the turkey and like it?

danakscully64 3 years 51 weeks

I'm a vegetarian, as is my boyfriend, I ONLY cook vegetarian meals :) "I even had vegetarians try (and love) the thanksgiving turkey. "-So... you had meat eaters eat the turkey and like it?

Curious Alice 3 years 51 weeks

A person may also be a vegetarian or not ingest specific kinds of foods for religious reasons, and that is something to be sensitive about. Personally, if I'm inviting others to dine with me, ultimately I want everyone to have a good time and enjoy themselves, which may be difficult to do when they're trying to root through a salad to avoid pieces of bacon. A buffet style set up of dishes not only provides variety, but it's eye-catching and allows everyone, not just vegetarians, to choose their dining options.

Curious Alice 3 years 51 weeks

Smacks83 3 years 52 weeks

Personally when I cook meals, I make enough of a variety normally that cooking something extra or special isn't really needed.

Smacks83 3 years 52 weeks

Personally when I cook meals, I make enough of a variety normally that cooking something extra or special isn't really needed.

skigurl 3 years 52 weeks

allergies and vegetarianism isn't the same thing it's a choice to be a vegetarian

skigurl 3 years 52 weeks

allergies and vegetarianism isn't the same thingit's a choice to be a vegetarian

CaterpillarGirl 3 years 52 weeks

where is the option for NO-if they want a vegetarian dish they should bring their own. I am not a caterer.

CaterpillarGirl 3 years 52 weeks

where is the option for NO-if they want a vegetarian dish they should bring their own. I am not a caterer.

CriticalHit 3 years 52 weeks

I'm kinda surprised by the people who sound resentful of the dietary restrictions of others. I think it's simply courteous to offer alternatives for people who have allergies or are vegetarian/vegan.

hillamaria 3 years 52 weeks

I also like to eat more vegetarian food these days, so of course I'll try my best to do something for them too. It requires a bit of work but it's not too much. My friends also have some allergies that I have to take into concentration, and its only fair to do the same with vegetarians.

skigurl 3 years 52 weeks

i agree HaterTot. i wouldn't make special meals. luckily there are none in my life.

Vampyre 3 years 52 weeks

I am vegetarian, so yeah, I always make separate meals for fellow vegetarians, or anybody else that may have an issue with certain foods.

drea nicole 4 years 3 h

Usually if a friend, who happens to not eat meat comes over, we have a tofu or eggplant based meal. We love meat, but we also love tofu and eggplant. I don't eat pork so appreciate it when hosts are accomadating.

shoneyjoe 4 years 6 h

I make vegetarian options in anticipation of vegetarians I don't know about coming over or eating at a party I'm cooking for. Often times, the vegetarian option goes to waste. I even had vegetarians try (and love) the thanksgiving turkey.

LaurenG22 4 years 7 h

I try to make something easy like a veggie lasagna and a meat lasagna and a salad so people can try it all and the veggie does not feel left out.

Marci 4 years 8 h

I accommodate any guests dietary restrictions. Unfortunately, no one does it for me. I always carry food with me now, even to go to family parties, where there's not a single thing for me to eat most of the time; and those are people who are well aware of my food allergies. I've come to realize that most people simply don't care.

POPSUGAR Food 4 years 9 h

When a vegetarian is over, I make a primarily vegetarian meal, but then throw in a meat dish for everyone else.

komler 4 years 10 h

As long as I know about it - there is no extra trouble to not add meat to salads and whatever. I probably wouldn't make a dish for scratch though. Although, for a BBQ I'm hosting, I've just said that it will be potluck - everybody should bring whatever they'd like to eat and drink. It's something we've done when we've gathered together as a group - all of us are students - shared expenses, and it usually also means that you can get a taste of something you wouldn't necessarily make yourself. If I was doing all the cooking, I'd probably make some salads, potato salad, have meat to bbq, but also have some corn cobs and other veggies to put on the bbq...

komler 4 years 10 h

HaterTot 4 years 10 h

Where's the choice for "No, I don't accommodate vegetarians?" I make what I'm making; if you're a vegetarian, then you need to figure something out, but I'm not altering my menu for you, just as I wouldn't for any other picky eater.

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