He eats meat, but you don't?
For an upcoming story, we're looking for real-life tips from couples who have a half-vegetarian, half-carnivore household. How do you deal with meals? Dining out? Did one of you abruptly go vegetarian or was it gradual. Let us know! Thanks. -Denise, Senior Editor
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Grace Boyle on -
I was raised vegetarian my whole life, then at around age 18, I started to eat white meat, so I'm a pescetarian (but only when I eat out, I don't prepare/cook meat). My boyfriend is a carnivore, but is also a wonderful cook and luckily, open-minded when it comes to eating.
For cooking at home, we balance by cooking protein-rich meals that are creative and inventive but without meat. We experiment with the soy or fake meat alternatives, many of which he loves and taste close to the real thing.
Since he can eat everything, and I have more specific dietary needs and don't prepare/eat meat when we cook at home, we love to create and build recipes that we both love. I think it's important to not think that "meat is everything," (like many men I know). Subsequently, he eats less meat now- not because I force him to, but because it's healthy, he likes to cook with/for me and because it's not an everyday necessity.
To balance, I respect that he enjoys meat so when we dine out (we're foodies, so we do about 2-3 times a week) if he orders red meat, that's his treat and I don't mind at all.
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Permalink Reply by Joanne DeWald on
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i abruptly became a vegetarian in the summer of 1998. i am the sole cook in the family so my husband eats what i make him. he does not have a problem with his "forced vegetarianism" at home and he appreciates the health aspects of it. when we eat out however, he does usually order meat. i do not allow meat in the house, even for holidays.
joanne
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Permalink Reply by Denise Maher on -
interesting. how does the meat ban go over? Is it less of an issue because he just doesn't cook?
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Permalink Reply by Joanne DeWald on
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he does not have a problem with the meat ban, except for the holidays. he misses his turkey. other than that he really adapted immediately to me eliminating meat from all cooking at home. i respect that so i don't try to pressure him when he orders it when we are out at restaurants. i guess he gets his "meat fix" on the weekends when we eat out so he's ok without it during the week. oddly enough, i suggested we turn our two english bulldogs into vegetarians and he was VERY against that.
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Permalink Reply by Joanne DeWald on
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oh and we've started eating out a a beautiful restaurant that does a buffet for christmas. so he gets his turkey and ham and i get my fish and veggies. it all works out !
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Permalink Reply by danielleruckus on
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Wait, you call yourself a vegetarian but you eat fish? You are actually a pescatarian. The reason I bring this up...is because often when I go to restaurants and say I am vegan or my friends say they are vegetarian, the waiter or cooks will offer dishes with fish in them...which is ultimately really annoying and could be dangerous for those allergic.
So yes, you are a pescatarian...it helps to distinguish so communities can keep all eaters safe!
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Permalink Reply by Joanne DeWald on
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yes. you are correct. i am a pescatarian.
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Permalink Reply by Denise Maher on
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Thanks Grace. Good stuff!
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Permalink Reply by Grace Boyle on
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You're welcome. It's always an interesting topic!
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Michael on
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I recently became vegetarian after facing some health issues. I started trying to treat my body better (still working on that) by what I put into it. I had been raised in the mid-west where it wasn't a meal without steak and potatoes so it took that to change my entire perspective.
My husband, on the other hand, thinks it's not a meal if it doesn't include some sort of animal. He's finally cut the steak and pork but still eats chicken and fish. In fact, he's fishing this weekend, it's his favorite thing to do. He'll come home with 12 fish and I, the vegetarian, have to clean them because he's tired from 24 hours of straight fishing.On normal days, I make two meals. One for him and one for myself. We just eat too differently for me to only make one meal. I try to eat whole grains and he likes white. He doesn't like olive oil and I don't like vegetable. It's become a routine though, So, one night I'll make one pot of white pasta and one pot of whole grain and make the base sauce (without meat) then add the meat in after I've taken my sauce out. Salads are a staple though, we both love them. We make it work. Sometimes I'll just drink a "green smoothie" for dinner if I don't want to make two meals. It's just as good for me, quick and tasty, and it saves me time.
Hope this helps!
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Permalink Reply by Brittany Mullins on
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hi, I'm Brittany, a healthy living blogger over at http://www.eatingbirdfood.com and I am a vegetarian (well, pescatarian) and my boyfriend is a carnivore. He will eat any and all of the vegetarian meals I prepare and doesn't ever complain however he also goes grocery shopping and buys meat to prepare himself. Often times when he does the cooking he'll make a vegetarian friendly meal or vegetarian option (i.e. chili with the meat added after I portion out my bowl) so that I can have some too. Overall, we don't find it very difficult.
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Benson on -
Fortunately, my guy will at least try anything. He may not love it, but he will give it a go. We respect each others' food preference, so we tend to find a way to add meat to whatever I am cooking for dinner if he doesn't want to go vegetarian that night. Since I used to eat meat, I will cook meat for him. It's not my favorite thing to handle animal parts, but it's sort of give-and-take for us!
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