Dave Smith wrote:
> Dan Abel wrote:
>
>> I don't agree with Dave's attitude on this, but he is correct in
>> posting
>> that many people give a vegetarian diet a try for a year or so and
>> then
>> give it up. I read something written by a doctor who said that he
>> did not have any special advice for vegans who weren't getting
>> enough vitamin B12, because the body has a three year supply, and
>> most people don't stay vegan that long.
>
> You don't agree with my attitude? My attitude is that I am not
> interested in indulging people who are temporarily adopting a diet
> that is different from mine. My system does not agree with cabbage
> and tomatoes. If I knew someone who had to have cabbage rolls for
> dinner I would not invite them either. I don't care care if people
> are vegetarians. Hell, it helps keep the price of meat down. They can
> boycott meat until the cows come home. I'm just not interested in
> catering to their diet. If they want to come to a dinner party and
> bring their own food that would be great. If they want to come to a
> dinner party and eat just vegetables that is fine, but I will be
> damned if I will cook a vegetarian meal for them. The closest I come
> to a vegetarian meal is macaroni and cheese or three cheese penne,
> and when I do that I have to listen to a carnivore wife complain.
>
>
>
>> My son tried a vegetarian diet for about a year and then gave it up.
>> On
>> the other hand, my daughter went vegetarian at 13 and not only stuck
>> it
>> out for 6 years, but has now gone vegan (she gave up eggs and dairy).
>
> I am sure that you can appreciate that she is more the exception than
> the rule. Care to make a bet that she will stick to it forever?

Well let's see... my friend Sujata is a vegetarian and has been for 30
years; she was raised that way. Her husband, on the other hand and her
young daughter, eat meat. So she prepares meals acceptable for both. She's
not adverse to preparing meals with meat in them, she just won't eat them.
She does eggs/dairy, grains, veggies; no chicken or fish. I wouldn't say
she's going to fall off this "diet" any time soon.

Having said that, I agree with not going too far out to cater to a guests
particular diet, be it a fad or not. If you invite people over and they
know you are carnivores, they have the right to say "no thanks". Still, I'd
make an effort to have *something* if they said they would like to attend,
even if it's just grilled or steamed mixed vegetables or couscous or
something. Maybe they just like the company of the friend doing the
inviting.

Jill