Coping as a Vegetarian in a Meat-eating Family: Four Ideas

If people didn't typically eat three to six times a day, being a vegetarian or a vegan in a meat-eating family might not be so difficult. But many families make it a point to spend time together over a meal.

It's difficult for a new family member (thanks to marriage, perhaps) who is vegetarian to join a meat-eating family, but it opens the door for conversation. It's just as hard, if not harder, for a meat-eating family member to become vegetarian. Whatever the case, there are ways meat-eaters and vegetarians can eat together.

One of the most important things to remember is that vegetarians exclude all forms of meat from their diet, while vegans exclude all forms of animal products altogether (including cheese, eggs, and other foods). However, meat-eaters rarely exclude a broad group of food (like vegetables) from their diets. That doesn't mean that blending the two ways of eating is impossible; it just requires imagination. Here are some ways it can be done.

#1: Adapt Old Recipes: Take the Meat Out

What are some of the family favorites? Are there any recipes that relied on meat that can be changed in any way? For example, if the family loves to eat chili, why can't the family make the chili with a meat substitute?

Sometimes, though, people won't care for meat substitutes. Is there then any way to take out the meat altogether? One example is spaghetti - there are many spaghetti sauce recipes that are simply marinara or vegetarian without a meat substitute. Many times people won't miss the meat sauce, and everyone will enjoy.

#2: Find New Vegetarian Recipes the Whole Family Will Like

Sometimes creating a healthy balance means starting fresh. Finding new vegetarian or vegan recipes not based on anything old might be a good way for everyone to enjoy the meal. Perhaps everyone in the family likes cucumbers. A quick search on the internet might lead the family to decide to try gazpacho or a vegetable sandwich made with cucumbers.

Some families might decide to browse the cooking section of the local bookstore and invest in a few vegetarian cookbooks. The key is trying to find something everyone will like so that no one feels deprived.

#3: Find Ways to Share Certain Recipes

How exactly can a vegetarian and meat eater share a recipe? Well, it involves making part of the meal vegetarian and then "throwing in" the meat afterward. For example, the family can make a vegetarian spaghetti sauce. They can also make meatballs or sausage on the side that the meat eaters can add to their plate. The same can be done with chili (where ground beef is cooked on the side and added as desired to each individual bowl) or other foods.

Vegetarians and meat eaters can also enjoy burgers and fries (the vegetarian eats a veggie burger), sub sandwiches (the vegetarian's sandwich leaves the meat off), hot dogs (again, the vegetarian uses a veggie dog), and whatever the family can imagine. It just takes coordination and cooperation.

#4: Find Ways to Share Most of the Meal

Sometimes a meat eater is "dying" to eat a steak or a vegetarian is craving one of her favorite dishes that the meat eaters don't care for. So why not find a way to share most of the meal?

The easiest thing is for both vegetarians and meat eaters to make a salad to share, as well as veggies on the side, perhaps steamed broccoli or sliced tomatoes, but each has his own main dish. When both camps can't decide on a main entree, this approach is often the easiest route to take.

Vegetarians and Meat Eaters Can Dine Together

Really, all it takes is a spirit of cooperation for these two groups to find ways to eat meals together regularly. Meat eaters and vegetarians can enjoy meals together in a variety of ways, whether it's by finding vegetarian meals everyone enjoys or finding a way to keep the meat out of the vegetarian's portion. The point is it can be done, and it doesn't need to be complicated.