Family Still Eats Meat - Help!

by Memory
(Canada)

I'm mostly vegetarian, making the shift to vegan, but the two men in my family (hubby and adult son) eat meat, almost every day. They both hate beans, legumes, TVP, tofu and mushrooms.

Other than running away from home or divorce, or, as I'm doing now, cooking two meals every night, how do I deal with this? I've tried several faux-meats, most of which I thought were pretty good imitations, but they didn't. I've also tried non-meat traditional meals liKe mac and cheese, which left them rummaging for meat. Even in soups and sandwiches they look for meat.

I'm pretty desperate for advice. Am I doomed?

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Family Still Eats Meat - Help!

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Mar 12, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Don't be an enabler
by: Anonymous

If you feel strongly about this, then don't enable them to continue by cooking separate meals for them. People in my home have two choices for dinner: take it or leave it. If you feel strongly about the health risks of eating meat, then stop cooking it.
Mar 12, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Best of both worlds?
by: Anonymous

I live with one vegetarian and one non-veg. Generally, the non-vegetarian cooks his own meat and often some yummy vegetarian stuff as well (He's Indian). However, if I need to cook meat for someone, I generally offer everything I am making (which often, to their surprise, they quite enjoy)and then some "easy" meat such as a roast or something already prepared that I don't have to mess around with. I have found that the non-vegetarian member of the household is often now quite happy with some of our creations involving TVP and interesting breads, sauces, etc. Good luck!
Mar 12, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		In your shoes!
by: Anonymous

My hubby is a meat and potatoes kinda guy, and my daughter is essentially a lacto-ovo vegetarian...and I am trying to follow a plant-based diet. I try to cook things that easily lend themselves to adding meat as a condiment (so spaghetti with chickpeas for me, and ground turkey for him; stirfry with tofu or beans for me, and chicken for him, etc) OR I make a more complicated vegan dish and he gets salmon or a chicken breast on the side. It is working for us, and he has found some grains and new recipes that he never would have tried before and loves now.
Mar 12, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		share the load
by: Anonymous

let them do the meat part and you do the other parts. then if they are too lazy, they can eat what you have prepared and be that much healthier. otherwise, food choices and eating are very personal. if you think about it, you wouldn't want them to force their food choices on you...so you have to let them come to their realizations on their own. but there is no reason you should cook what they want, unless they are willing to cook what you want! :-)
Mar 14, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks for the input
by: Memory

Thanks everyone for your input. I suppose I should have added that I'm a stay at home Mum and it's my job to do the cooking. Very traditional, I know but also alot of fun most of the time.
My son, incidentally, came downstairs yesterday morning, saw the word custard on a package and asked if he could eat it.
I said yes but told him that it was tofu flavored like custard. He ate it anyways and loved it. So maybe there is some hope for him getting used to other foods.
Again, thanks everyone for your help.
Cheers, Memory
Apr 27, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Switching
by: Anonymous

I switched from eating meat, to vegitarian + fish, then vegitarian and now vegan. My carnivorous husband followed me pretty much all the way. The brakes went on @ vegan though. I have been on a mission, every vegan recipe I can find... Then, one day, a vegan chili that rocked his world! Hope, don't give up, it's out there!
Apr 27, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		After 37 years of marriage...
by: Anonymous

I made him go vegan. Just like that. Out of the blue with no warning.

We're at our 40th year anniversary this year and still cookin'.

No problem.

His cholesterol is good now. His pre-diabetic condition gone too. Still on blood pressure pill as sodium and exercise still a must.

But his health is way better!!

Tell the men in your life the truth: erectile dysfunction is from clogged arteries due to cholesterol build up and plants contain no cholesterol.
That might give them pause.

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