Vegetarian cooking for a Non-Vegetarian

rlmiller73190

Hi all I'm looking for some advice from vegetarians that have cooked/ do cook for non-vegetarians. I have absolutely no problem feeding non-vegetarians amazing vegetarian dishes, but here is where I may be running into a dilemma. My non-vegetarian boyfriend and I are moving in together this fall. The most popular questions that arise from outsiders are: Is he a vegetarian now? Will you feed him meat? How does he feel about not eating meat? So my question to you all is this: do any of you vegetarians cook meat for your non-vegetarian counterparts? I have no problem getting him lunch meat, or pizzas with meat, or lean pockets (his favorite), but I get freaked out by raw meat, and I'm not familiar with buying frozen packages of meat, as I have been a vegetarian for my entire adult life (when I would be buying groceries on my own). If you cook meat for your non-vegetarian counterparts, how do you do it? What do you suggest I do? I've been getting a lot of subtle criticism for not being willing to cook meals with meat in them, but he accepts my lifestyle and says that he has no problem going meatless when he's getting a home cooked meal. Should I just not worry about including meat in his diet?

leslisa

I know he said he can eat vegetarian, but he hasn't done it yet and he might miss meat so I'd include meat for him if he likes it, not at every meal, but at some of them.

But, there are types of meat that are not as, well, yucky, as other types of meat. For instance, ground beef can be plopped right from package into pan and crushed with a spatula without ever having to touch it. You can freeze it in individual baggies then, too.

You can use chicken or turkey that comes already cooked and frozen after cooking is great to just add to whatever you made for yourself in a portion for him. (1/4 cup or so).

I'd probably keep some frozen chicken nuggets or individual meatloafs in the freezer in case he has a craving.

Best of luck to you both

rlmiller73190

Thanks for the ideas!

beccala18

Have him buy the meat, cook it, then pop it into the freezer so it can be added to whatever meal. That way he'll have meat when he wants it, but it isn't all on you to cook it.

Or at least get him to individually package uncooked meat so all you have to do is plop it into a pan without touching it.

stylistchik

My husband is an omnivore and I am not and it's not as tough as it seems. Mostly our schedules clash so we only eat together about 3 times a week. Usually I try to cook meat for him and 99.9% of the time it's organic chicken breast because I find it the least gross. lol sometimes I'll cook it separately and he can add it to the dish or sometimes I'll cook it together and pick around it because I really don't mind. Sometimes I just forego the meat and have a legume dish or the occasional fake meat which he really enjoys! I try to stay away from too much processed stuff but sometimes I get these soy "chicken" nuggets from trader joe's and they are SOOO good - we affectionately call them "fuggets" for "fake nuggets.":laugh:

Things like burgers are easy because he can have a regular burger and I'll have a black bean burger, or we'll do roasted vegetables in the oven and he'll have chicken and I'll have tofu. If you cook together he can cook his own meat and you don't even have to worry about it. You could also just sit down and tell him "hey this is what I'm concerned about do you have any ideas?" I'm sure he'd have some good suggestions too.

TKHappy

My husband will cook his own meat sometimes...especially after I've 'cooked it wrong' the last few times I've made it!! I was iffy at first about cooking it but I can not expect him to not eat me, as much as he shouldn't expect me to eat it! I will look up recipes and cook it (I use gloves LOL) as much as I would love to buy pre cooked stuff I know there are added chemicals and they are more costly so I suck it up and do it!! I care about what goes into his body too, even if we are no where on the same page as to what that is!

If it really bothers you I would ask him to cook his own...you can cook the sides, he does the meat....compromise!

Spanaval

There is no rule that says that you have to do the cooking just because you're a GURL. Assuming your SO has been on his own for some time, he likely knows how to prepare meals as well.

I have a vegetarian aunt who has a non-vegetarian spouse/child. The deal is that if they want to eat meat, they get to buy it and clean it. She's a good cook, and will prepare it for them (but won't touch meat).

cyclerjenn

I'm a veggie but my boyfriend and kids are not, and I do all the cooking. On the weekend, my boyfriend will grill up a bunch of chicken breasts and then they just add that to the meal that I made so they will have their meat.

rlmiller73190

i have been dealing with this issue for the last week or so...but not with my beau! My mom had a knee replacement last week, so I've been filling her duties and feeding my meat eating family for the short while I'm living at home. It's gross...but I'll survive!