The issues with my family about becoming vegetarian...

So your husband and his mother are bad mannered/ intolerant/ insensitive/ prejudiced? I wouldn't be cooking meat for someone like that I'd cook vegetarian food, if he wants meat he can cook in bulk and add it himself.

Don't attend food based gatherings with bad mannered/ intolerant/ insensitive/ prejudiced people or take a vegetarian dish and have it with any veggie friendly elements of a meal. Two of my vegetarian friends (not related to one another) are quite relaxed about what they eat when they visit as long as there is no actual meat - they don't freak out about whether the cheese or seasonings are strictly vegetarian. I do my best obviously.

I was a vegetarian for 12 years. In college, I used to cook a big weekly dinner for a bunch of my friends. One of their significant others was always making fun of me for not eating meat. However, every week he ate and enjoyed my vegetarian cooking and frequently scarfed down seconds. I didn't make a big deal out of the fact that there was no meat in the dish.

Find some great recipes that are similar to things he enjoys. I used to make three-bean enchiladas all the time. Same thing with veggie lasagna. When you go to a family event, ask if you can bring a side dish. Most people will appreciate that you want to contribute and you can bring something you know you can eat.

Oh, and when I was in law school and working, I still managed to feed myself. He won't starve if you don't want to cook him meat. He'll eat what you make, or find something else in the kitchen that he likes better.

When I first became vegetarian, my parents, but especially my brothers would make fun of me. My brothers would say stuff like "there's a lot of grass outside, go eat it" when I asked my parents what was for dinner. I didn't take it the wrong way, they were just joking. But eventually my older brother would basically shove meat in my face and tell me if I wanted some, or say that he'd secretly put meat in my food when I wasn't expecting. I can take the teasing and joking, but I won't tolerate blatant disrespect. I think that the only reason people act this way is because they feel that by becoming vegetarian you are basically saying 'I'm better than you and care about animals, unlike you.'

When I first decided to become vegetarian, I didn't want to touch meat or help out with dinner. But now, I don't mind it. In fact, I shop for meat and fish products for my family. I generally choose products that are not from a factory because of the conditions the animals are treated. That way you won't feel too bad about the animals or feel silly about make meat and not eating it.

I'm sure if you make good tasting food that doesn't involve meat, your husband won't dwell on the fact that there was no meat.I know a friend who was vegan who moved in with her girlfriend that ate meat. Her gf didn't like cooking so she would eat the vegan food she made. Eventually she grew accustomed to vegan meals, but would occasionally eat meat when she craved it or when they went out.

I make my own food. If I'm going somewhere or we are having a family thing I make sure I'll have something to eat and let them know they don't have to do anything special for me. I tell them to worry about what they're eating, not what I'm eating or not eating.

If people joke and it gets old speak up. Ask them why they feel a need to make fun, ask them if they are threatened by your choices? They probably won't have a good answer.

As for cooking for your husband, that is your choice on what you cook him. I will only cook vegan meals, but if my s.o. doesn't want to eat them and wants meat I'm not going to stop him or guilt him out of it. He'll just have to get it and cook it for himself.

I made the decision to become a vegetarian over 9 years ago. I was always the one who cooked the meals for my husband, so I just started making vegetarian meals. Even though my husband was still eating meat at the time, he had no problem with this. A meat-eater can eat a vegetarian meal, it's no big deal! He would still eat meat when he went out to lunch at work and stuff like that. Over the course of a few months though, he made the decision to join me as a vegetarian. 9 years later, we are both still vegetarian, but I've become vegan. Now it works the same way - we have three kids and I am a stay at home mom, so I am the cook and the one who buys the groceries. Everything I buy and cook is vegan. My husband will eat dairy/egg products at work (like if they bring in pizza or something), but at home he eats vegan.

I have a strong opinion that whoever does the cooking only needs to cook one meal. If there are family members who want something different, then they can get it/make it themselves. My husband knows that it would go against my ethics to buy or cook anything that isn't vegan, and he would never ask that of me. He also happens to love my cooking and he knows that the food I am feeding my family is healthy and nutritious.

Agree with PPs about changing the hubby. But also, just every now and then cook things that are vegetarian, but do not scream vegetarian. Like suggested above, bean enchiladas, and chili, lots of soups ( tomato soup? Mushroom soup?) with grilled cheese, etc. are common things meat eaters eat too. I also "weaned" bacon/ham out of the vegetable quiches I make. No one has missed it! And depends what type of lasagna your family eats, but if it is ricotta filled with meat or marinara sauce, just do marinara sauce.

Also love PPs idea of cooking well treated or wild meat and fish!