Why do some veggies eat fish?...........and chicken!!!?

[Wu Banger]

I work in a restaurant and often have the pleasure of dealing with vegetarians and their culinary requirements. Some so called "vegetarians" feel it is okay to eat fish. Some also eat chicken too! How does this constitute being a vegetarian? Surely it makes more sense to eat say beef, as the killing of one cow would feed hundreds, but the killing of a fish or a chicken would feed but a few. What's your feeling on this?

[beerbelly]

Part time veggies ....the worst kind .!
we had one in our hotel who would not eat meat of any description whatsoever .....but would come down early for breakfast for a bacon butty !!
All chefs hate veggies ...............

if our early ancestors had only eaten grass we wouuld have evolved into .....cows ....and been eaten by ...man ...!

[andy-hughes]

Some vegetarians eat fish because fish are not specifically riased as a food crop, and are not killed inhumanely. Likewise, chicken can be raised free-range and left to die of old age.

I'm not saying that these beliefs stand up to scrutiny, I'm simply putting forward the arguments that can be used in these circumstances.

[Solarjunkie]

There's a sliding scale from vegans who won't even drink milk (calves should be drinking it!) through people who will eat only fish or white meat to people who eat anything that lands on their plate.

Those reducing the amount of red meat they eat are sometimes called "demi-veg".

[Wu Banger]

I would of thought that chicken that die of old age would be disposed of and not used as meat. Don't know if that is the case though but most chickens are bred purely to be killed for the meat and in terrible conditions! Surely it goes against the reasons for becoming a vegetarian? We keep chickens ourselves and wouldn't dream of eating them should they die.

While i was a vegetarian as an early teen i developed type 1 diabetes. Whether this was a direct result i do not know but i do believe that meat plays an impotant role in a healthy diet!

[cardi88]

true beerbelly - all the chefs ive worked with hate veggies - what i dont understand is vegetarians who dont care that by drinking milk and eating eggs they are still contributing to the killing of animals - only female cows and chickens produce, the males are still killed - i have great respect for vegans - that must be hard, but as for vegetarians i'm with the chef's on this one!

[joko]

basically they are not vegetarians.

they make this claim because they think it makes them look kind and free thinking but fail to see that the fact they claim to be veggie and then eat meat makes them just plain stupid

[hugnie21]

I'm veggie for medical reasons but can eat fish and white meat in small quantities, and some of my relatives are the same. I haven't got a problem with claiming to be a veggie, because then I won't be given meat when I eat out etc.

I don't consider myself or my family to be stupid. Infact I don't think anyone's choice of food makes them stupid

[maxi29]

Hugnie, if you eat meat or fish, then you're not a veggie. It's as simple as that: I agree that the english language is missing a word for someone who eats a limited amount of meat, demi-veggie is probably the closest.

I reckon that if a chef hates veggies, then he/she is probably a pretty poor chef. Most good chefs will be able to develop good veggie recipes and as Anthony Bourdainn points out, most restaurant owners love veggies as the mark-up on veggie dishes is much greater.

[joko]

rather missing my point there hugnie...

I mean that anyone who thinks claiming to be a veggie and then eating some meat is what veggies do, and doesn't realise that this means that they simply aren't a veggie makes them somewhat stupid

i did not say their food choice made them stupid, nor did i say someone not eating all types of meat is stupid.

basically, as has been said, you are not a veggie if you eat meat. its really that simple.
you may say it in restaurants etc to stop yourself being offered it, thats fine, so as long as you know that its not actually true, its just a white lie to make your life easier.

(though i don't know what kind of restaurants you go to if you are worried that they may sneak some meat onto your plate without you asking for it!)

[hugnie21]

I didn't miss your point at all Joko, I was simply disagreeing with your statement, sorry about that. I was just pointing out that sometimes being veggie, (or veggie-ish!) is not just about wanting to look kind.

Of course I know it's not actually true, I am well aware that fish and white meat is meat, who isn't?! And the "kind of" restaurants I go to are varied. I am not worried that something will be "sneaked" onto my plate, just cautious that they may be sharing cooking oils/utensils etc. So, to avoid any confusion, I say I am veggie.

I still disagree with your "stupid" statement, but other people's dietary choices are obviously something you feel strongly about.