Being veggie at work

[Guest guest]

I am so surprised at what your spouse has encountered at work.  I have planned

numerous corporate events, and always check dietary preferences and allergies. I

have had male and female employees and spouses who were veg, vegan, allergic to

tomatoes, etc.

 

 

Robin

 

--- On Tue, 9/9/08, Danielle & Joe <jdbdmob wrote:

 

Danielle & Joe <jdbdmob

Men's Vegetarian Group

 

Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 1:48 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group,

 

My husband and I arrived at being vegetarian at about the same time

for a full range of reasons - during my first pregnancy and before

our son turned 1. However, he does eat the occasional fish.

 

He finds it difficult in the workplace to be vegetarian, especially

at catered meetings. Vegetarian options are limited. One coworker

actually flew in some pork sandwiches from MN to serve to the whole

office. Joe and his boss (female, vegetarian) went out for lunch.

He tends to hang with the women in the office who order/eat salads

for lunch because the other options are the meat eaters (he is a

little disturbed by share grilled, etc.). At his company picnic, the

caterer *forgot* to provide the veggie burgers so all we had were

lettuce sandwiches and some fruit to eat. At home, we all eat the

same foods so all is fine and he can take in left overs.

 

Another thing, we both were raised in the mid-west - meat and

potatoes country. Where " what is for dinner " is answered by the meat

du jour and no mention of vegetables in the main dish. Visiting

family is always so difficult when the only vegetable/plant options

are smothered in cheese and butter or way overcooked or the relish

tray (olives and such). Some members of our family have a hard time

understanding the whole perspective and several members of Joe's

family are - bleck! - hunters/fishers who eat what they hunt and

serve it up for everyone! Freezers full of meat... Joe's family has

a very set view of what it is to be *masculine* and Joe doesn't

always feel he meets those standards.

 

I am sure he would appreciate a forum in which to discuss these

issues and any issues that may be more relevant to men than women

(?), and to discuss his journey, how he came to think about the

issues (animal rights, global warming, etc.), and the affects on his

life and his health. And yes, he has read books like " Omnivores

Dilemma " . He has " Skinny Bitch " on hold at the library and is

looking for The China Experiment (?). He would love to discuss such

books and relevant studies.

 

My progression stemmed around my maternal health and the health of

our children. Joe's journey while including my prospective came from

a different perspective and we are constantly evolving.

 

Danielle ( & Joe)

 

@gro ups.com, Jillene Wenzel <jillben2008@ ...>

wrote:

>

> I will talk to my husband about a men's veg group tonight. 

> He is under the impression that the only other veg men out there

are, um,  " weird " . 

> I know that's terrible and silly and terrible.  But we don't meet

other vegetarians and the impression is that we are " weird " . 

> We are definitely veg due to animal welfare issues and to a much

smaller extent for health.  So, I guess I would hope that a veg men's

group wouldn't confirm his belief.  We are not health nuts.  We use

Peta's " vegan " list.  We drive cars.  Before digital, we used film. 

However, we have also participated in circus/kfc protests.

> I know sometimes I don't write on this group because I feel that I

will be judged as a " bad " vegan - I love my epidurals, I only nursed

for a couple of months, etc, etc, etc.

> Hopefully men wouldn't run into their own things like that. 

>

>

>

>

> hilbro <hilbro

> @gro ups.com

> Monday, September 8, 2008 7:21:20 PM

> Re: CHANGE THE HUSBAND'S MIND campaign -

thank you

>

>

>

>

> @gro ups.com, VAP79@ wrote:

> >

> > Jill,

> > My husband is vegan as is my 12 yr. old son. I often think it

would be

> a

> > great idea to have a vegan men's group.

> > Laura in MD

> >

> >

> >

>

> I agree - a vegan/vegetarian men's group would be wonderful! I don't

> know any other male vegetarians and I think if my husband had

contact

> with other vegetarians he might not feel so out of place. He says he

> is uncomfortable " being special " in front of others, but seriously

he

> has special needs regarding food anyway. He's super picky - no

onions

> (unless blended), no tomatoes but pizza sauce is okay, no spaghetti

> sauce on pasta (plain with butter), peas have to be baby peas from

the

> can (no other kind), nothing can be mixed so casseroles are out,

skippy

> peanut butter only (I tried bringing home jiff once and he went

right

> out and bought skippy because in the third grade his class did a

taste

> test with brands and he liked skippy, no need to ever try anything

> else)... the list goes on. He says this is mostly a texture thing. I

> try to understand but sometimes I just lose it. for instance, I made

> cream of carrot soup a couple days ago thinking he eats carrots so

> that's good, and it's blended so that's good. He hated it. During

the

> argument that followed he said " maybe there is a hint of carrot

flavor

> in there but that's it. " THERE WERE TWELVE FRIGGIN CARROTS IN THERE

and

> one potato. Give me a break!

>

> okay, we worked past that one and I better not get all in a tiffy

again

> over it or it will ruin my night

>

> SO, a vegetarian/vegan men's group would be great, as I was saying

> earlier...

>

> Hilary

>

>