Post written by VegBlogger. Follow me on Twitter.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, like most people, you find yourself in a position
where it is your turn to pick up the tab in a restaurant. But what if you are a vegetarian or vegan for ethical purposes? How do you handle this situation? Do you pay for the meat dishes, even though you despise the industry, or do you refrain from paying and possibly offend your fellow diner?
As someone who has been an ethical vegetarian since 1995, I have come across this situation more times than I'd care to. In the beginning I used to just do my part to pick up the tab, even if I didn't feel comfortable about it. I'd justify it in my mind, saying that they would buy my vegetarian meal, so I can't be rude and deny paying for theirs.
Over the last couple of years, however, I have taken a stand on this position. I finally got to a point where I do not want my money going to the meat industry, even if it is for others to dine. So I announced to my husband that I no longer will be putting our money out to purchase meat dishes for others.
Granted, it is not a situation that comes up often, because we do not dine out with omnivores much. But the situation does come up from time to time. This past Christmas it came up when my mother told me that all she wanted was an Applebee's gift card. I thought it over and decided against purchasing it. I know that Applebee's is not vegetarian friendly, which is why I never eat there, and that they would be dining on cow flesh (a.k.a., steak) if I got the card for them. So I declined and bought her a personal gift I could wrap and ship to her.
For someone who opposes meat on ethical grounds it is not a comfortable thing to pay for someone to dine on flesh. In reverse, I can't think of anyone that is ethically opposed to vegetarian food.
So how do you handle the situation if you are an ethical vegetarian or vegan? Do you pay for them, sending your personal money to an industry you abhore? Or do you refrain from dining out with omnivores all together?
Comments