buying meat for people

sometimes when i take my lunch break from work, my coworkers ask me to pick up food for them while im in town. i wouldnt have a problem with this, except usually they ask me to buy meat products. usually i try to be polite and tell them that i don't want to carry any dead bodies in my car. ok, they're cool with my veg choices, but they think that i'm taking my veg ideas too far and that if im not using my money to buy it, and i'm not eating it, then i'm not causing any harm, and therefore am being selfish by refusing to pick up their food for them.

i could never purchase meat. however, i do feel kind of selfish for asking others to pick up my food, but i can't return the favor. so here's the question: how do you feel about making meat purchases as a favor for others(even if they pay for it)? do you think im being selfish? would you buy meat products for friends/coworkers? have you ever been in this situation? how did you handle it?

 

i would never buy meat products for anybody. it would be pretty fucked up of me to do so, IMO.

 

I wouldn't buy their nasty food. I'm with ya.

 

I mean I wouldn't do it for just anybody. But I think your coworkers have a point, you're not supporting it with money or eating it so I think you're making a big deal out of nothing. I mean I undestand but its just kinda prissy. I wouldn't have a problem at all picking up food for people cuz I understand people eat meat and I'm not gonna try to change them if they don't wanna.

 

they have a point about them paying for it in all but if they eat it they should get it and not hassle u in what u beleive jus dont ask any favors from them i wouldnt buy it either

 

I have no problem with it aside from the ick factor. It doesn't affect my own karma.

I occasionally cook for a handicapped friend of mine. He's not a vegetarian. So when I plan a meal for him, I buy what he eats. I prepare with love and kindness. And I serve it in the same manner.

Never once do I taste test what I cook. I do it all from memory.

But I also do it with a sense of non-attachment.

Glad to do for others, but I cannot partake myself.


x

 

thanks xex, for bringing this perspective. i havent changed my mind, but this is something to think about.

 

why would you not just treat him to a home cooked vegetarian meal? would that be way out of the ordenary for you friend? does he not eat pasta or vegetables?

 

I think that people should be able to decide what they want to eat. Picking up food for someone is a favor. It shouldn't matter if it is meat or not. It isn't like you are touching it because it is either wrapped up or in a container. Also, I'm assuming that you're not paying for it, so it shouldn't matter. I think it comes off a bit snobby if you don't do a favor that someone else would do for you. I always say, "I'll let you eat what you want to eat as long as you let me eat what I want to eat." It is kind of hypocritical if vegetarians/vegans complain about being criticized for eating the way they do if they are doing the same to people who decide to eat meat. Just my own opinion.

 

Oh, he's aware of my vegetarian cooking skills. People have to make the jump to the other side for their own reasons. I never force the issue.

His ability to prepare some meats is very limited, so I pick up the slack. I made shrimp alfredo the other night. Knock your socks off. But I haven't eaten any myself in decades.

Were it anyone else, I would not touch meat, but for this friend who cannot do for himself, I have no problem stepping up to fill a need.



x

 

I'm gonna go with the I don't tell you what to eat cause I don't want to be told what to eat...you might be surprised actually by the number of meat eaters who are happy to go vego if you just check to see if they might want to try something...so many housemates and family and friends have tried so many dishes courtesy of my eating habits that I think I have to be happy that I manage to make some small difference in these peoples lives even if it isn't an overall one or a pemanent one. Good luck with finding a balance that keeps you happy!

 

I think it's a bit far refusing to buy meat for people. Your coworkers seem to be open-minded by buying you veg food. Why not accept their choices and be open-minded as well?

 

Because people who eat meat doesn´t need to make a mental concessions about the (non/living) food issue. For their everything is for eating, there´s no big differences between meals from meat or plants. It´s for consume. But vegetarian is still thinking about meat like about life. I had same problem...it wasn´t that I´m not open-minded for making good turn, but the main problem was in the philosophic questions how I help to make a profit to companies against which I am fighting with my vegetarianism. For example. In some cases it looks same like at those quotes ,,fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity" ....making a favor through the torturing others (animals, etc.) is finally bad or good turn ? What is worse or the best ?

I accept that not everybody is a vegetarian, every person has own assurance, accept that not everybody is able to prepare his lunch.....but I think it´s not that easy answer this question.

 

usually my dad gives me money in the morning and tells me to take my brother and sister grocery shopping if we didnt go the night before. they always get lunch meat but i dont have a problem with it. i mean if they dont mind me buying my vegetarian food why should i have a problem with there choices? i personally would never buy the meat with my own money however. i dont want to be one of those people who preach about how wrong it is to eat animals. everyone has there own choices in life about that so just go with the flow, ya know?

i do love though when my brother and sister will think i cooked something that looks like meat and i wont tell them, and they end up liking what i made untill i tell them its fake. the look on there faces is priceless

 

I think it's fucking rude to ask a vegetarian or vegan to get you a bodybag.

 

cool mama, this is a great idea.

 

I buy meat for my family, but that's a wholly different issue IMHO.

I LOVE drumminmama's "I fly you buy" idea - really cool!

One other thought? I dunno how your office is set up, but my husband essentially works with 3 other people. They've taken to having Tuesdays be "share day," where they rotate bringing in a dish for everyone to share for lunch. It breaks down to a little more than once a month per person, so it's not a strain on the budget... and they each work on out-doing each other for the most creative & HEALTHY (that's been the criteria from the start) meal they can come up with. Since DH's meal tends to become mine to cook... and he's cooking less & less meat as well, his are always vegetarian and his coworkers have actually sent home messages saying "I LOVE that! Whatever it was, it didn't NEED any meat! Who'd have thunk?" It's fun to see him get all excited a few days before his turn to bring the food in. He'll be online hunting through Vegsource & Vegweb like a pro... and bookmarking new ideas for us to try as he goes!
love,
mom

 

thats awesome. he and his co workers sound really openminded. now all you gotta do is teach him how to cook.

 

If I go shopping for my parents, I buy them ham and stuff if they want it. I don't pay for it and I sure as hell don't eat it, so.