Vegetarian Missionarys ?

[lizzy12]

If missionary's are supposed to be respectful and eat what there served...then there should be no such thing as a Vegan or Vegetarian Missionary. Right ?

If for medical reasons they can't eat meat I understand but those who don't eat it because they are "Vegetarian" is just rude.

My dad had to eat cow tongue and dog on his mission- Did he want to ? No. But he did anyway because he wasn't going to say that their food wasn't good enough for him.

Any views that are parallel or perpendicular to mine ?

[leming6]

I do feel missionaries should be respectful to people who invite them over, but at the same time people who invite them over should be respectful too. I think it is disrespectful for a person to expect anyone to eat everything they make. As long as the missionary or any guest is respectful about turning food down...who cares. They have likes, dislikes, allergies, and principles just like the rest of us.

[Connie]

Do you think it would be rude for someone to refuse a vegan meal because they are used to eating meat 3 times a day or is it just people who refuse to eat meat who are rude? Because i could tell you a story.

I agree with leming6. Meh... who cares.

[Dravin]

It depends a lot on the culture. Turning down food in many poorer cultures is highly offensive, but turning down dessert or seconds on my mission to Spokane is a lot less so. Though in my case even if it was rude (assuming not mortally offensive rude) I'd have declined anyway, twas my health not theirs.

Also, keep in mind, after a while vegetarians have issues digesting meat which will cause them intestinal distress if they just wolf down a hamburger and additionally the thought of doing so can actually make them queasy . Some folks can't eat egg, they gag and vomit, I see nothing wrong with declining to eat egg in those circumstances. Dairy as well, those who are lactose intolerant certainly won't die if they consume dairy but they will have to suffer through significant intestinal distress. A vegetarian turning down a steak isn't all that different except his started out as a habit (I'm assuming) before the mission.

I concur with Leming that a lot of it is how you turn things down. Are you respectful? Or are you sneering at their food? "I can't eat dairy, it makes my stomach upset so I'll have to pass on your Pudding Pie" is a lot different than, "Pudding Pie? Disgusting, I'm not touching that." Some people are successfully tactful and respectful with likes and dislikes while others fail horribly at being such about stuff they can't get away with eating (like an allergy).

Edited April 21, 2010 by Dravin

[Plastic_Starlight]

when I was on my mission I most of my companions had one allergy or another, I had one veggitarian companion and eventually I got to the point where I couldn't handle protiens which ment no meat, eggs, nuts etc. Though we got alot of cheese pizza it wasn't really a hassel for anyone. We made sure we put our allergies and stuff on the calander when people signed up and talked to the people who were feeding us before hand if they had any questions. I don't think it's rude at all. Missionaries are still people, and its not a commandment to feed them. it's just a nice thing to do.

[Wingnut]

If someone is a vegetarian or vegan by choice because they take issue with perceived animal cruelty associated with meat and dairy products, don't you think it would be considered rude to ask that person to go against their personal morals by eating animal products?

I remember having a missionary in a previous ward who had a laundry list of food allergies. When he moved into the area, he shared his sensitivities with the ward mission leader and the bishop. It was announced over the pulpit in Sacrament meeting that if you were hosting the missionaries for dinner, not to prepare a meal that included any of those items. I also served with an elder who was diabetic. He had to alert leadership in the wards he served in to his special dietary needs. I don't see why it would be any different to make an announcement in Sacrament meeting or Relief Society that one of the missionaries serving in the ward is a vegetarian.

[Jenamarie]

It's not a big deal to me. We've fed vegetarian meals to Elders often. We're not vegetarian, and niether have any of the Elder's we've served, but we do enjoy a nice curry or veggie pizza from time to time.

There are SO many yummy meat-free recipes out there, I really don't see why it would be an issue.

[lizzy12]

I see your point. What if someone decided to try being a vegetarian during their mission...and didn't care about the animals lives just eating meat was not appealing.

[Wingnut]

I see your point. What if someone decided to try being a vegetarian during their mission...and didn't care about the animals lives just eating meat was not appealing.

Then I'd hope they weren't sent to Greece or Ukraine.

[Jenamarie]

I see your point. What if someone decided to try being a vegetarian during their mission...and didn't care about the animals lives just eating meat was not appealing.

It's still their choice to make. So long as they're not rude about it, and don't wait until they arrive at a dinner appointment (when the dinner is already prepared) to make their wishes known, then it's still not a big deal to me.

[lizzy12]

I see ur points. :) Let's close this baby up !

[Elgama]

personally I always ask the missionaries what they don't like and I want them to be honest, part of me feels its bad manners if you can afford to not to ask, I want my dinner guests to enjoy their meal

[scdoyle]

One of the missionaries that taught me was allergic to fresh fruit and vegetables. I thought that was kind of weird, and sad.

[hordak]

Since when is not doing/ consuming something you don't like rude?

Say (as an adult)

"No thanks, i don't smoke"

"No thanks, i don't drink"

"No thanks, i don't really like watching sports"

"No thanks, i don't really like like that bands language, movies sexual undertone, violence etc."

Response:

"ok"

Say (as an adult)

"No thanks, i don't like tomatoes" "No thanks i don't like that food"

Response

"WHAT, you have never had MY tomatoes !"

"How do you know you don't like blood pudding if you never had it!"

"Come on just one little bite!"

"Just give it a try, everyone else likes it"

We hear "don't give into peer pressure." and knowing what one wants, likes and dislikes is a trait that is admired until it comes to food. Then you're bound to eat every piece of slop* that comes across your plate.

[/rant]

as a man of discriminating taste this social more bothers me:).

There is nothing wrong with refusing food, unless you ask for a replacement.Or you call it slop.

* slop meant not only to apply to bad tasting food due to bad cooking skills but food you don't like.

E.G. Some shrimp scampi might be the best. It might be served at fine dinning establishments and win awards. But because shrimp taste horrible (to my palette ) it is slop

[rameumptom]

My mission was 30 years ago in Bolivia. We would eat what was served, but would say two prayers over the food. One to thank God for it, the second to ask that we survive the ordeal....

[rameumptom]

One of the missionaries that taught me was allergic to fresh fruit and vegetables. I thought that was kind of weird, and sad.

Was he able to eat stale or rotten fruit and vegetables?

[Wingnut]

E.G. Some shrimp scampi might be the best. It might be served at fine dinning establishments and win awards. But because shrimp taste horrible (to my palette ) it is slop

Ah, but Olive Garden's chicken scampi is another story altogether. Yum, yum. I'm going to have some on Friday.

(I hate shrimp too, and seafood.)

The beginning of your rant actually got me thinking more about this subject. Are missionaries expecting to graciously accept every cup of coffee offered to them, in order to avoid offending the offerer? No. Likewise, vegetarianism is generally a personal code kind of thing.

[ADoyle90815]

I think that it would show respect to provide a missionary with a vegetarian meal if he or she was a vegetarian. There are many delicious meatless options, and it doesn't hurt most people to go without meat on occasion, in fact, it's actually good. I think it's also respectful to ask someone if there's any food they don't like, as it's easy to not have that ingredient at a dinner. With food allergies, it's essential to find out about that because some allergies are severe enough to cause a fatal reaction. That also applies to delivering cookies and other sweets to church members, as many people have peanut or tree nut allergies, so certain sweets shouldn't be given if a member of the family has an allergy.

Of course, outside of the US, it's probably more polite for missionaries to try whatever they're being served. It's inside the US where missionaries can discuss dietary issues and have families respect that.

Edited April 21, 2010 by ADoyle90815

[Elgama]

plus a missionary could always argue eating a very little meat is part of him observing his religious beliefs:) I know my husband came back from Texas mostly vegetarian couldn't eat anymore meat, and after a month in the US I couldn't face anymore meat. I always dish my food up in serving dishes anyway so a missionary could just take the vegetables if they wanted.

[Blackmarch]

If missionary's are supposed to be respectful and eat what there served...then there should be no such thing as a Vegan or Vegetarian Missionary. Right ?

If for medical reasons they can't eat meat I understand but those who don't eat it because they are "Vegetarian" is just rude.

My dad had to eat cow tongue and dog on his mission- Did he want to ? No. But he did anyway because he wasn't going to say that their food wasn't good enough for him.

Any views that are parallel or perpendicular to mine ?

While I do think the msissionary should be willing to try a bit, if he or she honestly believes that vegetarion is what is right for them and have strong feelings about it, then the least the missionaries can do is let the family know ahead of time before the meal made and placved before them.