If you're invited over to someone's house for dinner, it's important to clarify what's on the menu ahead of time, especially if you have dietary restrictions that the host needs to be made aware of.
However, if your host has dietary requirements themselves - such as being vegetarian or having an allergy - you wouldn't expect them to cook something for you that they can't eat themselves, right?
That wasn't quite the experience one woman had though, after she invited her family over for dinner at her house, only to find that they made "snarky" remarks about her decision not to serve meat - because she's a vegetarian.
The woman explained her family seemed to "enjoy" her food while they were at her house, but after they'd finished eating, her dad began making rude remarks about how the salad she'd made was the type of food that "real food" - or animals - would eat.
She admitted she didn't tell her family that she wouldn't be serving meat at her dinner party, but doesn't believe she should have to since they're all aware that she doesn't eat it.
In a post on Reddit, she wrote: "After I finished moving into my first apartment, I invited my family over. My parents, siblings (three of them) and their partners (two of those). Everyone knows I don't eat meat, I try my best not to be difficult about it and often bring my own meals to family gatherings.
"Anyways, the menu was: as a starter, bruschetta, as a main, pasta alla norma with garlic bread and salad on the side. And tiramisu as dessert. I thought this covered all bases, had enough variety, and people seemed to enjoy it. No one went home hungry.
"But my dad told me that if he knew I wouldn't be serving meat he wouldn't have come, he made a couple of snarky remarks too (especially about the salad, [calling it] 'rabbit food' [or saying] 'this is what real food eats'). And my brother called me after to let me know his girlfriend agrees with my dad and also would want 'real' food the next time if I'm ever hosting again.
"Honestly, I don't really want to host again. I spent quite a lot of money and time on the dinner, and it's frustrating when people try to tear it down. But it is generally polite to let people know when a social gathering doesn't meet expectations. Should I have let people know beforehand?"
Commenters on the post were firmly on the woman's side, as they pointed out that if her family don't make veggie dishes for her, she shouldn't make meat dishes for them.
One person said: "The dinner sounds delicious, and your father and brother's girlfriend sound like bad guests. I eat meat, but I don't expect it at any meal. It's interesting that you have to provide your own meals when you go to dinner, but your family expects you to accommodate their desire to have meat."
While another added: "I don't get people like this. I'm an avid meat eater but I won't perish if I don't have meat every single meal. Actually having meat in every meal is boring to me and not particularly healthy either. The dishes you described sound tasty!"
And a third posted: "These aren't just meat eaters. They are f***ing toddlers. I'm not vegetarian but would be thrilled with that meal."
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@trinitymirror.com.
