I've been on both ends of this dynamic. When I started dating an ex-fiance years and years ago, I was a vegetarian and he was a triple burger eating, pop tarts for breakfast kind of guy. I couldn't have cared less, it was his choice and I never said a thing. Skip ahead a few years, we had broken up then gotten back together and now he's vegan. He would not rest until I agreed to also be vegan. It was a daily lecture of why I'm not healthy, blah blah blah. The PP is correct, this is a control thing. It's why he's an ex-fiance.

I'm still vegetarian, have been for 36 years, and I have never tried to get anyone to follow this diet, including my husband and kid. On the contrary, as my kid trends that way I tell her to keep at least one meat in play. It gives you so much flexibility down the line and I wish I had done that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can make vegetarian meals that fill you up. My husband and I only eat meat 2-3 times a week because of the high costs. We cook mostly vegetarian meals at home because it’s much cheaper. We do a variety of “ bowls” and mix up the ingredients. We add a base of brown rice, quinoa, or lentils, a protein like beans or chickpeas, veggies, greens, potatoes, avocado or hummus, and dressing. We do pasta with loads of veggies, veggie tacos, eggplant Parmesan, etc. It’s filling and my husband never complains about being hungry.

We know: Cheese pizza. French fries dipped in ranch dressing. Snicker bars with a side of M&Ms. Venti Lardaccino.

Nothing that PP wrote on here is unhealthy. You’re just being a jerk.

True, but go into any office in DC and the fattest people will almost always be the vegetarians.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can make vegetarian meals that fill you up. My husband and I only eat meat 2-3 times a week because of the high costs. We cook mostly vegetarian meals at home because it’s much cheaper. We do a variety of “ bowls” and mix up the ingredients. We add a base of brown rice, quinoa, or lentils, a protein like beans or chickpeas, veggies, greens, potatoes, avocado or hummus, and dressing. We do pasta with loads of veggies, veggie tacos, eggplant Parmesan, etc. It’s filling and my husband never complains about being hungry.

We know: Cheese pizza. French fries dipped in ranch dressing. Snicker bars with a side of M&Ms. Venti Lardaccino.

Nothing that PP wrote on here is unhealthy. You’re just being a jerk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can make vegetarian meals that fill you up. My husband and I only eat meat 2-3 times a week because of the high costs. We cook mostly vegetarian meals at home because it’s much cheaper. We do a variety of “ bowls” and mix up the ingredients. We add a base of brown rice, quinoa, or lentils, a protein like beans or chickpeas, veggies, greens, potatoes, avocado or hummus, and dressing. We do pasta with loads of veggies, veggie tacos, eggplant Parmesan, etc. It’s filling and my husband never complains about being hungry.

We know: Cheese pizza. French fries dipped in ranch dressing. Snicker bars with a side of M&Ms. Venti Lardaccino.

Oooh those all sound so good. Especially the Lardaccino.

I was a vegetarian for many years. My husband and children were not. I find that vegetarianism/vegan is much like religion - your choice but you cannot push it on someone else.
Your wife can tell you the benefits of being vegan and you can choose to pursue the lifestyle. You both need to respect each other's choices. If not, there are larger things in your relationship to focus on.
However, do not expect her to make a second meal to meet your dietary needs.

Anonymous wrote:You can make vegetarian meals that fill you up. My husband and I only eat meat 2-3 times a week because of the high costs. We cook mostly vegetarian meals at home because it’s much cheaper. We do a variety of “ bowls” and mix up the ingredients. We add a base of brown rice, quinoa, or lentils, a protein like beans or chickpeas, veggies, greens, potatoes, avocado or hummus, and dressing. We do pasta with loads of veggies, veggie tacos, eggplant Parmesan, etc. It’s filling and my husband never complains about being hungry.

We know: Cheese pizza. French fries dipped in ranch dressing. Snicker bars with a side of M&Ms. Venti Lardaccino.

Anonymous wrote:So, this was posted in the relationship forum and everyone is focusing on the food. OP, what else is going on in your marriage? Food issues sometimes are about control.

+1

So, this was posted in the relationship forum and everyone is focusing on the food. OP, what else is going on in your marriage? Food issues sometimes are about control.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. The codependent, control disguised as “support” dynamic you have going on is pathetic. Do you have kids? A job? How can you possibly be able to spend so much of your energy on the details of your diet and the potential snark you might get on DCUM based on your knowledge of previous posts related to eggs and butter. Your wife also sounds like she probably has an eating disorder she’s masking with a stance. Using you to normalize it. It’s all so, I don’t know, petty and fake? Eat what you want. Wife can eat what she wants. If this is the biggest source of conflict in your marriage, count your blessings and calories together.

You sound fat.

Nope PP is right. They are both weirdos.

I’m the PP that accused “gross.” Not fat. And not harping on OP for spending time on DCUM. Clearly, that would be hypocritical. I’m criticizing the amount of energy being consumed by diet journaling, down to the brand of butter and cross referencing with the potential snark based on historical DCUM post data and the fact that this is, in his world, such a source of conflict that it is worthy of crowdsourcing and inner and marital torment. Just eat the damn steak. And maybe keep the highbrow butter selection to yourself.

Posted too soon. I wanted to add, you just sound nuts. And not like Himalayan conflict free chia seed nuts. Like, regular Mr. Peanut nuts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. The codependent, control disguised as “support” dynamic you have going on is pathetic. Do you have kids? A job? How can you possibly be able to spend so much of your energy on the details of your diet and the potential snark you might get on DCUM based on your knowledge of previous posts related to eggs and butter. Your wife also sounds like she probably has an eating disorder she’s masking with a stance. Using you to normalize it. It’s all so, I don’t know, petty and fake? Eat what you want. Wife can eat what she wants. If this is the biggest source of conflict in your marriage, count your blessings and calories together.

You sound fat.

Nope PP is right. They are both weirdos.

I’m the PP that accused “gross.” Not fat. And not harping on OP for spending time on DCUM. Clearly, that would be hypocritical. I’m criticizing the amount of energy being consumed by diet journaling, down to the brand of butter and cross referencing with the potential snark based on historical DCUM post data and the fact that this is, in his world, such a source of conflict that it is worthy of crowdsourcing and inner and marital torment. Just eat the damn steak. And maybe keep the highbrow butter selection to yourself.

Tell her it’s your choice and it’s not fair for her to push her beliefs on you. She wouldn’t like it if you pushed certain food habits on her.

You can make vegetarian meals that fill you up. My husband and I only eat meat 2-3 times a week because of the high costs. We cook mostly vegetarian meals at home because it’s much cheaper. We do a variety of “ bowls” and mix up the ingredients. We add a base of brown rice, quinoa, or lentils, a protein like beans or chickpeas, veggies, greens, potatoes, avocado or hummus, and dressing. We do pasta with loads of veggies, veggie tacos, eggplant Parmesan, etc. It’s filling and my husband never complains about being hungry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dude, doiit! those PLNT burgers at Whole Foods are some thing I think about every eight minutes.

OP here. Most of that meat is very unhealthy and just processed crap. Many “organic” or vegan labeled food is just processed junk and not any healthier than the conventional products.

You are correct about the unhealthy processed vegan foods. If you were to try being a vegetarian and be healthy, the majority of the protein in your meals would be beans, lentils or tofu.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I will consider eating a meatless day but I need the protein from chicken or salmon to feel full. Unless you laid it up with beans and avocado, vegetables and salad are not going to fill me up and keep me full all night long.

I am not vegan.
One vegan meal I like and fills me up is falafel in pitas with tahini sauce and romaine. The romaine not so much but it adds a great crisp. I like the frozen falafel Traders Joe’s and I have made baked falafel from Trader Joe’ s mix.

Agreed.

My husband makes Egyptian koshari.
A layer of rice, a layer of chickpeas, a layer of lentils. Spicy tomato sauce and fried black onions as a garnish. Delicious and filling. I promise.

Vegetable +Butcher does a great version of this in both vegan and non-vegan (lamb) formats.

Guy here. I’ve been a vegetarian for over a year now. I still eat dairy and occasionally fish so most would probably not consider me a true vegetarian. Certainly not a vegan which is a whole other level. I never evangelize or even talk about it because food is such a personal thing. I would never push it onto my wife. She knows what I eat and she occasionally will join me in eating the same things. Anyway, it is possible to do it and still feel full and satiated. There is a transition period in getting used to it, but it doesn’t last long.