If I eat meat once, can I still call myself a vegetarian?

Question

I'm a vegetarian. Tomorrow, we're going camping and we're making chili on the campfire (it's a tradition for us). But in the past years, I wasn't a vegetarian. Can I eat the chili and still consider myself a vegetarian? The chili will have a mixture of bison and lamb in it. I'm just not exactly sure if I can still consider myself a vegetarian if I have a bowl of chili. That's all we're making, so I'd be hungry without it, and my dad REALLY wants me to. Please help!?

Answer 1

You have sex once - can you still call yourself a virgin?



You should make something vegetarian to take with you, but if you deliberately intend to go and eat meat then you are not a virgi, err, I mean vegetarian.

Answer 2

I don't think you would be a vegetarian right now if you are planning to eat meat.



Are you going to do that every time there is a traditional meal or no other options? Its going to happen next year too. This is the kind of situation a lot of vegetarians get into, but they still don't eat meat. I would suggest taking a can of vegetarian chili or cooking some beforehand and bringing it to heat up for yourself. You could always put vegetarian sausage in it! (most of them are really good)



Being a vegetarian means no meat. At all. I think you could eat meat chili once and then resume being a vegetarian after that, but there's a limit to the amount of times you can do it and still tell yourself you're a vegetarian. Do what you think is right.

Answer 3

I honestly can't even imagine considering this as an option for me. My Mother is a very good cook but that said I do not eat her cooking anymore. At all. Never. (I'm 40 and you seem younger so maybe that's it). I cannot imagine eating meat at this point for any occasion. I do not miss it. I do not want it. No one could pressure me into it (I visit for holidays for my Mom's famous meat-based recipes and do not want any of it). I do not tell them what to eat. I make a small amount of my own food (make your own vegetarian chili, it's easy and cheap, and bring it with you. That way you are doing the family ritual without going over your feelings as a vegetarian. It's never a 'just this once' thing for me now. It's got nothing to do with my family/friends preferences. They can eat what they like. I will eat what feels good and right to me.

Answer 4

You can eat the chili without the meat if you really wanted to. Or just tell your dad to make you vegetarian chili. If you really didn't want to eat meat, you'd stand your ground.

Answer 5

What is the defitition of a vegetarian? They dont eat meat. You are going to eat meat. I dont think you are vegetarian. Its like a man saying if i sleep with a man can i still call myself straight and not gay? NO.

Answer 6

You would not be able to call yourself a vegetarian if you eat meat even once a year.

Answer 7

Vegetarians do not eat meat, they definitely do not plan to eat meat ahead of an event. Take some food with you or explain that you are vegetarian and ask if they can cater for your food choices. Most vegetarians would stand by their beliefs and not weaken in such a situation.

Answer 8

Nope.... because what happens the next time there is a "traditional" meal with meat; will you do the same? Vegetarians do not eat meat.

Answer 9

Soy chile.



This camping trip isn't a situation of life or death survivalism. Your dad should be more considerate. Perhaps bring a few cans of cambells soup (veggie).

Answer 10

vegetarianism is a state of mind. as long as your trying to be vegetarian that's all that matters. Especially if you try your best before hand to express the possibility of not eating meat.



Also keep in mind your respect for the animal and how it will be useful for you. Native Americans do that for respect to the spirit, even of plants they use. Also if you look up Essenes.org they say Jesus was really preaching vegetarianism and reincarnation. They say eating meat was brought around by evil spirits.



If your like me the meat wont be as good as you remember it or as good as it smells.

Answer 11

Who cares what people think!

Eat that chili!

You go!!

Answer 12

Yes, you can still call yourself vegetarian. Don't worry about it. If it bothers you, you can say that you are vegetarian and are sometimes not too strict with it or something like that. You can also call yourself "a vegetarian that only falls off the wagon for my dad's chili." He'd like that.

Answer 13

see if they can make the chilli without the meat, first. or....eat the beans and chilli soup/broth....liquid, and leave the meat.

Answer 14

Yes. A non-smoker can have a cigarette a couple times a year. You can still be a vegetarian nad hae some meat once in a while. Besides, that chili sounds too good to pass up

Answer 15

can't you take some kidney beans and have the chilli made out of kidney beans instead of meat?

Answer 16

sure you can as

long as you don't always eat meat all the time

Answer 17

yur all right fur a day

Answer 18

I don't think one day will kill you.