Can veg*ns cook with animal products?

[LuvOurMother]

On this season of Masterchef a vegetarian contestant has made it to the top ten finalists. In this show it is impossible to compete w/o cooking meat and animal products.
I think it's neat that she is doing this, the judges and other contestants are constantly surprised that a vegetarian can cook tasty food.

However, can a vegetarian still be vegetarian if they cook with meat ( and do not taste it)?

When I discussed this on another forum I mentioned that I sometimes have had to cook with animal products ( for school/work and I cater events by request). Someone responded that this does not fit into the definition of vegan and said I was a hypocrite and not a real vegan. Do you agree with her? If not, how would you respond? I already said it wasn't her judgement to make and we each decide what is possible and practical for ourselves in gray areas like this. She responded that this was not a gray area and I can't be vegan and cook with animal products according to the definition of vegan. Just curious what other vegans opinions are and if anyone can help me understand her pov ( she utterly failed).

 

[Calliegirl]

I wouldn't cook anything with animal products for anyone else. They can cook it themselves or live without it.
But I do feed my cats food that has meat in it.

eta...
If it was for work (such as working fast food) I wouldn't work the grill, but I would put a burger in a bag. I've had to put leather belts and purses on the floor when I worked for a big box store.
But if it was my own company, I wouldn't offer any animal products. If you're profiting off of animals and using them as a commodity, you aren't a vegan.

 

[Second Summer]

I make a clear distinction between vegan products on one hand and what products someone who identifies as vegan might use on the other. Let's face it, someone who identifies as vegan might not use only 100% vegan products 100% of the time. Sometimes we make honest mistakes, sometimes there are non-vegan medicines we need to take, sometimes we can't afford to buy new vegan shoes for our children, so we might settle for second-hand leather shoes etc. Also, some vegans may have to work in places that are vegan-unfriendly in lesser or greater extents. None of this is ideal, but as long as we at least aim towards a vegan alternative for the future (at some point, not necessarily the near future), then that's fine with me. Good jobs are hard to come by, and I won't fault any vegan for having to make a living.

 

[Clueless Git]

In meatard land all this will be seen as is a vegan conceding that top notch nosh can never be vegan.

Not saying they are quite right to see it that way but not seeing things quite right is what defines a meatard in the first place.

 

[SummerRain]

I think that you shouldn't listen to idiots on the internet that tell people they "aren't a real vegan" (unless they're blatantly eating cheese or something). I think a vegetarian can still be a vegetarian if they cook with meat (and not taste it). I think it's something a lot of vegetarians do actually, especially if they live in a "mixed" family with non-vegetarians.

Personally, I wouldn't cook with animal products due to personal preference, I wouldn't feel right doing it. Also, I like to think of whether what I am doing is genuinely encouraging the use of animal products or not. I occasionally will put milk in my fiances coffee, or dump cheese he has grated on top of something, and if I didn't do it - he would do it. IMO that's not encouraging anything. But if people eat at my house, despite my fiance being omni, I cook vegan food and bake vegan food, because I don't want it to look like what I eat isn't good enough to serve for other people. I want my guests to know that vegan food can be tasty and delicious, and isn't sub-par to non-vegan food. Everyone who eats regularly at my house has commented on how nice vegan cooking and baking is (and how surprised they are).

In an ideal world where I could choose another job, I wouldn't want to cater with non-vegan food either because that would encourage people to use those foods. On the other hand, every single job in some way encourages/supports the use of animal products - whether you're an accountant that does accounts for a butchers, or a patent attorney who writes patents for a pharmaceutical company, or if you work in a super market that sells meat and products tested on animals. So again, I think this is up to the individual and what they're comfortable with and what they can afford/realistically do and what options they have.

 

[SummerRain]

Oh and as for masterchef, I agree that it can be a really good thing - I haven't seen the person you're talking about though. I think if a vegetarian/vegan goes on masterchef, genuinely goods vegetarian/vegan food whenever they can, and has to cook with animal products in a couple of tasks - maybe the "good" done by portraying vegetarian food as equal to non-vegetarian food, even at a professional level, probably outweighs the bad - I wouldn't judge anyone for it anyway and would be pleased at seeing a good vegetarian food role model.

Sometimes in the past though I've seen vegetarians voluntarily cook non-vegetarian food in some rounds. I.e. choosing to cook beef when they could have made a vegetarian meal. I do think that is hypocritical, although I still don't think it makes you "not a vegetarian". Also, I think they then stop being a "good role mode"l - they're just reinforcing the idea that good food needs meat.

 

[LuvOurMother]

Thanks for the replies.

The particular event I catered was a friend's wedding. She was still transitioning to vegan at the time, her husband ate mostly vegetarian but their parents who were of course paying for everything freaked out when my friend said she wanted all vegan food. After many discussions and attempts to compromise they decided that vegetarian food would be ok for everyone. I had already agreed to cater the wedding (for free, they buy the ingredients) when she was planning all vegan and felt I couldn't back out w/o leaving her in the lurch. So I made vegetarian and vegan lasagna, vegan breadsticks, salad etc.
I feel like I made the practical choice in this situation.

 

[Pirate]

Does anyone remember that thread on veggieboards where someone had to cook food for their dieing father. he was used to eating meat, so they gave him meat. and certain individuals decided that this made the person no longer vegetarian. Urgh.

Anyway, I dont think its unvegan. You were doing a nice favour for your friend. I'd personally never cook anything with meat becuase 1 - it makes me ill thinking abut it 2 - I've never cooked with meat so would probably kill someone. I get freaked out enough if someone asks me to take their chicken nuggets out the oven for them. oh and 3 - cant taste it. Id find it a bit weird if a vegetarian opened an omni resteraunt, but if they work in one so be it. I dont think many people have a 100% vegan job!

I often think that these super level 5 vegans are the ones who sneak animal products when not looking. then, to make themselves feel better they have a go at others for tiny things.

 

[thefadedone]

Does anyone remember that thread on veggieboards where someone had to cook food for their dieing father. he was used to eating meat, so they gave him meat. and certain individuals decided that this made the person no longer vegetarian. Urgh.

Anyway, I dont think its unvegan. You were doing a nice favour for your friend. I'd personally never cook anything with meat becuase 1 - it makes me ill thinking abut it 2 - I've never cooked with meat so would probably kill someone. I get freaked out enough if someone asks me to take their chicken nuggets out the oven for them. oh and 3 - cant taste it. Id find it a bit weird if a vegetarian opened an omni resteraunt, but if they work in one so be it. I dont think many people have a 100% vegan job!

I often think that these super level 5 vegans are the ones who sneak animal products when not looking. then, to make themselves feel better they have a go at others for tiny things.

This is something I don't understand about professional chefs who are vegan/vegetarian and have to cook with animal products. A big part of their job is tasting their own recipes and dishes. It's got to be difficult to create something and not have a clue what it tastes like.

 

[Danielle]

Does anyone remember that thread on veggieboards where someone had to cook food for their dieing father. he was used to eating meat, so they gave him meat. and certain individuals decided that this made the person no longer vegetarian. Urgh.

Anyway, I dont think its unvegan. You were doing a nice favour for your friend. I'd personally never cook anything with meat becuase 1 - it makes me ill thinking abut it 2 - I've never cooked with meat so would probably kill someone. I get freaked out enough if someone asks me to take their chicken nuggets out the oven for them. oh and 3 - cant taste it. Id find it a bit weird if a vegetarian opened an omni resteraunt, but if they work in one so be it. I dont think many people have a 100% vegan job!

I often think that these super level 5 vegans are the ones who sneak animal products when not looking. then, to make themselves feel better they have a go at others for tiny things.

Lucky people who get to work at vegan restaurants. x3

 

[Amy SF]

Lucky people who get to work at vegan restaurants. x3

Which explains why the people who work at the vegan restaurants I've patronized always seem so cheerful.

 

[AeryFairy]

In meatard land all this will be seen as is a vegan conceding that top notch nosh can never be vegan.

Not saying they are quite right to see it that way but not seeing things quite right is what defines a meatard in the first place.

Just on a personal note, could you try to use another word for Omnis? The word that this is a play on is a particularly offensive one in my book for many reasons.

 

[silva]

I really love cooking shows and started to watch Masterchef the first season. No way! It does everything possible to promote meat eating including advertise Walmart meats so you can have meat at any cost.
I understand vegans preparing meat for others in many circumstances. Being on Masterchef with the death trio of judges is nothing but a sellout.
Does nothing but bring down veg'ns.

 

[Calliegirl]

I really love cooking shows and started to watch Masterchef the first season. No way! It does everything possible to promote meat eating including advertise Walmart meats so you can have meat at any cost.
I understand vegans preparing meat for others in many circumstances. Being on Masterchef with the death trio of judges is nothing but a sellout.
Does nothing but bring down veg'ns.

I agree, it shows that our ethics can be bought. We claim to care about animals so much that we refuse to eat them, unless there's a chance to win money and fame. Then we'll happily contribute to their deaths and cook them, even if we don't personally eat them.

On one episode of The Amazing Race, someone who claimed to have been a vegan for X number of years, had no problem eating the flesh off a sheep's head. She didn't have to do it, but it was easier than the other option. I guess when there's a million dollars at stake, ethics fly out the window.

 

[thefadedone]

On one episode of The Amazing Race, someone who claimed to have been a vegan for X number of years, had no problem eating the flesh off a sheep's head. She didn't have to do it, but it was easier than the other option. I guess when there's a million dollars at stake, ethics fly out the window.

That scenario happens way too much. It seems that it occurs on almost all the competition reality shows whenever there is the combo of a veg*n and a disgusting meat eating challenge. The veg*n always throws away their morals when a large sum of cash is flashed in front of their face.

 

[Clueless Git]

That scenario happens way too much. It seems that it occurs on almost all the competition reality shows whenever there is the combo of a veg*n and a disgusting meat eating challenge. The veg*n always throws away their morals when a large sum of cash is flashed in front of their face.

This is possibly because only a veg*an who is prepared to throw their morals away would go on such a show in the first place.

 

[SummerRain]

Mod post: To keep this thread on topic, I've moved discussion on censoring/avoiding offensive words to the debate forum. Please continue discussing whether veg*ans can cook with animal products over here

 

[das_nut]

When I discussed this on another forum I mentioned that I sometimes have had to cook with animal products ( for school/work and I cater events by request). Someone responded that this does not fit into the definition of vegan and said I was a hypocrite and not a real vegan. Do you agree with her? If not, how would you respond?

I think she needs to check her assumptions, if she honestly believes that everyone has a choice in what sort of job they are able to find.

 

[CrowCaw]

Which explains why the people who work at the vegan restaurants I've patronized always seem so cheerful.

Same here! Some of the finest people I've met - and awesome vegan conversations.

 

[Hannah1]

Sometimes I have to make dinner for the rest of the family and some of the dishes they like contain animal products. I don't think it's wrong, because I'm not the one purchasing those products and consuming them. I see it more as a nice thing to do for my family. Most of the time the whole family eats Vegan though.