I'd take the meat dish. To expect everyone to abide by her beliefs is inconsiderate.

 

I'm guessing the Adventists won't be bringing a meat dish so those who aren't vegetarian could bring one and there would be a variety from which to choose.

 

Seems I am always a lone dissenter.

Would your wife wear a tank top and shorts to an Amish gathering if it were a similar situation and she normally wears them?

Had the invitation not suggested vegetarian dishes I think it would have been perfectly fine to take a meat dish, however because of the invitation reading as it did I read between the lines as, "please respect our religious beliefs" so I would not take a meat dish were I in the same shoes as you. Perhaps a simple phone call might be in order to inquire if such would be offensive.

 

well during lunch breaks how did they react to someone who sat down to eat a turkey sandwich or had a small dish of something with meat in it? Did they get up and run from the table or just sit there and chit chat?
I had a freind that was one of "those" types of vegetarians and she wouldn't even look the other way if someone tried to eat meat around her. She'd just about start foaming at the mouth. I told her one day "ya know I had no idea you could get rabies from veges" She said "YOU CAN'T and what's that suppose to mean". I simply told her "well then quit acting like that when I eat something! I'm not going to change my ways. You say you love the native culture and their ways.........well guess what sweetheart my dads people have eaten meat for thousands of years and we don't plan on stopping now just because some under feed, pasty face, needs to eat a sandwich, white woman doesn't like it!" She never brought it up again.

 

But was the hospital itself an Adventist hospital? Or just a normal hospital where SOME of the people happened to be vegetarian and the woman who is planning the event happened to be vegetarian? I would suggest the person who suggested vegetarian foods to go along with her own beliefs was not taking others beliefs into consideration. It is only logical that most vegatarians will bring foods that they will eat and enjoy.

And actually most Amish would not mind of someone wore shorts and a tank top at all. They don't impose their standards on anyone else.

 

Since it is only one meal, I would go with the flow. It really wouldn't be such a big deal to me.

 

But was the hospital itself an Adventist hospital?

And actually most Amish would not mind of someone wore shorts and a tank top at all. They don't impose their standards on anyone else.

I'm changing my opinion as I misread the original post thinking that the former place of work was an Adventist hospital. Because it was not I say do as you please.

As to the Amish and the aforementioned clothing I am a little surprised to read that. I had been under the impression from other posts that wearing such would have been a no no. I once again stand corrected as I should be-- on both thought trains.

 

Is the event being held at the person's home or some other setting? Going to someone else's home I try to abide by their dietary rules. When I host a potluck I ask people not to bring pork or shellfish, but when I attend a potluck I expect there will be things there that I can't eat.

I think the safest, most polite thing to do is bring something you like that also happens to be vegetarian.

 

I would have to say any kind of dish would be proper because the hospital had both vegetarians and "carnivores".

With that being said (and KNOWING their will be vegetarians present), to be proper you could make two different dishes of the same food - one WITH meat, and one WITHOUT.

Have them properly marked so the vegetarians don't have to guess if there is meat in it. This way, everyone should be happy.

 

I also think it is fine to being a meat dish. Sounds like the planner suggested veggie entrees because that's what SHE wants to see there, she does not speak for everyone. Most likely there will be plenty of meatless dishes to go around.

However, I suggest that if you do bring a meat dish, make sure it is *obviously* a meat dish - cannot possibly be mistaken for anything else - or label it as such. Wouldn't want anyone thinking, for example, that you brought meatless chili made with TVP instead of ground beef.

In fact that has been common practice at several potlucks I've been to, when people don't already know each other well; people will provide notecards with their dishes listing the ingredients. This is very helpful for people who have food allergies.* Doing this would solve the problem nicely and show that you're respectful of the Adventists' beliefs.

* I wish more people would do this because I'm very allergic to shrimp, and more than once I've had to pass on a tempting seafood dish because I had no way to know what was in it, and found out later it was only crab, which I love.

 

I would bring whatever dish I wanted, since it's not an Adventist hospital. If you ate whatever you wanted to for lunch while employed there, you should eat whatever you want at the reunion, too.

I would label the dish "contains meat" or something like that to be respectful to those who don't wish to eat meat by accident, but that's as far as I would go in respecting their vegetarian wishes.

 

I have a friend who is Adventist, but she works in a deli and prepares and serves meat all the time. People have different sensitivities..it all depends on the people involved. I'd probably bring two dishes.. one vegetarian and one that I knew others who were not vegetarian might enjoy...

 

My moms one brother converted and married an adventist. He managed to bring my grandmother into the fold as well leaving the other three siblings to watch and wonder.

His children were always pale and small for their age. My sister was several years younger than their youngest and the hand me down clothes never lasted a season.

We were shunned being Catholic and hunters, until they rented a farmhouse & their son shot himself in the leg defending their vegitable garden; then we were invited to hunt anything in season!

Will you be among a lot of non-adventists or just a simple minority? How about a nice tray of Lazagne W/ meatballs on the side? My Aunt and Uncle wrote 'meatless please' on the RSVP to my wedding confirming that a 'family style' diner at the reception was a good idea.

Their oldest and youngest married in their church. The oldest's reception was in a firehall done as a buffet where we had cheese sandwitches VRS the funky looking bologna. The youngest was at their church hall in Hacketstown & it was meat free Italian.

Their son married a baptist girl in her families back yard & dad and I suffered thru their dirty looks to help ourselves to the beer tap, only two from the groom's side to do so!

Compromise might be in order if there are only a few non-adventists.

 

I guess I'm going against the flow too but, if I thought most of the people were vegetarian, I would want to bring something everyone could try. So vegetarian it would be. A party is for sharing.
If you did bring it, you would need to lable it very obviously so those who do not eat meat can clearly see it to avoid it.

 

I think you should smoke a couple racks of ribs and watch them disappear first:sing:

 

I just reread the opening post and saw that it was DW's job and DW saying it wouldn't be proper. End of story -- you're taking a meatless dish, don't argue with the DW (a long term husband giving you some manly advice here --some battles are worth fighting -- this ain't one of them!)-- not having meat for a few hours won't kill you, grab a sandwich before you go if you have to.

 

My daughter's godmother and siblings are Adventist. Just eat a hamburger on the way and consider the vegetarian dishes your salad course. It's only one meal out of how many in your lifetime. Would you bring beer to a tea-totaller gathering?

 

We are invited to a reunion of the company my DW used to work for(it was a hospital,bought and closed by a mega health care company!) A lot of the people who worked there were Adventist and don't eat meat. The lady planning this reunion is one. On the invitation she sent out she said "potluck dinner" then went on to list possible vegetarian dishes, I susgested to DW that we take a meat dish for those who weren't Adventist. She said "OH no that wouldn't be proper". My argument is ,she invited everyone and not everyone is of her belief. So what do you think ,meat dish or not.

The lady putting this together is known to be an Adventist who doesnt eat meat. She also let it be known in a very polite way that she would prefer to not have meat served. My grandpa always taught me that good manners were dictated by what ever acts were required to make folks comfortable. Since there is going to be a number of folks there who do not eat meat, I would vote with your DW and not bring any meat dishes. That would be a close cousin to bringing a roast pig to a shindig sponsered by your local group of Muslims. Now, when I invite vegetarians, Adventists, preachers, or Muslims to my place for a BBQ thats a different story. They can then choose, knowing theres going to be hog meat on the grill, beer in the fridge and liquor behind the bar, whether they care to join in the festivities. I also would not take liquor to wedding being hosted by tea totallers. Ok, ok, upon reflection of the past I have to rephrase that, lemme just say I wouldnt spike the punch at a Baptist wedding reception................. again.

 

I just reread the opening post and saw that it was DW's job and DW saying it wouldn't be proper. End of story -- you're taking a meatless dish, don't argue with the DW (a long term husband giving you some manly advice here --some battles are worth fighting -- this ain't one of them!)-- not having meat for a few hours won't kill you, grab a sandwich before you go if you have to.

I agree, this aint one of em! If I learned nothing else in 27 years of being married to three different wimmins its you dont rock boats over the lil things.

 

My moms one brother converted and married an adventist. He managed to bring my grandmother into the fold as well leaving the other three siblings to watch and wonder.

His children were always pale and small for their age. My sister was several years younger than their youngest and the hand me down clothes never lasted a season.

We were shunned being Catholic and hunters, until they rented a farmhouse & their son shot himself in the leg defending their vegitable garden; then we were invited to hunt anything in season!

Will you be among a lot of non-adventists or just a simple minority? How about a nice tray of Lazagne W/ meatballs on the side? My Aunt and Uncle wrote 'meatless please' on the RSVP to my wedding confirming that a 'family style' diner at the reception was a good idea.

Their oldest and youngest married in their church. The oldest's reception was in a firehall done as a buffet where we had cheese sandwitches VRS the funky looking bologna. The youngest was at their church hall in Hacketstown & it was meat free Italian.

Their son married a baptist girl in her families back yard & dad and I suffered thru their dirty looks to help ourselves to the beer tap, only two from the groom's side to do so!

Compromise might be in order if there are only a few non-adventists.

Hackettstown NJ??? My children were born in the hospital there, also a 7 day advent hospital, they served decaf coffee, and no meat. Nice hospital, bad food.

 

Take both as long as your DW is okay with that approch...if not I would respect her wishes and just take a meatless dish.

 

Call the woman and ask her.

 

Bring the dish and clearly label it. Now, I would NOT bring anything with "unclean" meat in it, because that's just not right (because you know they have clean / unclean restrictions).

R

 

...His children were always pale and small for their age. My sister was several years younger than their youngest and the hand me down clothes never lasted a season...

Come on now. I was raised a 7th Day Adventist, in a very "health focused" sect, in California. We had two meals a day, dinner in the morning, lunch at 2pm and no dinner. I didn't have meat, mustard, pickles, refined sugar (of any kind), and no soda pop until I moved out of the house at age 14. At that time (summer between 8th and 9th grade) I was a ruddy lad of 6'3" and 195 lbs... all muscle. The idea that vegetarians are ALL sallow, pale-skinned, sunken eye zombies has to stop. You don't need meat to survive... that said, it tastes GREAT and if God didn't want us eating it He wouldn't have made animals out of it (never mind the fact He wouldn't have said we could eat it after the Flood).

Just my $0.02,

R

 

I think the list of vegetarian dishes in the invite suggests it would be preferred to bring a veg dish, so that's what I would bring.