what to do when you slipping up

[faygie11]

I am asking this because I had slipped up by eating meat, I went to a chinese resturant, that I have been going for a very long time and I had order a vegetable chow mein and they gave me the vegetable chow mein but they also gave me vegetable Pork fried rice. I asked them to return the order because this was wrong because i had order just a vegetable fried rice. They show me the order form and said this is what I had order slip and I orderjust vegetable fried rice. The people I was with said she had said only a vegetable fried rice.So I sented it back and I thought it was right because I saw the big vegetables on top when they brought it back, so I eat it. When I brought home the rest of my chow mein I discovered on the bottom of the rice had pieces of tiny pork in it. I called back the resturant when right after put the food in separate containers,when I got home, They tell me that this is their way they cook the vegetable fried rice. I know I will not be going there again. I had throw out the rice right away. The vegetable chow was fine, no meat in it. I ask them why they didn't post that they do not cater to vegetarians. They told me, why am I trying to change their way of cooking, and stop being a rebel rouser.I am the only one that complaint that there wasn't any other complaints on this matter. Then they told me, I was the only vegetarian on this planet. I was wondering what to do about this problem. I still want to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life.I tried when I went out to a place that I know I can get vegetarian foods. I guess my new resturant will be the vegetarian one by my house.

[Photojess]

there are other threads like this too Faygie, it's not like you are a failure. You may just have to check your food more closely before you eat it. You didn't intentionally do it. Just pick back up and keep going.

Do you have a Panera around your house? They do veg*n food. My husband likes going to the Ruby Tuesday's about an hour away, because their salad bar is top notch.

It sounds like you will just have to see their menus ahead of time, and ask specific questions on how they prepare their food. Sticking to the white rice probably would have been safer, despite the name of the dish.

[3LittleBirds]

There's a big difference between what happened to you and "slipping up." You did not eat meat intentionally. In fact, it sounds like you tried very hard with some difficult people to get a meat free meal. The most important thing is not to feel guilty. You didn't do anything wrong. You're still a vegetarian, even though you accidentally ate a non-vegetarian item. This kind of thing happens to almost all of us who eat out at restaurants at one time or another. The best thing you can do it learn from the situation.

You have to be really clear with people in restaurants. Tell them what it is that you don't eat. In this situation, maybe ask ahead of time if there was any meat or broth used in making the rice. I often tell the waiter/waitress the items that I don't eat and ask him/her to let me know if I order something that might include one of them. They don't always tell you on the menu everything that is in the food.

[Beachbnny]

Faygie- Unfortunately this stuff happens sometimes. It's completely not your fault and you did everything right. It's certainly not a "slip up". We live in an animal-eating world. It's sad but we still have to function in it. Try not to let it get you down and just do the best you can when you eat out, like you did. Before you order something ask all the questions you need to feel secure that what you're ordering is veg and do it as politely as possible. If something is wrong tell the wait-staff. You don't have to eat at the vegetarian restaurant by your house exclusively, though you are lucky to have one :) The rest of us live in meat-and potato land and struggle but do just fine. Practice makes perfect. I'm sorry you had to go through this, I know it doesn't feel good, but you'll be ok :)

[faygie11]

I wasn't looking for a free meal at all. I do adovacy work for the mentally ill. In my job I was told to look for signs for the disabled. so I think my work got in the way of telling the resturant about putting an sign up.

[PlaybackGuru]

Just to let you know firstly, it was something you didn't intentionally do so I say its not a slip up, don't beat yourself up.

Secondly, a lot of times, when you send something back as disgusting as it is restaurants will pick out the meat, re-plate to make it look good and send it back out.

This happened to me once. I knew that the order came out very quickly for a re-cook, so I thoroughly inspected before I took a bite and pointed it out to my server and then asked to speak to the manager. I left without paying for the rest of my meal, of course I have crossed that place off of the list.

Again, this was not your fault! Keep doing what you are doing. Just a tip most asian restaurants offer white rice in place of the fried. By the way I managed one for 13 years so I unfortunately know what happens in the kitchen.

[bronzebed]

sorry about your experience. that really sucks.

i find that i am very careful with chinese and other asian restaurants in general. many of them cook with meat water or oyster sauce or have some hidden ingredients.

[veggiemeggie]

I hate how reasturants just sneak meat into dishes! Ugh, I ordered bean dip from a Mexican reasturant the other day and it came with chunks of cut up chicken in it! Disgusting! All it said on the menu was "bean dip" how the f*** was I supposed to know that meat would come with it? Ugh.

[Mojie]

I wasn't looking for a free meal at all. I do adovacy work for the mentally ill. In my job I was told to look for signs for the disabled. so I think my work got in the way of telling the resturant about putting an sign up.

I believe 3littlebirds was saying you were trying to get a meal without meat it in (a meat free meal), not a free meal.

And I agree, this was an accident (most of us have been there; I know I have), not a slip. Don't blame yourself and forget about it. Accidents happen sometimes when you eat things you didn't cook yourself (and sometimes when you did). :)

[flvegnewbie]

Well, I wouldn't actually consider getting the wrong meal as 'slipping up'.
That was kinda beyond your control.
It happens to the best of us, so don't be too hard on yourself.

But eating out can be very tricky at some restaurants so you have to be super observant to what they serve & how they cook it.

Most asian restaurants have some veg. options, but you just have to know where to look on the menu.
Look under 'healthy/diet' options, there are usually a steamed veggie dish of some type and then you can just order it with white/brown rice.

So sometimes just knowing how to read the menu can alleviate any problems in the future.

[MrFalafel]

You did not slip up. It was a misunderstanding.

You should not assume that restaurant menus that say 'vegetables' are 'vegetarian'. In meat dishes can contain vegetables and vegetable dishes can contain meat depending on however the restaurant owner feels. Whenever ordering from the 'Vegetable' section of the a menu, always ask if the dish ordered is meat-free and vegetarian.

Better yet, look for a restaurant that actually uses the term 'vegetarian' on their menu as they are more likely to understand the concept.

Finally, don't forget your rights as a restaurant consumer. If the restaurant brings you something you don't want, send it back to give the a chance to get it right. if they still cannot get it right and you don't eat it, then you don't have ot pay for it. Get up and walk out.