Vegetarian Options in the UK???

Even the Little Chef has vegetarian icons next to half their dinners...

LOL ... I'm one of those 'vegetarians.' I don't really know what else to call myself, though. Pescetarians have a nice name, but there's nothing for the rest of us. If I'm going somewhere and don't know what's going to be served, I generally ask for a vegetarian option, to be on the safe side, so people often assume I'm a real vegetarian.

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I just checked and Wikipedia says I'm a "semi-vegetarian." OK.

I think you are just someone who doesn't eat beef or pork? It's sort of like someone saying "I am vegan, but I eat cheese." Uh, no.   

Chary I can understand where it is easier to say you are a vegetarian but it can make it difficult for my daughter when my mother-in-law constantly tries to serve her fish because she knows lots of 'vegetarians' and they eat fish so why wont my daughter!

Exactly! Drives me nuts (haha!) because it confuses non-veggies. They don't quite understand the rationale behind "fish is a living creature. Thus, no, I don't eat it."

Sorry! Pet peeve of mine!!

And woohoo for 5 different WF in London! I got one of their nice shopping bags (not the regular green ones) that says "WF London/Kensington" on it. I get so many questions when I use it!

I think you are just someone who doesn't eat beef or pork? It's sort of like someone saying "I am vegan, but I eat cheese." Uh, no.  

Exactly! Drives me nuts (haha!) because it confuses non-veggies. They don't quite understand the rationale behind "fish is a living creature. Thus, no, I don't eat it."

Sorry! Pet peeve of mine!!

Beef, pork, lamb, etc. If people ask, I usually tell them I don't eat anything with four legs. The trouble is, they don't usually ask. To most people, either you're a vegetarian or you're not - which doesn't really help me when I eat some kinds of meat but not others.

Honestly, I can't help it if it confuses non-veggies, nor is that really my concern. Saying I'm a vegetarian is often the only way I've found not to be served a big plate of beef - and that's a pet peeve of mine! 

The Quorn mozzarella escalopes are awesome, sort of like chicken parmesan for veggies when you put some marinara on top. I also like the Cauldron marinated tofu pieces (they are already cooked and seasoned, so they are very easy to throw into stir fries, etc.). Incidentally, most of the meat-flavoured crisps (Roast Chicken, Smoky Bacon, etc.) are vegetarian. The food labeling makes it very easy to see what's kosher without having to read all of the ingredients, as they always put a green V and "suitable for vegetarians" on the back of the packaging, so even if you don't recognize some of the ingredients, or aren't sure, if you look for the V, then you should be safe (and as I said, some meat flavoured things are actually vegetarian  - our company makes beef and chicken-flavoured roast potatoes that are safe for veggies). I have seen the imitation sausages, crumbles, burgers, chicken pieces, etc., but haven't tried many of them. Some people have said the Morningstar Farms products are better than those, but I am sure you will find plenty that you like. I miss those veggie corn dogs!  Even out here in the country, there are vegetarian options on the menus, usually with a V or something next to them to let you know the dish is meat and by-product free. Not sure about other places, but Newcastle (and Ambleside, when I was there recently) both have vegetarian restaurants (Newcastle has one restaurant and one pub that are all veggie, that I know of, and there might be more) so you can ask around and see what you find in your local area.
But, alas, the grilled cheese sandwich many veggies look to rarely turns up on menus here, so be prepared to make those at home!

Beef, pork, lamb, etc. If people ask, I usually tell them I don't eat anything with four legs. The trouble is, they don't usually ask. To most people, either you're a vegetarian or you're not - which doesn't really help me when I eat some kinds of meat but not others.

Honestly, I can't help it if it confuses non-veggies, nor is that really my concern. Saying I'm a vegetarian is often the only way I've found not to be served a big plate of beef - and that's a pet peeve of mine! 

Me too! I'm a pescetarian but hardly anyone knows what that means, plus it sounds so wanky! - so if anyone asks I say I'm vegetarian except for fish - which is an accurate description I think since I don't eat gelatine or cochineal or any of those types of animal derivative.

There are in fact five branches of Wholefoods in London, in Camden, Clapham, Kensington, Soho and Stoke Newington.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/uk/index.php

I think those other ones are Fresh & Wild which was bought up by Wholefoods. I don't think they have changed them all to actual Wholefoods Stores (yet). They are still good though!

Me too! I'm a pescetarian but hardly anyone knows what that means, plus it sounds so wanky! - so if anyone asks I say I'm vegetarian except for fish - which is an accurate description I think

Right! It's a tricky thing to try to get people to understand!

I can't do Quorn because it has egg in it, and I'm a vegetarian who does not eat eggs, but is OK with dairy.  Morrissons has their own brand of veggie mince which is egg-free and we often get Cauldron's veggie sausages (again, not Quorn because of the egg) and Cauldron's tofu.

However, I find it cheaper (and most likely healthier) to not get the meat substitue stuff too often and make lots and lots of stuff with beans and legumes.  Cheapest of all is to get dried beans (as opposed to canned) and soak overnight and cook the next day.

I wish Whole Foods would come up to Leeds--I'd work there in a second!

However, I find it cheaper (and most likely healthier) to not get the meat substitue stuff too often and make lots and lots of stuff with beans and legumes.  Cheapest of all is to get dried beans (as opposed to canned) and soak overnight and cook the next day.

I don't eat the meat substitute things primarily because they taste and feel like meat. The reason I don't eat (four-legged) meat, is that I hate the texture and flavour. So substituting a mock product doesn't really make sense for me. I made do with fish, chicken and lots of good fresh vegetables.

Saying I'm a vegetarian is often the only way I've found not to be served a big plate of beef - and that's a pet peeve of mine! 

Similarly I tell people I'm vegan so I don't get anything with eggs in it.

I don't eat the meat substitute things primarily because they taste and feel like meat. The reason I don't eat (four-legged) meat, is that I hate the texture and flavour. So substituting a mock product doesn't really make sense for me. I made do with fish, chicken and lots of good fresh vegetables.

I understand your point entirely and once had the same reason for not eating meat substitutes.  These days it's mostly philosophical...

I just checked and Wikipedia says I'm a "semi-vegetarian." OK.

Is that like being semi-pregnant? 

I am not vegetarian; I live with someone who is. At home we eat vegetarian (not vegan though) and very often when we go out. I often encounter "sympathy" from meat eaters who suppose that I am forced to eat "veggie food". We try to avoid cheese made with animal rennet and wine and beer which has been fined with animal finings, although these latter are more preferences than absolutes. I won't eat crate reared veal (cruel) or duck (cute) and definitely not goat (Madame Contrex's favourite animal!). Madame C has asked me to refrain from discussing where eggs come from*, before, and during, a meal in which they figure.


*Both in general (i.e. from hens) and in particular...

I don't eat the meat substitute things primarily because they taste and feel like meat. The reason I don't eat (four-legged) meat, is that I hate the texture and flavour. So substituting a mock product doesn't really make sense for me. I made do with fish, chicken and lots of good fresh vegetables.

Actually that is one of the reasons I like a few faux-meat products: I don't mind the texture, but dislike the flavor of ground beef for some reason (no clue why, cause I eat beef in general) but Quorn mince has nice uniform texture but takes on the flavor of whatever you happen to cook it in. So I use it alot as a filler when the recipe calls for meat mince of any kind.

Is that like being semi-pregnant?

What is it with you and labeling? Unless you're cooking for a person (and I think "vegetarian except for fish, and chicken breast" is pretty descriptive when trying to explain what a person will and won't eat) b*tching (or in your case, writing not-really-relevant sarcastic asides) about people who don't adhere to clean dietary labels is kinda petty and judgemental. IMHO.

I don't mind the texture, but dislike the flavor of ground beef for some reason (no clue why, cause I eat beef in general)

It's odd about ground beef. When I was a carnivorous child and loved my super-rare steaks, you couldn't have paid me to eat anything made of ground meat. Ugh. I don't know why, but it always gave me the creeps!

My SIL is veggie but can't eat Quorn as she is allergic to mushrooms.

Oh wow!  Hmm, maybe I'm allergic too    But I love mushrooms.