Man Seeks Advice Online as His Girlfriend's Vegetarian Family Wants Him to Take Their Cousin Out and Pay for His Meat Meals

Some families don’t recognize a favor when it comes with strings attached. In this Reddit story, a man tries to stay chill, until his girlfriend’s vegetarian family turns a dinner invite into a “you should take our cousin out, and you should pay for his meat meals” situation.

It’s not just awkward, it’s oddly specific. OP’s girlfriend is dating him, her parents want him to take their cousin out for dinner with them, and the cousin’s dietary needs are apparently the point. The twist is that OP is the one being pulled into funding and accommodating meat eating, even though everyone involved is coming from a vegetarian household.

By the time the comments pile up, OP is left wondering if he’s being set up as the unlimited wallet for someone else’s cravings.

OP writes

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

Her parents want the OP to take him out to dinner, along with his girlfriend, so he can eat meat

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

The Reddit post received hundreds of comments, and here are some of the top comments for you to read through below

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

OP’s girlfriend’s parents want him to take the cousin out to eat meat, like this is a normal family chore.

Dietary preferences and restrictions can create tension in relationships, particularly when cultural or familial expectations come into play.

She should be setting boundaries with her parents and protecting the OP

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

As long as someone is covering the cost of the meal

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

This Redditor believes the request is unreasonable

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

The girlfriend is stuck in the middle while OP is trying to figure out whether this is a request or a command.

The act of requesting someone else to bear the financial burden of their dietary choices can be perceived as inconsiderate and may lead to resentment. Theories from social psychology suggest that when individuals feel their needs are not being met, they may respond with irritation or withdrawal. It's essential to communicate openly about feelings regarding such requests and work towards compromise.

Finding a middle ground, such as sharing the costs of meals or cooking together, can enhance collaboration and strengthen the bond between partners.

It’s also like the partner who demanded vegan catering, while the other cooked meat at home.

This Redditor wants to know the girlfriend's stance on all this

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

This Redditor has both questions and answers

Are they straight-up telling you to? Or do they just view you as family and suggest you take him out for a meal as a nice favor to get to know him? Like in a cool big brother kind of way. My friend pays for his cousins and little brothers all the time. But if they’re just straight-up commanding you to, and you’re not close like that with them, that’s really weird.If you really don’t want to, just say, "Hey, I’d love to hang out with him and stuff, but I can’t really afford to pay for everyone’s meal right now." You need to communicate with your girlfriend. Since they are his guardians for the time being, they or his parents should definitely be paying for his meals, not you, lol.

They have every right not to cook meat for the cousin

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

The OP should just say no

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

Commenters immediately zero in on the money part, because paying for someone else’s meat meals is where resentment starts.

Food choices are not just about nutrition; they weave into the fabric of emotional experiences and cultural identity.

It sounds pretty unreasonable for them to expect the OP to pay

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

Calling her out on it and being frank

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

A lot of things don't make sense to this Redditor

Reddit/Own-Philosopher654

As OP asks what the cousin situation even means, the thread keeps pushing him to clarify his girlfriend’s stance and set a hard boundary.

Additionally, couples can benefit from creating shared culinary experiences that bridge their differences.

Some Redditors say that if the parents of the OP's girlfriend are going to stick to their moral high ground and refuse to purchase meat, then it is the child's parents' responsibility to feed him or her if the child requests meat. This holds true even if the child is a visitor whose expenses for meals appear to have been agreed upon.

Drop your thoughts about this story in the comments section below and share as well.

Navigating the dietary differences highlighted in the article about the man seeking advice on his girlfriend's vegetarian family presents a unique challenge that demands patience and understanding. Effective communication becomes crucial in fostering a relationship where differing values and lifestyles coexist. The scenario of being asked to take a cousin out for meat meals, while facing the expectations of a vegetarian family, underscores the complexities involved. By encouraging empathy and open dialogue, couples can work together to honor each other's values and needs, ultimately creating a more harmonious environment that respects their individual dietary preferences.

The family dinner did not just get awkward, it made OP question if he’s being used as the meat-ticket.

Ready for more dinner-table fallout, read about the vegetarian’s AITA fight over hiding her diet from her partner.