What are you eating at Easter?

These sort of occasions often cause problems in our household, for what is basically the traditional Sunday Roast.

I really struggle with vegetables or joints of meat, the textures are just too weird. Im starting to struggle with looking at part of a cooked animal sitting on the dinner table. I seem to be changing, the whole smell of it all being cooked really makes me feel ill. The thought of a huge plateful is horrible, it’s the build up to it and a different type of day.
There will most probably just be my wife and I, she loves a roast dinner, hopefully we can compromise, I would prefer a good lasagna and wild rocket. I know lasagna is meat, I seem to manage processed meat at the moment.

Might try and eat out, we can then choose different meals, then there’s the worry of too many people and noise, these occasions can lead to the, “ you just don’t try anymore, you make it all about you.” I used to mask with alcohol, I don’t want that anymore.  

I most probably just sound silly and too demanding, sorry to go so deeply into what is a simple question.

I did hear some mention Lemon drizzle! now there is heaven on a plate! 

These sort of occasions often cause problems in our household, for what is basically the traditional Sunday Roast.

I really struggle with vegetables or joints of meat, the textures are just too weird. Im starting to struggle with looking at part of a cooked animal sitting on the dinner table. I seem to be changing, the whole smell of it all being cooked really makes me feel ill. The thought of a huge plateful is horrible, it’s the build up to it and a different type of day.
There will most probably just be my wife and I, she loves a roast dinner, hopefully we can compromise, I would prefer a good lasagna and wild rocket. I know lasagna is meat, I seem to manage processed meat at the moment.

Might try and eat out, we can then choose different meals, then there’s the worry of too many people and noise, these occasions can lead to the, “ you just don’t try anymore, you make it all about you.” I used to mask with alcohol, I don’t want that anymore.  

I most probably just sound silly and too demanding, sorry to go so deeply into what is a simple question.

I did hear some mention Lemon drizzle! now there is heaven on a plate! 

Roy said:

I really struggle with vegetables or joints of meat, the textures are just too weird. Im starting to struggle with looking at part of a cooked animal sitting on the dinner table.

I get this. It is a very valid question - we are now more sensitive to the fact that everyone's body and inclinations are different, so too their ethical concerns, and rightly so. No one should feel pressured at what is a holiday time and should be a time you can have what you want without guilt. The fact that there is so much choice and different ingredients makes this easier.

Roy said:

we can then choose different meals,

What about buffet-style ['party food'] - a large selection of dishes to help your self from, laid out on a table, so you help yourself then take your plate and eat on your lap? If meat sight/smells bother you, you might have vege and meat/poultry laid out in separate rooms, but still eat together. Eating out is so expensive and often noisy.

Roy said:

I most probably just sound silly and too demanding, sorry to go so deeply into what is a simple question.

It's neither silly nor demanding and a very valid question, which will apply to many people on here!

A roast dinner is one of my least favourite meals, being veggie I always get the same questions about what I'm going to eat, at least nobodies told me I can't be veggie at xmas or easter.

A walk and a sandwich sounds good to me. 

I can understand it being very off-putting for a roast on the table, maybe suggest keep it off the table and put some candles or flowers down instead? We tried a nut roast at Christmas along side a turkey crown, as my son said he doesn't really like turkey, though he didn't like the taste of the alternative (will have to try another recipe, as he tends to prefer vegetarian options but the flavour was a bit strong). I've come to accept that my son just doesn't like big meals like that either. He had a sandwich for Christmas dinner this year as that was the back up if he didn't like either option (this was what my older brother did too when i was growing up). And to make it look special, it's amazing what putting a table cloth down, napkins and a few candles can do. If you order some nice decorations, maybe changing the food to less traditional would be easier for her then?

Don't beat yourself up about your food needs, I think it's okay to have your preferences and it sounds like you have enough pressure already. If you can find recipes that look special and suit you both would be good, lasagna is a good example. Maybe try to frame it as more dietry than ND vs NT. If you went vegetarian, would she respect that?