AITA for making my boyfriend eat meat at my family gathering even though he’s vegetarian?

Picture a cozy family gathering, twinkling with holiday cheer, until a forgotten detail turns the turkey centerpiece into a relationship landmine. For one 28-year-old woman, introducing her vegetarian boyfriend to her family hit a snag when she realized the only main dish was mom’s prized turkey. In a panic to save face, she urged him to choke down a plateful and sing its praises, leaving him fuming and their bond on shaky ground.

This tale is like a festive feast gone awry, where good intentions clash with personal principles. Reddit’s serving up piping-hot opinions, and the question sizzles: was her push to avoid awkwardness a harmless misstep, or a betrayal of her boyfriend’s values? Let’s carve into this juicy drama and see what’s at stake.

‘AITA for making my boyfriend eat meat at my family gathering even though he’s vegetarian?’

Forcing a vegetarian to eat meat to dodge family awkwardness is like asking someone to fake a smile through a root canal. This woman’s oversight—forgetting to mention her boyfriend’s vegetarianism after two years—set the stage for a cringe-worthy dinner, but pressuring him to eat turkey crossed a line. His compliance kept the peace, but his resentment signals a deeper issue: her priorities leaned toward family optics over his principles.

Vegetarianism often ties to ethics or health—70% of vegetarians cite moral reasons for their diet (Vegetarian Society, 2023). Dr. Melanie Joy, a psychologist and author, notes, “Disrespecting someone’s dietary choices can feel like invalidating their identity, especially when it’s coerced” (Psychology Today, 2024). The woman’s minimization of his discomfort—“it’s not that bad”—ignores potential physical and emotional harm, as meat can upset long-term vegetarians’ digestion.

Her apology is a start, but rebuilding trust means owning the mistake fully. She could have explained his diet to her mom mid-dinner, sparing him the ordeal. Moving forward, proactive communication—like sharing his preferences in advance—can prevent repeats.

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

Reddit’s dishing out takes hotter than a roasted turkey, and they’re carving into this dietary debacle with gusto! Here’s what the community had to say:

These Redditors are Team Vegetarian, but is the girlfriend’s push a forgivable flub, or a relationship dealbreaker? Can this couple patch things up over a meat-free meal?

This holiday mishap serves up a lesson: love means respecting your partner’s choices, even when mom’s turkey is the star of the show. Our Redditor’s push to keep the peace left her boyfriend with a bad taste, threatening their bond over a plate of poultry. Should she double down on her apology, or is the damage done? How would you handle a family dinner that clashes with your partner’s values? Drop your take below and let’s digest this drama together.