What does a budding vegetarian do when presented with honey baked ham?

Eat tofu.
Or try/ask for one of these greate vegetarian dishes: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/category/special-diet/vegetarian

Seriously, no one would look down on a jewish or muslim family member for not wanting to eat the swine meat, but a vegetarian is somehow a weirdo freak.
Ridiculous.

Last thanksgiving, I couldn’t eat meat. It was before my surgery and my body just wouldn’t accept it.

Found this stuffed acorn squash recipe in a magazine. It just tastes amazing. That, with some sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, and I didn’t even miss the ham

http://www.wholeliving.com/150863/stuffed-acorn-squash-quinoa-and-pistachios

Consider why you’re doing this, whether eating it falls in line with your principles, and act according to them. You’re the only one who can know whether you’ll feel guilty or not. Whether others consider you fake shouldn’t matter.

That said, I’m a bit stricter than my principles in other’s company, because otherwise some people will decide for you that you’re not that strict in cases when you are.

You’re not a fake. The thing is, I know different people have varying degrees of vegetarianism and whatever works for you is fine. Allow yourself to indulge once in a while.

Stick to your guns, in a polite way, if it’s important. No one else cares…more for them. If tofu doesn’t cut it, find something that does.

There is a new cookbook out just in time for the Holidays called The Vegucation of Robin and there are some incredible looking (haven’t made them yet) dishes to satisfy the most ravenous of meat eaters. Well, maybe not the most ravenous…

Are you a budding vegetarian for moral reasons or the health benefits?
I am an omnivore but have reduced my meat consumption significantly for health reasons.
I am of the “Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good” school of thought. If the hostess serves a meat dish I will eat it without complaint or drawing attention to my preferences. I will have a small amount of the dish while eating more veggies. No matter what is served, I eat it graciously.
Balance.

Both. And after a mere month without beef it’s really starting to smell around here when he grills a steak or fries sausage . It’s really amazing how that works. After a few weeks I read Skinny Bitch and that may have sealed the deal.
Anyway, my dizzy spells or sinking spells or whatever they were have disappeared. And now I adore plain Soy milk.
I was actually speaking of a ham HE would buy; not about eating at some other house.

What @DWW25921 said. People are happy and healthy eating (or not eating) a huge variety of foods.

If you want some ham, eat it. If not, not.

You have two choices. If you’re resolute about sticking to your vegetarianism, let your hosts know in advance and either ask them to prepare something you can eat or bring your own. Or… you could simply let yourself off the hook that one day and eat turkey.

Hide it between fresh homemade bread that has been slathered in real mayo and mustard, under real medium cheddar cheese. Be sure to close your eyes and think positive while eating. Repeat these words: “It’s only a cheese sandwich. Only a cheese sandwich.”

Eat what you want to eat. Don’t eat something to please someone else. If you are feeling better and want to stick to a no meat diet, or just certain meats, you should do whatever you want.

Now, if you want to cheat, then I say it is ok to cheat. My dad is vegetarian, but he cheats on Thankgiving. Also, when he is curious to taste something he will have a bite.

@kritiper I think I love you!