Hmmm...turns out they don't eat red meat

I have had a dc family for over 2 mos now and I asked about special diets and food restrictions, none were mentioned. Mom tells me today she forgot to mention they don't eat red meat! This was brought up when she heard we ate ham on Friday. Her little boy isn't very adventurous anyways and never had the ham or the red meat any time it's been served but wow. I've served beef stew, chilli, ham and never knew.

I hope she isn't expecting you to alter your menu for her child since she did not discuss this with you before he started! Is she saying she does not want him to eat it at all or that they just don't eat it at home? If she doesn't want him to eat it, then I would ask her to send something else as a protein because it is totally unfair to ask you to change your meals or prepare a separate meal for him.

Did she clarify that she didn't want him eating it? Weird, imo....doesn't seem like a big issue with her or you would think she would have mentioned it before now?

I have a dcm who cooks very clean and all organic at home, but has no problem with what I serve here because she knows its all home made and very healthy....

Maybe you need to sit down and figure out what is and isn't acceptable to her to serve?

Not getting the connection between ham and red meat - generally red meat refers to beef.

I've had this aguement with my husband a number of times... Apparently ham is considered red meat, depending on who ou ask ;).

So a pork chop is ok but a ham isn't?

A lot that don't eat red meat are very carefull about other things they eat too and ham is higher in sodium, nitrates, preservatives so is avoided for those reasons. Never heard of it referred to as red meat even though it is more pink than white.

So there is/was a lot going on in their lives when they started (separation, move, selling house) so it just slipped her mind apparently. She did tell me that the other son is a vegetarian but I only have him for snacks so it hasn't been an issue. The little one eats so little and is picky beyond picky that I hadn't realized he hadn't eaten red meat because he also doesn't eat a lot of things.

I told the mom she would have to bring something in as I can't support a special diet but she said she isn't as particular as some. I asked about serving him whatever it is minus the red meat and she kind of wavered and said "or an alternative meal." I told her I can't do that but I could leave the meat out during the cooking for certain things e.g. pasta set some noodles aside and just add the tomato sauce without the meat.

I don't consider pork red meat either. They actually call pork now "the other white meat." Especially if you are having leaner cuts e.g loin.