- Apr
- 7
Things Meat-Eaters Say
Posted by Lisa Towell at 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (64)
In the years since I became vegan, I’ve heard a lot of interesting comments from meat-eaters. Sometimes they were baffled by my diet choice, sometimes they were hostile, and sometimes they made me laugh with their unintentionally funny remarks. Here are some of my favorites.
‘And for you vegetarians, we have turkey!’
A coworker heard this one at a corporate barbeque he attended on a business trip. The host company wanted the vegetarians to know that they would be taken care of too. I suppose the confusion is understandable, since many people who call themselves “vegetarian” eat birds or fish. But I always have a hard time resisting the impulse to state the obvious: “A turkey is not a vegetable!”
‘I can’t go vegetarian; my body needs the protein.’
Most meat-eaters don’t know that they’ve been sold a bill of goods by the meat industry about protein requirements. We actually need to get only 10 percent of our calories from protein, and it’s available in nearly all plant-based foods. Soy, legumes, and nuts are especially rich protein sources, and even the spinach in your salad offers a whopping 50 percent of its calories from protein.
‘But I’m an athlete; I really need lots of protein.’
Many world-class athletes are vegan, including my personal hero, Scott Jurek. He is a top ultramarathoner who won the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run seven consecutive times—eating nothing but plants. If there’s some protein issue with a balanced vegan diet, I find it hard to believe Scott could have achieved these results.
On a personal note, I just ran 15 miles last weekend—the longest distance I have ever run in my life. I don’t think my vegan diet is holding me back at all.
‘How do you know that you’re a vegetarian? Does the doctor tell you?’
This one was from my 6-year-old nephew. He really wanted to know. I love how he thought that being vegetarian was like having some kind of disease.
‘If it doesn’t have meat, it’s just a snack.’
An acquaintance said this to me after learning I was a vegan. I suppose he was eating animal products at every meal. I hope for his sake that he makes some changes before his first heart attack. Results from a recent study show a dramatic increase in mortality for people who eat more meat.
‘What do you eat, exactly?’
I was explaining what a vegan diet is to a travel agent, and she responded with this question. I think she literally couldn’t picture what I might put on my plate three times a day if I wasn’t eating any animal products. My answer: “Plants.”
The next time I get this question, I’m thinking about proposing a 60-second animals-versus-plants challenge. It works like this: You have 60 seconds to name as many species of edible animals as you can. While you’re doing that, I’ll name as many edible plant species as I can think of. Longest list wins.
Share your favorite meat-eater remarks in the comments.
Posted to Health | Posted to Tags: Health, Lisa Towell, vegetarian
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Laura says...
April 7th, 2009, 8:26 am
I’ve heard the same comments too…as has probably every vegetarian. I have some friends who always ask me if I eat chicken. My response is that if you have to kill it, I won’t eat it. My husband says if it has a face, he won’t eat it. And to the one asking what exactly do you eat, I usually say, anything you eat, I just don’t have to kill it first…and then explain the myriad of meat substitutes available (I know there’s controversy about these substitutes from strict vegans, but I do eat them).
I live in a very small town which is avidly pro hunting, so I get these comments all the time.
Myshkin says...
April 7th, 2009, 10:55 am
“Well, you know, I grew up eating meat.” As if that explains everything and they obviously can’t be expected to go veg now, as an adult, when they have the choice and the education. They usually say this after learning that I’m vegan. Apparently they think that all vegans were born that way, and raised by strict vegan parents living in special vegan communities. So I tell them that I grew up in Alaska, not only eating meat every day but eating moose meat! If I can go veg (while still living in Alaska!), then anyone can.
And hey Lisa…congrats on that 15 miles and I can’t wait to hear how your marathon goes in July!! I wouldn’t be surprised if you qualified for Boston on your first try, since you have the veggie advantage!
Myshkin says...
April 7th, 2009, 11:01 am
I have to add one more. “I just love the taste of meat–veg foods really don’t satisfy me.” Chances are they say this as they chow down on chips and salsa, guacamole, French fries, potato chips, Indian samosas, veggie sushi, etc. You know, normal party food *that is already vegan.* What do they think, that guacamole has ground chicken in it and chips and salsa are actually pieces of jerky dipped in meat sauce?
It’s even more fun when they’ve just eaten yummy vegan food that they thought had animal products (Gardenburger BBQ riblets, Purely Decadent chocolate ice cream, vegan pizza from Pizza Plaza), served to them by a sneaky veg chef.
Isabelle says...
April 7th, 2009, 6:51 pm
I am vegetarian for 25 years and, gosh……. all those crazy, obnoxious questions all the time!!!!! You made me laugh and help me with brand new response to tell. I do most of the time feel like i am exclude….. almost like a alien…. As i watched Oprah today, talking about the ” blue zones” with Dr. Oz, peoples who leave till 100 years, i’ve learned that they do exercise, do there own garden, DO NOT EAT MEAT and eat lots of vegetables!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am on the right track, always knew it!!!!!!
Nancy Noel says...
April 8th, 2009, 8:05 pm
I use a line supplied by my niece (before she returned to meat-eating
) in response to, “How about poultry/fish/shellfish?” etc. : “If it has a mother, I don’t eat it.” People seem to like that one.
Phyllis says...
April 9th, 2009, 1:19 pm
OK, well first let me say that everyone at work knows I am vegetarian for ethical reasons and some people seem to think I tend to get angry easily. (Who? Me?) One Saturday we were asked to work overtime but I had a KFC demo that I had organized so I went in to work late, after the demo. When I came in a co-worker, Ken, greeted me with a big smile and trying to be extra nice he said “Oh - and we’ve got some fried chicken in the break room for everybody”. Before I could say anything I heard my boss literally gasp and saw him getting out of his chair and head across the room towards Ken and I. But I was so stunned, tired, and disgusted I just said “Well Ken I’m sorry to hear that”. Everybody laughed, though I wasn’t trying to be funny, and my boss sat back down. Ken was confused and asked amazingly “Why? You can eat that - chicken isn’t an animal.” Seriously - chicken isn’t an animal…a fully grown college educated man genuinely did not think chickens are animals. I calmly convinced him they certainly are animals, it wasn’t quick or easy but I got the message through.
There are 2 lines that I hear that I hate:
1. “I didn’t claw my way up the food chain to eat beans.” First, driving through the fast food restaurant’s pick-up window isn’t exactly what I’d call a struggle for survival - at least not in the way they intend it. Secondly, there are so many delicious meatless dishes to choose from that this statement is just beyond ridiculous - like all vegetarians and vegans eat are beans. (Although we do make some pretty darn good use of beans!)
2. “My body is telling me I need it.” Look I ate meat with every meal for 30 years and since I’ve stopped my body has never once told me it wanted or needed meat. When I hear this I always wonder who they are trying to convince - me or themselves?
Nicolaas says...
April 10th, 2009, 1:52 pm
The funniest line anyone has told me is that when they found out I am a vegetarian (at 6′ 5″, 225 lbs.)…they said “but you look so healthy!)
I have been a vegetarian for over 25 years. Just this morning someone said to me “but you eat chicken, right? No, wait, that’s meat too.” At least they caught their own error.
Jen says...
April 10th, 2009, 1:55 pm
The most annoying one for me: “But you’re killing plants. What’s the difference?” Sometimes I’m surrounded by idiots.
olivia parker says...
April 10th, 2009, 1:55 pm
no one mentioned one of my favorites (said with a sneer of ridicule): oh yeah? you’re a vegetarian? what about plants? don’tcha know you’re killing plants when you eat vegetables?”
Tiffany says...
April 10th, 2009, 2:02 pm
I work primarily w/ men in law enforcement, who tend to have a sick fascination with hunting. Recently we had a chili-luncheon. I didn’t make any b/c I knew I’d hear smart remarks about my strict veggie ways but another veggie I work w/ made a huge, delicious crock pot of veggie chili. I watched one after another chow down on it and then they realized I was eating the same so the remarks started. So very calmly I responded that what they had just eaten was veggie chili and that veggies really can eat delicious food with flavor and protein w/ out cruelty. It was the BEST! I don’t push my ways on them and they have seemed to become a little more sensitive to my ways and have even asked questions about the health benefits. Some have even asked to sample my lunch cuisine to which I happily oblige. The last laugh is always the best laugh!
Cecily says...
April 10th, 2009, 2:04 pm
I went vegetarian in 1967, and vegan later. The funniest comment I get is some variation of “My God, and you’re still alive”.
Emma says...
April 10th, 2009, 2:09 pm
I hear most of these all the time. I’m a vegan (but also lactose intolerant) and sometimes when I’ve stopped by just for coffee people want to be nice and offer something more than just coffee, but often their choices contains products I can’t eat, so when I politely decline everything except coffee I’ve been asked: well can’t you make an exception this time? And then I’ll end up having to explain that because of my choice to be vegan and due to my intolerance to lactose there’s no way I can make an exception…
nyia says...
April 10th, 2009, 2:12 pm
why do people never seem to be worried that theyll offend me with crazy questions like these? even when i let them know
“i find that offensive”
they never seem to care….but everything else for the most part ppl for the most part atleast try to be P.C. in this society i think were taught that its okay to make fun of certain things, but some things are okay.
Shannon says...
April 10th, 2009, 2:13 pm
The one remark I get alot about being vegetarian is “WELL ITS NOT LIKE YOU’RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, ANIMALS ARE STILL GOING TO BE KILLED WETHER OR NOT YOU EAT THEM!”
I HATE when people tell me this, but because I’ve been told this so often my great reply is… “It makes all the difference in the world! Would you kill other people just because if you didnt they would still die eventually anyway?”
Usually nobody has a comeback to that one!!!
I see that they are trying to say that everything dies anyway in the end. But last time I checked there was a different between dying in peace and being murdered…….but I guess only vegetarians/vegans see it that way!
Kat says...
April 10th, 2009, 2:24 pm
The absolute stupidest remark I have ever received: “If we all quit eating meat the world would be over-run with cows, pigs and chickens. We need to eat them to keep the populations under control.” Uh, no! We wouldn’t be breeding them and raising them in inhumane conditions!
Stefanie says...
April 10th, 2009, 3:44 pm
Every year for my birthday I enjoy my free meal at a local all vegetarian/vegan resturant. It never fails one of my meat-eating friends will ask me, “What can I eat here?” My reply is, are you a strict carnivore or do you eat vegetables too? Some people just don’t grasp the concept.
Mrs. Lois Koch says...
April 10th, 2009, 4:40 pm
I remember as a little girl there was a certain cow in the barn some houses from us that I especially liked. Believe me!! that cow DID recognize me in a special way also. I went over to pet her head. Honestly, I really do believe that was the start of my thinking it was strange we should eat any of our friends — four-legged or two-legged! When I was older I did something about it and decided there was so much other healthy items to eat that I really did not HAVE to eat meat!! This was back in the late ’30’s and early ’40’s.
Sarah Karim says...
April 10th, 2009, 4:50 pm
I know how you feel! every time i go out to eat with friends, family, or go any where with food in it, i always get the same remarks!
i’m in middle school and i’m a vegetarian (almost vegan) , and i always laugh about the things people say about being a vegetarian. I don’t think it’s hard being a vegetarian in middle school, but i have to bring my own lunch every day! the bright side is that i don’t have to eat that fake gross stuff that the lunch lady calls food. no offence lunch ladies of the world!
LOVE ANIMALS & WILDLIFE, SAVE THEM NOT EAT THEM!!
My says...
April 10th, 2009, 5:09 pm
A question about raising children when you’re a vegan. Do you pass on that diet to your young children as well? If they demand meat, do you eventually cook or buy meat for them? Is it good for young kids to be on a vegetarian diet?
Carmen says...
April 10th, 2009, 6:21 pm
I love the “60-second animals-versus-plants challenge”–that is too funny! I’m definitely giving that one a try next time someone poses that question.
Judith Howard says...
April 10th, 2009, 6:25 pm
I have heard similar comments before, sometimes ridicule. Sometimes I think deep down meat eaters have guilt about being part of slaughtering animals for their meal.
Questions are always good to ask a meat eater and to state facts. Such as did you know that the feed lots are the biggest polluter of our lakes and rivers with the run off from the wastes,feedlots emit the highest levels of methane into the atmosphere, consume vast amounts of fresh water to supply their animals, destroy the land that they graze animals on in poorer countries and the worker’s who look after the animals have substandard living conditions while they raise meat for the rich industrial nations.
And meat eaters call vegetarians crazy.
kerry says...
April 10th, 2009, 7:18 pm
To the meat-eaters who say their bodies crave meat, I always remind them that the alcoholic craves alcohol and the crackhead body craves crack, and most of us crave candy and junk food. Obviously Not all craving are good…..
To the people who talk about killing vegetables or plants, I gave up talking about science and the central nervous system and the ability to feel pain, instead I just say that yep.. fewer plants will die if we eat the plants directly rather than the inefficient method of feeding them to animals and then eating the animals.
Amira I says...
April 10th, 2009, 8:01 pm
when i tell people im a vegetarian i usually hear ” you dont look like a vegetarian!”
to which i reply “what exactly does a vegetarian look like ?”
people think vegetarians are supposed to look skinny, sick, or malnourished, but because i’m 5′1/125lbs. i guess i dont “look like a vegetarian” in the eyes of the ignorant.
Lindsey says...
April 10th, 2009, 8:30 pm
I had somene say to me at work, “I’m eating the sausage chili; I was thinking about eating dead chicken fetus but I changed my mind.” How sick is that. I just smirked and walked away; really didn’t know how to respond to that one. I’m so sick of these kinds of remarks they are so rude. I even get them from my family.
Marian says...
April 10th, 2009, 9:19 pm
I recently spent a weekend at my boyfriends parents house, meeting them for the first time. When she remembered that we are vegetarians, she was baffled at the idea and wouldn’t let it go for four days. ” What about chicken? Or seafood? Not even shrimp? Shrimps not even an animal!” Yes, that’s right…they grow on shrimp trees. It’s not like vegetarians are some new age cult that’s never been heard of before! Come on people! Catch up with the times!
Kara says...
April 10th, 2009, 10:24 pm
Gaaah.
I love this.
People sharing their ignorance with the world.
“But you need the protein!”
-As if protein is ONLY possible through eating meat…?
“God put the animals here for us to eat!”
-.-’ -I absolutely hate this. My reply is always, “He said it was okay to eat them. I will agree with that. But He never said we could torture and then murder them, now did He?”
“I didn’t work my way to the top of the food chain to eat vegetables.”
-*No comment*
I hate it when people say, “I’m a meatatarian!!” So stupid.
“People For the Eating of Tasty Animals”. That NEVER gets old! It’s SO funny!! >=/
“I can’t live without meat. It tastes so good!”
-Really? Really. Did you JUST say that? I’m alive now, aren’t I?
“I couldn’t live on jsut salad…”
-Blech. I hate salad. I don’t eat salad. Bahaha.
Some people are just so ignorant.
Michael says...
April 10th, 2009, 10:36 pm
I find that people love to say that as long as the animal is being killed ‘humanely’ it’s fine with them. It is ridiculous for two reasons. First, as they sit there in front of their plate of dead animal in some restaurant they walked into about 15 minutes before hand, I highly doubt that they did the required research on that particular animal to ensure that its method of death was satisfactory. They clearly were not present during the killing. Second, so does this mean that THEY wouldn’t mind being killed as long as it is humanely done? “Excuse me, I’m going to kill you today but I promise it won’t hurt. You don’t mind do you?” “Of course not, go right ahead.” “Thank you.” How is killing a living being ‘humane’ ever ( unless of course the animal/human is sick etc ) ?
Dani says...
April 11th, 2009, 2:25 am
Hi!!!
I m really trying to have a vegetarian lifestyle but my family and friends are giving me a really hard time, I need advice on what to cook and how to tolerate them….
And by the way, I think your story is lovely, I would really like that everyone in this world think the way you do.
Eirik says...
April 11th, 2009, 5:09 am
What about “But animals eat animals, so why can’t we?” Anyone got a smart reply for that one? I usually reply that animals don’t breed to kill, but it would be nice to have a few to choose from..?
Katri says...
April 11th, 2009, 7:52 am
I was at a convention once, where they had a pizza/snack tent where you could buy food during the day. When I asked them if they had anything for vegetarians, the reply I got was: “We could fix you a tuna salad.” Um? My reply was something along the lines of “yeah, the definition of a vegetarian is that they don’t eat meat, you know”.
My favourite really stupid one is that people sometimes tell me humans are meant to eat meat because we have carnivore teeth. Yeah, I’d like to see you try and subdue and pull apart prey with your teeth.
vicki says...
April 11th, 2009, 8:08 am
I love it when I tell people I’am vegan and they reply “Oh so you can still eat fish, it’s not meat!” Is fish considered a vegetable these days?
Lacie says...
April 11th, 2009, 8:44 am
It felt great reading all of these comments, I feel better knowing that I’m not the only one dealing with this B.S… I hate how angry people get when they learn that I am a vegetarian. They act so offended by it. Today my mother in law told me I could eat fish because fish are not animals, she also said on good friday you can’t eat meat but you can eat fish because fish isn’t meat. That does not make any sense, I love her but I thought she was smarter than that!! My aunt told me that I better research what I’m doing or I’m going to unbalance my body, what I’m doing is unhealthy, and this is coming from a so- called “health nut.” She thinks I pulled being a vegetarian out of my butt or something!! I can’t remember exactly how he worded it but my father in law said something along the lines of- I don’t see why you can’t eat eggs or drink milk nothing bad happened to the animals, I just walked away, I was speechless. The chickens you get the eggs from and the cows supplying your milk are the same ones being tortured and murdered for their meat, what does he think they just keep them around for eggs and milk? And I hate how closed minded these people are, they don’t want to give up meat because they won’t have anything to eat, they also don’t think they’ll like “my” food but they have never even tried it and aren’t willing to! It sickens me that a cheeseburger is more important to some people than innocent lives!!
Garet says...
April 11th, 2009, 10:06 am
I JUST TELL PEOPLE THAT I DON’T EAT ANYTHING THAT HAVE EYES…. EXCEPT POTATOES. HEHE
karen wall says...
April 11th, 2009, 10:17 am
When I tell people I’m vegetarian, their first question is “So do you eat fish?” I now have a tshirt I got from PETA with a picture of a fish on it and the words “Eat no” above it. My standard response has become “if it has a face and had a mother, it’s meat”. I don’t get mad at them, I educate them. My coworkers now look forward to my veggie snacks I bring to share.
Carmen Rosas says...
April 11th, 2009, 5:52 pm
A guy - who loves bullfights, steaks and seems to me a male chauvinist - asked my during an in-law family “Carne Asada” (a kind of barbecue where I get onions and tortillas and hopefully some rice or beans) why I didn’t eat meat. I asked him if he wanted the short answer or the long one, as if he told me with an annoyed face: the short one, I told him that meant he obviosuly was not interested and ended the dialogue.
Alysia says...
April 11th, 2009, 8:34 pm
Here’s what some vehement carnivores said to me, albeit, they were drunk and in the mood to argue: “Well, I’m going to eat twice as much meat as normal from now on, since you’re not eating any.” How ridiculous is that?! So I said to go ahead, and not to blame me when they end up in the hospital 10 years from now. Ugh.
Karina says...
April 12th, 2009, 2:49 am
haha. i am a vegitarian in a small town in “st peter minnesota” (add cheesy sarah palin accent here). and i have heard plenty of these plus many more. could u imagine the look on my “redkneck” cousins faces ordering food from the A&W, while sitting in a room so stalked with animal hides it might as well be called a pet cemetary, telling them all i wanted was a strawberry shake because i was a vegitarian. Ha priceless.
i did want to point out more of a gramaticle error then anything with your reasoning in this article. “Results from a recent study show a dramatic increase in mortality for people who eat more meat.” Uuhm well Everyone who has ever lived has died and everyone alive today will die at some point. so an increased mortality is mathmatically impossible. because it is already 100%. what you should have said was something about how length of life is decreased. cuz yes even people who are vegan from birth will die.
just saying. lots of laughs.
april says...
April 12th, 2009, 8:14 am
People at work are the worst! Everyday, somebody interrupts my cruelty free meal to tell me how I’m weird or to crack jokes. I’ve actually got up and thrown my lunch away because I was so offended. But that was the past. Now I recite all sorts of nasty facts about the lives of animals for slaughter! A taste of their own medicine.
Haley says...
April 12th, 2009, 8:24 am
I’m the only vegetarian in my home and people give me a hard time about it, except my mom, she is very supportive. But in 7th grade I gave up most meats except chicken, turkey, and fish because it would be difficult on my mom. A few months ago, I changed to just eating fish. so I’m slowly but surely getting there. A guy in my grade said he loves vegetarians because that means there’s more meat for him. It’s all worth it in the end!!
olga says...
April 12th, 2009, 9:05 am
I am a vegetarian and I live in Greece. Although traditional greek diet (mediterranean diet) doesn’t contain much meat, unfortunately most of the Greeks today eat meat almost every day. I’ve heard people saying that they feel seek if they don’t eat meat every day and that of course if there isn’t any meat in their plate it is not a meal. Also many times in restaurants when I asked for a plate without meat they suggested me chicken or fish by saying “But this is not meat”. The same happens many times with mincemeat or cold cuts. The most funny was when once they wanted to offer me offal. At such cases I just think that people doesn’t understand what vegetarianism is and I try to explain it to them but the most infuriating is when I order a plate by describing what there should be in it, for example “pasta with cream fresh and mushrooms”, just to be sure that they understood exactly what I want and they bring it to me with bacon and when I ask why there is meat in my food they answer me because they were sure that I just forgot to ask for it.
But the most serious problem is with doctors. I have anemia which was diagnosed when I was a child, long before being vegetarian (my family is following the mediterranean diet). After stop eating meat, all the doctors I have visited for a checkup (and they are lot) they insisted that this happens because I am vegetarian although I give them my medical background. Likely I found a “real” doctor that told me that what I have has nothing to do with what I eat and gave me some tests to do that showed that my organism just doesn’t absorb iron.
Except sea and sun that greek nature offers, it really is very hard living in Greece if you are not only a vegetarian but a nature lover generally.
AprilMay says...
April 12th, 2009, 8:46 pm
I get the most asked question of what do you eat? And if its not really meat ( animal product) than what is it? I laugh and say its good for thats what it is I just turned 40 this March and I look and feel better than ever now that I went from Vegitarian to vegan wish i would have done it sooner. I have made up my mind to try not to change people. But, most of my Friends and family are tring more of my meals and trying to understand and not judge some are even finding they like it
Linda says...
April 13th, 2009, 11:20 am
I like to ask people this question: So, why do you eat meat — was it an ethical decision or a health issue?
Margarette says...
April 13th, 2009, 11:26 am
When I said I was vegetarian once I was rebuffed with “There’s just got to be something criminal about that” to which I replied “I actually think there’s got to be something criminal about killing animals”. Another time, back in the 1990’s, when we were visiting some rather red-neckish type relatives we got onto the topic of K.D. Lang. One of the guys said “It’s the ’90’s, I can handle her being a lesbian but it’s the vegetarian part I can’t stand!” I love K.D., I love her music and I love that she is a vegetarian with guts enough to stand up to a rabid meat industry.
Emily says...
April 13th, 2009, 8:43 pm
I have a funny story about becoming a vegetarian. The second week of my vegetarianism my sister and nieces and nephews came over for dinner. When i didn’t eat any meat they asked if i was sick. Then my sister and i watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding and promised she would make lamb the next time i came over.
Rose says...
April 14th, 2009, 10:10 am
“You know that animals are still going to suffer & die even if you don’t eat meat.”
-Response: ” You know women are going to get raped even if YOU don’t rape them… children are still going to get murdered even if you YOU kill them… so why aren’t you doing those things? Or ARE you??!! ”
“Animals eat other animals”
-Response: ” Yes, they do. But they don’t artificially breed other animals in mass quantities, put them in tiny cages, & abuse them for years before they finally kill them, only to waste half of the meat anyways. Next time you want a steak, go jump on the ass of a cow like a tiger and sink in your teeth… see how well that works for you.
“It says in the bible that it’s ok to eat meat”
-Response: ” Jesus speaks of love and kindness and compassion. There is nothing kind, compassionate, or loving about the way animals are processed today. “
Julie van Niekerk says...
April 15th, 2009, 10:07 am
Meat eaters have these funny comments towards vegetarians because they feel guilty.
Audri Good says...
April 17th, 2009, 5:32 pm
I went to the doctor for a check up and mentioned I was vegan. She had no idea what it was. I explained that i don’t eat any animal products, but not to worry, I was being careful to get all my nutrients. She thought I was on a diet to lose weight. I said no, that this is just the way I live and she asked me if I was raised this way. I said no, it’s a choice I’ve made in my adulthood. So, she wanted to know what I ate. I said grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans, nuts and seeds. She then asked me, “So, no protein then?”
She’s a doctor. Come on! I didn’t expect a half hour of trying to explain this. She finally just cut me off and said “Okay then, anything else?’ and proceeded to walk out. I couldn’t believe it.
Audri Good says...
April 17th, 2009, 5:55 pm
My dad, not meaning anything by it, once said to me “Now that you’re vegan, I guess I can’t take you out to eat anymore, huh?” I then explained how may restaurants even fast food ones have vegan options if you know what to look for. He promptly took me to Wendy’s where I ordered a salad, some mandarin oranges and a small fries.
Monique Johns says...
April 24th, 2009, 6:15 pm
Animals eat humans! Eating meat is the natural order of things!! No. Humans have evolved enough to know that eating something else alive is wrong. Eating animals way back in prehistoric times because we humans didn’t know any better, but I think we’ve learned better since then. Humans get so upset with being called another animnal, but humans show their animal nature by eating other animals-but some of us are more enlightened.
heady may says...
May 14th, 2009, 2:18 pm
i have been a vegetarian since i was 7 i am now 13 and i am considering veganism.
because i have been vegetarian for so long now i have heard so many comments from meateaters e.g
“why don’t you wear leather the animal is goning to die for meat anyway”
my reply
“because i have my own skin and i don’t think you would like your skin to be taken of you even if you died”
another comment
“meat tastes to good i could never be vegetarian”
my reply
“oh so you like the taste of death?????????????”
tourture me by the damned is a brill song all you vegaterians and vegans out there sould listen to it
and wot no meat? by captain sensible is also a brill song for the vegetarians and vegans of the word to listen to and the meat eaters it may convert them to a vegetarian or vegan diet
i just don’t get why meat eaters want to eat death on a plate or in a packet???????????
Stacia says...
May 15th, 2009, 4:28 pm
I’ve just become a vegetarian within the past 3 months and I’ve already heard so many of the ridiculous comments mentioned from co-workers & acquaintances. I’m getting a kick out of the retorts suggested & will definitely keep them in my arsenal of comebacks.
Regardless of their thoughtless comments, it won’t change my decision to do what is right & ethical for the animals. If only they could keep their thoughtlessness to themselves.
pat says...
June 9th, 2009, 12:08 pm
Well I want to say something positive - I often get ’special’ meals when I go to business conventions because I’m vegetarian & order special diet selections in advance. I love it when the meat eaters ask why I got what I did and why they didn’t get it. Its even better when they ask the server for what she got.
Jess says...
June 17th, 2009, 9:12 am
This article makes me laugh, i suppose the only way to not be offended by people is to see the funny side. I get this alot “I could NEVERRR be vegetarian” repeated more than once in conversations, apparently they believe its a good comeback to assure me they will NEVER see my point of view, but they only say it if they cant refute my argument. My grandad doesnt understand anything about vegetarianism and obviously doesnt want to, my grandma does and keeps putting quorn mince in the meals she makes every week and he openly tells us how great the food tastes.
Letty says...
July 31st, 2009, 10:36 pm
I am back to being a vegetarian, after about 10 years (BIG mistake to go back to meat. by the way) and now I ‘m beginning to adopt as much as I can of vegan diet and lifetsyle.
Like Amira, I am about 5′2″ and about 124 lbs as well.But unlike what happens to her in her comment, I feel ASHAMED when people look at me with obvious surprise when I say that I am a vegetarian, because I have a big butt and I have gained weight.(I don’t “look” vegetarian to their eyes)
But I agree, I feel fat and uncomfortable (please understand, I used to be 110Lbs!)
I want to loose weight because I believe that I AM promoting Vegeterianism and veganism to help animals, the environment (and also people who do not accept that a veggie diet is healthier).But in order to be successful in converting people, I believe we need to look good. Not skinny, because my body type is naturally “bootilicious” like Jennifer Lopez, but at least LOOK good in order to successfully promote vegetarianism.Who doesn’t want to look like Natalie Portman? I think it’s a kind of marketing for our beliefs.
Now if I could only learn to recover my physical condition, control my appetite and portions again….!
Letty says...
July 31st, 2009, 10:55 pm
Dear Olga,
I kinda feel for you because I am a mexican vegetarian.Now I live in The Us, but I was a vegetarian in Mexico and it was easy.I kinda feel for you because it must be a little hard, but please do not give up, it’s not worth it to “go with the flow”.I did it once I came to The US, I gave up my vegetarianism for others and because it was easy being a meat eater.But I regret that now.
It is the restaurants, supermarkets and the whole negative misconceptions of veganism/vegetarianism that need to change to make it easy for us, who are actually the ones who are doing something good for the animals, the environment and our health!
I often get all sorts of stupid comments and remarks about my ethnicity and now my vegetarianims and veganism, (as if my accent didn’t get enough attention!)
But you know what? I wouldn’t give up now because carnivosism is easier in our society than vegetarianism, I am now convinced that this needs to change and I am supporting all businesses that are Vegan, I am writing to the food network for a vegan show and I am doing all I can in the little foreign power that I have in this powerful and influential country that is now my own.
Kristine says...
August 1st, 2009, 8:08 am
One afternoon at my parents’ house, after I had been a vegetarian for well over a year, my mother put some chips and dip out on the table. As she, myself and my sister were chit-chatting, I asked what kind of dip it was. She calmly explained to me that it was okay for me to have because it was just bacon and horseradish. I’m not sure if she thought that somehow bacon was not really meat and therefore, was not a vegetarian “issue.” Maybe she though the horseradish scientifically offset the bacon? Perhaps the dip platform negated the meat-hood of the bacon? Regardless, clearly, it was nothing for me to worry about. This learning curve was FAR steeper than I expected.
kristi says...
August 1st, 2009, 10:40 am
At our employee picnic, I was highly amused by the reaction of my co-workers who were manning the grill. I had brought my own veggie burgers and when they put them on the grill they just kept poking & prodding them like they couldn’t figure out what the heck it was. But hey…they sure come running to ask me to be the one who slices all the tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, etc!
Ana says...
August 1st, 2009, 12:22 pm
“You’re gonna get some sort of disease by not eating meat! Here, have some beef… ” Lack of education at its best.
sev says...
August 3rd, 2009, 2:46 pm
Man, I find these comments annoy the hell out of me like ,”what do you eat” I eat everything except meat… “okay but what do you eat” are you a freaking moron hello…
the most famous is your going to get sick where do you get your protein and I reply that we do not need as much protein as we think we do .. and then I get a weird look… Like okay IF being a vegetarian makes people sick wouldn’t I have been in the hospital already.. … people are so closed minded.
K-Star says...
August 6th, 2009, 10:18 pm
I’m still amazed at the level of ignorance of carnivorous questioners in this day & age. Most don’t really wish to know the truth about the horrors of factory farming, but if they ask, I’ll tell them. The ole line about “chimps eating meat” is another classic.. truth is, the famous filmed footage is from a place with so much human intervention, that it’s disturbed the natural order of things; wild chimps really only eat 1 or 2% meat at most. I tell the ignorant that gorillas are vegan, and our digestive tract is identical to theirs; the line about us being omnivores is another favourite.. I ask them if they’ve seen the teeth on a true omnivore, like a pig or a bear? Not to mention that gorillas have bigger canines than us, and true carnivores don’t have chewing teeth like we do.
Finally, I love the sound of you, Heady May! I started when I was 11, and I liked The Damned! Keep on it little sister, more power to you! Hope you’ve also heard The Smiths’ Meat Is Murder, The Killing Jar by Siouxsie & The Banshees and Bloodsports by The Style Council x x
kelli says...
August 7th, 2009, 9:58 pm
This has been great reading all of these comments. I love being a vegetarian. I have raised my children with a vegetarian lifestyle and we are healthy and happy and LOVE animals. I never felt better about anything in my whole life. The decision to not eat animals is so clear to me. I can’t understand why most of the people I know still eat helpless, innocent, tortured animals…..I mean “meat”!! When people ask me why I am a vegetarian or what I eat since I won’t eat meat, I always say its easy to find food to eat, I just follow one rule, I don’t eat things that have a brain or a heart.
Pam says...
August 8th, 2009, 11:13 pm
My fave from a friend: “Well, I just eat chicken. If we didn’t eat them what would we do with them?”
Robin says...
August 14th, 2009, 4:58 pm
So many good tips for educating…and thinking in terms of ‘educating’ keeps me from getting frustrated. At a progressive think tank talk in D.C. a couple of years ago, I suggested that they replace one or more of their appx 6 flesh-laden lunch options with vegetarian (appending that with ‘dairy-free’). One of the young women rolled her eyes at me and said, ‘can’t you see the tuna salad? That’s for the vegetarians.’ I explained the meaning of veg and she insisted I was wrong. I guess she thought I was senile!
Ashli says...
August 24th, 2009, 4:12 pm
I’ve been vegan for 18 years now. :o) I have had many an encounter with people who are sure that I am missing out on something great by choosing not to eat meat/dairy/eggs. One guy told me that I was setting myself up to get diabetes by being veg, then he proceeded to stare at me as though I was from outer space? The strange looks I get from strangers/friends/family who think I am weird for not eating meat are getting less frequent now that most folks know of someone who is vegan or vegetarian.
Favorite lines: “Chicken/Fish isn’t meat” and “Are you *sure* you don’t want some”?
And I just love to hear of all the descriptive favorites on the menu of a typical meat eater that they just couldn’t do without, it is almost like a junkie reasoning why they are addicted to drugs… a lot of people just don’t have any manners or common sense.