I have found that eating a Vegetarian diet is a bit socially awkward. Anyone else experience the same?
Ok, so I’m on my third week of a Vegetarian diet, and plan to keep going. Very few of our friends are Vegetarians. I feel like I’m coming out of the closet when I tell friends and family members that I quit eating meat. Can anyone else relate to the awkwardness of having to tell people about your diet?
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November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
It is a bit strange at first. You just have to make sure you are armed with enough information about your diet to answer questions and concerns they might have. If you’re in an area of the country where there are not a lot of vegetarians, you might be the only one your circle of friends and family know.
It will pass with time.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Just don’t tell them. Eat what you want without drawing undue attention to your choices.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Tell them nothing is wrong with what your doing!
Good luck!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
It’s taken a long time, but I finally feel completely comfortable telling people that I’m vegan. At first, it was hard to tell my family about it because they know that I always loved meat and animal products. I was known for loving grilled cheese and chicken salad. So they were flabbergasted and thought it was pretty silly. But I was fortunate to have my mom with me – she turned vegan around the same time I did. My friends were generally supportive and a couple actually tried it for a short time. I feel lucky that my friends and family are now accepting of my food choices.
P.S. A lot of times, I don’t even tell people I’m vegan unless they ask, or like a few weeks ago, are just going on and on and ON about hunting, and then actually said "Like a frickin vegan" … and he didn’t know I was vegan! THAT was awkward because he’s a coworker. So I said, "Well, I’m vegan." And he didn’t believe me. Things were weird between us for a while but I think it’s okay now. He gave me a really hard time about it though, but being the forgiving sort I am, I’m trying to be nice!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
you need to tell people in social situations and at restaurants that you are a vegetarian prior to them preparing your food, or you will wind up consuming foods that do not obviously contain meat. it is only a faux paux when they have already made something for you, that you will have to refuse. unless you’re from a really backwoods and unevolved area, no one is going to think badly of you for not eating meat. if someone does think badly about it, who cares. your diet choices really have no affect what so ever on other people, as they can continue to eat meat as they wish.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
When I was vegetarian it caused a shit storm from everyone I told…so many jumped to conclusions about me…I must be a PETA nazi, I must be just trying to get attention, at group affairs there would deliberately be nothing I could eat…I gave up eating vegetarian when I am away from home…I just try to choose the least offensive thing and eat that when I am with other people…awkward is putting it mildly…
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Not really. It gets a bit awkward when I tell people that I don’t eat honey or wear silk, because a lot of times people don’t understand why, but I don’t have issues telling people I’m vegan, for the most part.
Then again, I’ve been a vegetarian since childhood, sooooooo…
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
It isn’t difficult to say "I’m a vegetarian." In social situations, you do not need to explain further. However, should the the moment arrive when people say "why?" tell them "It’s better for the environment, my health, and the animals."
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Omg, this is SO true. I always feel like I have to have special treatment because of it, and half the time I do. Like for example, my challenge class is going on a field trip in a few weeks, and our choices of meal are like: hamburger, cheeseburger, grilled chicken, etc. It’s so aggravating.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I eat very little meat, not because I’m a vegetarian, but because I don’t need the cholesterol. So I end up eating a lot of salads, veggie plates, Bhuddhist Delights, etc. I don’t find it awkward, though.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
yes,
people always think you can’t have a good meal with out a bloody 10 pound steak in your meal. And when you decide to have something more healthy and eat guilt free they think it’s weird. Screw all of em! Eat what makes you feel good, cause at the end of the day the only person worth satisfying is yourself.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Totally. I live in Spain so it’s worse. Most people here don’t realise that I’ve heard their insightful observations on the issue more than a million times already because they themselves have never spoken to another vegetarian.
People seem to get defensive and explain why people should eat meat even though I’ve never told them they shouldn’t, I’ve just said I don’t.
I would never let this start me eating meat though, just as arguing the case for cannibalism would never induce them to start munching on their family members.
It is simply that some people are ignorant and don’t accept that being an omnivore AND an intelligent form of life means that you are able to make dietary choices based on your lifestyle, the availability of food, your moral standards, religion, health concerns and likes and dislikes.
People are also on the whole resistant to change as well so it could be that your friends are reacting to this rather than the whole concept of vegetarianism itself.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Definitely. I remember once I went to a really nice dinner that was thrown for a few kids and I for winning some competition. They didn’t give us an option of what to eat and it basically all meat. All I was bread and string beans because I didn’t want to make a big deal and when people asked, I didn’t really know how to respond to their "Why wouldn’t you want to eat meat?" Same with my family. Most of them don’t know I don’t eat meat. At first I threw it away and then gradually stopped asking for it. It took a while for me to come out of the closet.
People may think your choice is stupid but honestly, why should they even care. My advice is to learn to be upfront about it and just say your a vegetarian without being to shy or preachy about it. Eventually, they’ll accept it.