Being a vegetarian can be challenging. Not because you’re giving up meat, but because of outside struggles and questions that can be tossed your way. Reasons include:
1. Not having veggie options on a menu
Sure, it is becoming more and more common to have something meat-free on the menu, but this doesn’t extend everywhere. This is particularly problematic when someone wants to stop for fast food, and you know you won’t be eating.
2. Asking if we miss bacon (or hamburgers or what have you)
Being a vegetarian is a choice; we were willing to give up bacon, so no, I’m not craving it.
3. Being asked if we’re vegan
They are not the same, and it gets tedious to explain what each one is and why you’ve chosen one over the other. I’ll have the cheese.
4. No, we don’t eat fish
This one confuses me so much. Fish is an animal; vegetarians don’t eat animals. Does not compute. A pescetarian is someone that eats fish but no other meats. There’s a difference.
5. Being invited for sushi
This might be a “me” problem, but it seems like my friends always want to go and grab all you can eat sushi. Unfortunately, I can’t shell out 30-60 dollars just to eat some rice while you all eat sushi. Maybe next time we can go somewhere we can all eat?
6. Being told to eat around the meat
As a vegetarian, I’m not going to eat anything with meat in it. Period. But that hasn’t stopped people from offering me a dish and telling me to eat around the meat. This has included chili (yes chili).
7. Being asked if you’re healthy/being told it’s not healthy
If you’re committing to a meat-free life, chances are you’ve done some research on what you need to do to make sure you’re getting enough iron/protein. Chances are we know a lot more than you about what we’re putting in our bodies and how to keep our protein level up.
8. Being told our food looks/is gross
We get it, you don’t like tofu, that doesn’t mean we don’t find it delicious. There are a lot of things that might look unappetizing, but after eating them you might enjoy it. Veggie burgers for the win.
9. Being told eating meat is natural
Sure, people have always been eating meat, but not all of the chemicals and other things that go into meat today. Not to mention there are other options available today so that we don’t have to eat meat. It may be your choice but we can make choices too.
10. Is it hard?
Like everything, there can be challenges and setbacks, but if someone is changing their lifestyle and diet they’re doing it for a reason. The pros outweigh the cons.