Ready replies to annoying questions!

Q: "What?!  You're a vegetarian/vegan?!  But where do you get your protein?"

This is possibly the most annoying question I face EVERY time I admit I'm a vegan.

How do you guys answer it?

Generally I say, "Where do I get my protein?  Ummm... from EVERYTHING."

Other annoying questions:

1) But don't you ever miss meat?

2) How can you NOT want to eat this?

3) How can you possibly eat ENOUGH?

4) Aren't you ever out of energy?

5) WHY don't you eat meat?

6) Okay, so you don't eat meat...but why not eat eggs and dairy?

I encourage you all to cut/paste questions and ANSWER them.  Give us all a stock of ready replies to annoying questions.

Haha those are annoying questions--I guess at the same time though, if the person asking is coming from a background totally void of any veg. info., it might seem completely foreign to them.

I hate hate hate hate hate it though when non-veg. people will wave something infront of my face that myself and probably most other vegetarians or vegans would find repulsive, trying to "tempt" me to eat it.  Stuff like that, as far as I'm concerned, is the equivalent to someone trying to sabotage a weight loss diet because they feel guilty or ashamed about what they are doing with their own eating habits. Someone I used to know even admitted that he since tried to go vegetarian and failed, he just likes to tempt vegans to watch them break veg so he can feel better about himself.

But anyhow, whenever people say stuff like that to me, I say you know what?  I have a guilt-free conscience and am healthier and happier now than I ever have before. 
No, I don't miss ingesting animal carcasses and turning my stomach into a graveyard.
And then for any other stupid questions, I try to keep statistics in my mind to throw out.

I don't think arguing the pros and cons of a choosen diet over a meal is ever a good idea. If I point out the reasons not to eat meat, I come over as evangelising and spoiling others' meals. If someone attacks me for my choice, they come over as unsociable. No-one wins, and no-one changes their mind.

So to all of those questions I just shrug, smile and say "because I am." If someone wants to pursue it, I tell them why I quit*, at which point the other meat-eaters around the table may well wish the interogator would shut up in order to stop me reminding them of the origins of their food! If the person keeps on, then they clearly are a terrible person to have a meal with and need to learn some etiquette!



*I was doing dissection in Biology O-level and had just done a bull's heart. Two days later I looked at the slices of beef on my Sunday dinner plate and said "I can't eat that.".

I'm mainly annoyed when people start telling me how unhealthy a vegetarien lifestyle is, especially while they're stuffing their faces with greasy bacon and stuff.

When people ask me questions like that, Ill answer politely enough, not putting down their choices or whatever, but if they start getting all I-know-better-than-you and arrogent and stuff ... watch out. 

I hate that "How can you NOT want to eat this" Q, cause quite honestly, I find meat completely repulsive, and just the smell or it makes me sick to my stomach.

I also hate when people ask how long Im going to be vegetarien. Whats up with that? or "Do you ever cheat and eat steak  (or insert other meat here) sometimes?" ummm no.

Annoying questions or just someone a little bit intrested. Sheesh, I wouldnt have any clue how to get protien with out the meat and fish option. Its hard enough even eating meat, some people are sincere and dont know those answers.  I myself have questions about it, becoming vegan.  How to start, what options there are and what substitutes.  A real intrest.  Not everybody knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.  If ur raised one way, for 25 yers and then told about something that ur totally unaware of, should we know the answers...?  So many "stupid" questions I have....But Ill google it...dont want to be..."annoying".  Sheesh. 

Sorry if I came across that way :(

I meant that by the people who ask these questions in a condesending way. I dont mind one bit when people are genuinely curious/ interested. But some people just fight you. Like they ask "why don't you eat meat?" and you answer. the they tell you that your an idiot and people were meant to eat meat. so I answer "I sappose your right, but weve evolved from that, and we don't have to anymore, we have a choice." but they continue to tell you your stupid, and that all your beliefs are wrong. or the lovely people who, and I quote, say "All vegetariens should be rounded up in a field and shot." or my ex-best friend who told me Id go to Hell, because its not God's way, and then never talked to me again. Or people who try hiding meat in your food, cause they know better than you.
On the other hand some vegetariens do the exact same thing.

So, I guess I was being pretty harsh. Im sorry. If you have any questions, dont hesitate to ask. 

I guess Im just having trouble saying what I want to...

Id also like to add, that I think the post was started mainly because they are asked these questions alot and want new/ better answers to give, not because they want people to stop asking.

but some questions are, frankly, stupid.
like, if someone asks "do you eat any meat?" ok, good question. "no I do not"
Do you eat chicken?" hmm, ok. still a fair question, some veg's do. "no, nothing that was once alive"
"what if it died of its own?" err.. ok... "I dont really think its healthy to eat it, but even if it were, I wouldnt."
"what if it was only fed grain?" ... "um arent they all?"
"if you had to eat meat or die, say you were trapped on an island with no edible food except animals, would you?" a ha. good Q, i think. though not an event that would ever come up, I think "yes, I would. but not unless it was absolutely necessary"

all ok, not stupid, though some questionable, questions.

But some question are just down-right outrageous! like asking if I hear screaming when someone cuts through a steak. ummm... what? I cant really think of other examples right now, but trust me. weve all heard some strange ones.

I did not mean to sound harsh either--my replies were more geared towards people who just like to kind of harass vegans and vegetarians, so more hostile responses were given.

If someone is generally asking or interested in the lifestyle, I am more than happy to have a pleasant, non-argumentative discussion about it.

Where do you get your protein?~ I get this one a lot and I tell them that most m#*t eaters eat way more protein than they need and most vegetarians get just about the right amount. Not to mention beans, vege "meats" and nuts are all packed with protein.

thankfully i don't get asked all that much, but when i do get asked that question: why don't you eat meat?, i just reply with the truth.

i don't know why i don't eat meat. a teacher of mine in high school was a vegetarian, and he inspired me so much, that i thought i'd give it a whirl... now, when people ask me if i miss meat, i say no - because in all honesty, i don't really remember what it tastes like.

i don't get offended by meat eaters - to each his own as they say... i don't preach, i just tell them my story... honesty is the best policy ... i think anyway....

:D

I can understand that. Totally!  You probably get asked the SAME questions all the time. I do to, I have a very strict diet, and people wave the doughnuts in my face and ask how i can eat this way. I get annoyed too. But definatly some people are genuine,and want to know.  I would just like to say that because u are vegan, its something that alot of us dont know about, and some are interested.  The questions I would ask if you were sitting here is, How did u become vegan, was it hard to change to eat that way, if u were not raised as a vegan.  did u lose weight?  Do u feel healthier, and happier.  Do u maintain ur energy (all thought im sure u have more then those who eat processed food) and where do u get food recipes.  I want to try this for a week, yes a week.  It might be my hardest week ever.  Nevertheless, i want to try.  Where do i find information on this?

Thank u.  And i am sincere, I wondered about this from the time i seen that the chick from Clueless, became a vegan, and said she dropped pounds, but I myself have been clueless. 

Well.. Im only vegetarien, but I became a vegetarien just because I thought eating animals was gross, and unnecessary, not to mention food poisoning and stuff is usually linked to meat, and I got food poisoning several times, and did not want it to happen again (and Ive only been once since I became vegetarien).
It wasnt hard for me to change, because I only ate the stuff when my parents forced me to, and when I told them flat out, Im not eating this anymore, they said I was 12 and was allowed to make that decision, though they tried to talk me out of it. That answers the 3rd Q too. Nope, definitely wasnt raised that way.
I gained weight. but thats linked to not being raised that way, I didnt know how to eat properly. Now that I am, I feel energized, and very content... but maybe if Id been eating healthy all along, I wouldve been happy before I switched too.
There a few posts on here with some good recipes, and websites for recipes, though Im not at home, so I cant link you my favourites.

Ask around these forums for information, Id say. Theres alot of vegans on here that can give you some great tips. My only tip is eat soy, great protein and tasty! unless youre the one who posted a few days ago on being allergic to it... in that case.. um tofu and rice products :P

I guess I am one of the strange variety of vegetarians who have absolutely no reason for being one other than needing to impose dietary restrictions on myself.

I think I confuse people the most when I comment on a meat based menu item that I think sounds good. "How can you say the chicken sounds good, aren't you VEGETARIAN?!" Somehow I just don't get the conflict. Is this person trying to say that they would and should eat every menu item that's appetizing? I also really love deep fried cheesecake. But I just don't eat it, because I *can't.*

I usually explain vegetarianism in terms of general dieting, everyone makes choices about what they do and don't eat and like. Not eating meat is just one of mine.

I'm posting just because I really wanted to share the most comical exchange I've ever had in trying to explain what it means to be a vegetarian.

So, you're a vegetarian?
Do you eat lamb?
Do you eat cold cuts?
Do you eat fish?
Do you eat tuna fish?
Here, have some gravy.





 

Penny-I have been vegetarian since about age 3 when I realized that dinner was actually a dead animal. I just thought it was gross to eat dead bodies. I didn't become Vegan until about a year ago when I saw some videos on the horrible things that go on in factory farms. Initially after becoming Vegan I felt a little sick. For the first couple weeks I had no clue what to eat so I wasn't eating a very balanced diet! After doing a lot of research and finding new recipes I have adjusted completely and feel a lot healthier. I seem to have a lot more energy than prevegan and I did drop some pounds without trying.  B4 becoming vegan I slept a lot during the day. I was so tired that I would come home from work and just couldnt keep my eyes open. My theory is that I was relying too heavily on dairy but I don't know, it's just a theory.

When I first decided to become vegan I thought I was making a giant sacrifice for the animals. At the time I didnt realize how easy vegan is and how much food there is out there for us. I am definitely happier too because it kind of gave me a cause. I am an animal lover and I enjoy spreading the word of veganism and letting people know what is going on behind the scenes. I try to let people know how I feel about things without sounding too preachy (is that a word?) It can be a tough balancing act being devoted to a cause but also trying hard to stay open minded and not alienate people.

Sorry for the long rambling message! If you are still curious about the veg diet you should check out a great site called www.tryveg.com It is full of info.

~Sarah Sue

Wow, lot's of responses!  That's awesome, but I'm going to try and get the thread back on track...

1) But don't you ever miss meat?

Yes, I do... like any dieting person misses cake and candy.  I know it tastes good, but in the long run, I simply feel better when I don't include it in my diet.  If I allow myself a little meat--like a dieter pinching a bit of a brownie--the allowances become greater and greater until I've fallen off course.  Being a vegan has provided me with clearner-burning fuel (I'm an elite athlete) and I LITERALLY have more peace of mind--somehow helped with depression.

2) How can you NOT want to eat this?

Because I realize that my short-term gains will not outweigh my long-term ones.

3) How can you possibly eat ENOUGH?

American's have NO PROBLEM eating enough.  Period.  And me?  I was born and bred in America.

4) Aren't you ever out of energy?

I have MORE energy as a vegan.  My body does not waste energy digesting difficult foods... eating animal bi-products has an opportunity cost.

5) WHY don't you eat meat?

MANY MANY MANY reasons.  I was a philosophy/ethics major.  Talk to me about the environmental damage.  Or the disregard for sentient creatures.  Or simply ask me about the nutritional benefits.

6) Okay, so you don't eat meat...but why not eat eggs and dairy?

Just because an animal wasn't killed in the process doesn't mean they don't lead UTTERLY MISERABLE lives producing eggs and milk.

Oh, and here's my favorite comment: "Who, you eat some WEIRD stuff... Kale? Chard? Quinoa?  Huh?"

To which I respond: "Hey, try pronouncing half of the ingredients on the back of that food package, and you tell ME what sounds weird."

LoL Demogirl-Great call about all the "weird" food we eat. How long have you been vegan? Like I said in an earlier post I've been vegetarian since like age 3 but my 1 year vegan anniversary is October 13th. I'm adding you as a friend.

demogirl, love your responses. 

every notice how if your cold/hot/tired/sick it is automatically assumed by many it's because you "don't get enough protein" or "if you ate meat you probably wouldn't have caught that cold". 

elderly people stack your plate with food above your eye level because 5 lbs of mashed potatoes equals one chicken breast in their eyes. 

it's nice to know other people deal with these questions as well.

LoL! I love you guys! I've been vegan for only about a year and a half but I have heard EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS! Its halarious hearing it from someone else though!

Well anyway.. Yay For VEG*NS! 

"So you're a vegan?  It's it, like, really hard to go out and find something to eat?  Is it really worth all the trouble?"

---you bet.  Yes, it's difficult, but one of the merits of veganism is that it forces the consumer to actually THINK about his food choices and take great care to consider the needs of his body, and ultimately his health.  This is something pretty special, since in this day and age people really take their health for granted and let it deteriorate beyond their control.  Going veg largley returns that control.

>>>>>>>>>>>

"How can you just miss out on all this GOOD stuff (meat)?!"

-- when a person says he doesn't like tapioca because of the texture, people don't harrass him about it.  Few people go beyond to insist just how GOOOOD tapioca is...  so let's just simplify things and call it a "matter of taste, not a matter of deprivation."

Hahaha... how about, "Don't carrots have feelings too?!?!! You carrot-killer!"

demogirl, you said you're an elite athlete... I'm a college runner, so I'm interested in how this kind of diet is beneficial for performance. Can you give me more details? I'm always looking for ways to improve my performance!