I became a vegetarian about two and half years ago on a whim. I was 19 years old and in the middle of babysitting. I had just put the kids to bed when I laid down on the couch to try and combat a migraine. I sat in a very dark, quiet room and started thinking about school and my animal rights. It suddenly didn't make sense for me to go around asking people to save the whales and then go home and eat a chicken or a pig. I felt hypocritical.
At that moment, I decided to give vegetarianism a try. So, two and a half hours later, I left my babysitting job and haven't eaten meat since. From that point on, I have gotten every question you could imagine about a million times. People are endlessly fascinated by vegetarians, but they always ask the same questions.
1. How do you get your protein?
Meat is not the only food that has protein in it. Most vegetarians get it from beans, tofu, greek yogurt, lentils, and nuts.
2. What do you eat?
Literally anything without meat in it? Pasta, salads, fruits and vegetables, smoothies, tofu, and even fake meats are among the most popular foods for vegetarians.
3. Isn’t it boring?
Sometimes. Vegetarianism requires creativity, otherwise the food can get boring. Pinterest recipes can be the best friend of a vegetarian.
4. Do you miss meat?
Sometimes. But it does get easier with time. And, as an adult, its not that hard to just not eat something after you've decided against it.
5. Can I get you to eat just a little bit?
No. I already know what meat tastes like.
6. Are you gonna do it forever?
That's kind of the current plan, yes.
7. So do you eat tofu all the time?
No. Tofu is definitely an acquired taste, and a lot of vegetarians don't even like it.
8. Do you still drink milk?
Yes. Vegetarianism and veganism are different. As a vegetarian, milk, cheese, and eggs are all fair game.
9. Do you eat fish?
It depends on the vegetarian, but I think it's safe to say that most go by the "no food with a face" rule, and that includes fish.
10. But why?
Everyone has a different reason. Some people are passionate about the meat industry and factory farming, but some people just think animals are cute. Does it really even matter?
