The first reaction I get when people find out that I am a vegetarian is usually a stream of questions, which can sometimes be overwhelming. No matter what, meat-eaters just don't seem to understand. I'm sure if you are a vegetarian (or a vegan in some cases), you can definitely relate. Here are 6 common questions, answered:

1. "I could never do it, how do you live without meat?"

In my opinion, meat wasn't hard to cut out. It helps if you haven't really eaten a lot of it before. There are also several meat substitutes out there, from fake chicken to veggie burgers. These substitutes are surprisingly delicious. They can trick you into thinking you're actually eating real meat. Just because I don't eat meat, doesn't mean I'm starved and unsatisfied 24/7.

2. "Do you miss meat?"

My answer? No, not really. Because of all the meat substitutes, I am still able to feel satisfied after I eat. Sure, sometimes whenever I smell a juicy steak or burger cooking, my eyes may glaze over, but personally, for me, it's not worth it to break my belief. As time goes on, it gets easier to stick with it, so soon enough, you'll be perfectly fine and may not even miss it one bit.

3. "How do you eat and get your protein?"

This is probably the most annoying question that any vegetarian gets asked. Hello, PLANTS HAVE PROTEIN. Besides that, there's plenty of ways I can get protein with food items such as brown rice, quinoa, meat substitutes, nuts/nut butter, and protein bars/powder (and sometimes a little bit of cheese). These foods are surprisingly filling if you take the opportunity to make fun recipes. There are plenty of delicious vegetarian recipes online and many are very quick and easy to make.

4. "You can't have pepperoni pizza? Wow, you're such a loser, you're missing out."

Correction: I CAN, but I choose NOT to. I follow a vegetarian diet for a reason because I care about animals and I can't bear to see them tortured and killed for our own pleasure. So please, don't make fun of me and please respect my decision. I never lecture you for eating meat, so please let me be while I munch down on a salad instead of a steak.

5. "Can you still eat fish/seafood?"

*facepalm* The answer is no (DUH). Fish and seafood are living, breathing beings, so, therefore, I don't eat them. They are still considered animals, and vegetarians don't eat any animals. Use your common sense, people. It's not that difficult.

6. "Have you ever accidentally eaten meat?"

Yes. Unfortunately, it happens to many vegetarians. I once bit into a slice of pizza, thinking it was plain cheese, but there was pepperoni buried beneath the cheese. Yes, I freaked out at first, but I moved on. Don't freak out if you do, it's not stopping you from following a vegetarian diet.

So yes, there you have it. Thank me, because now all of your questions are answered and you don't have to ask any of them again. Please, just save all vegetarians the sake of having to answer the same questions over and over again.