Dear meat eaters,
There are a few things that many vegetarians would like you to know, one being why we choose this life. A lot of people tell me, “Oh, you’re a vegetarian, you must be so healthy!” Please educate yourself on the basic food groups: Most carbohydrates don’t contain meat. I can still eat pasta, bread, pizza, etc. Vegetarianism or veganism can be healthy, but they don’t necessarily guarantee that. Most of us refrain from eating meat because we ethically disapprove of it. This is also something very individual and personal to each vegetarian/vegan. Some of us disagree with the treatment of animals in the farming industry, while others think the practice of slaughtering animals should be banned altogether. Many people go vegetarian for environmental concerns of large-scale farming. So think before you spout out something uninformed about our nutrition.
Knowing why many people choose not to eat meat, here are some guidelines of what to say and what not to say to a vegetarian. Unless we are close friends or you are genuinely interested in learning something, don’t ask me why I’m a vegetarian. Frankly, a person’s diet is a very sensitive topic and isn’t any of your business. That said, do not ever try to tell us what we should or should not eat. Don’t tell us it’s dumb to be vegetarian. Don’t say "you can’t eat that." I’ve been doing this for a while and I can figure out for myself if I can or can’t eat a certain food. And chances are, when I think about whether or not I should have a soup that is chicken-based, I’m not concerned with the fats or if it could upset my stomach, I’m thinking about if an animal had to suffer on my behalf to consume that dish. So don’t try to tell me, “Oh, it’s fine, it won’t hurt you,” or, “You can’t have that, it’s chicken-based,” because that is you pushing your belief system on me.
Even worse than telling us what to eat is telling us about what you eat. When people tell me, “Oh wow, I could never live without chicken,” or, “I just love bacon way too much for that,” I have to bite my tongue not to yell, “OH RIGHT YOU’RE TOO SELF-CONSUMED TO PUT THE LIFE OF A CREATURE BEFORE YOUR PERSONAL TASTE AND PLEASURE.” So please stop saying it. Please. Also, don’t rub your meat in our faces. I didn’t stop eating Chick-fil-A because I don’t like it. Believe me, there are days when I would give anything (besides the life of an animal) for some chicken minis or a burger from Five Guys. We are making a sacrifice. We are refraining from something because it is more humane even though it is much more difficult. So don’t try to make me eat your chicken wing and don’t flaunt your bacon. It’s rude and insensitive.
Another insensitive act on the part of many meat eaters is disregarding our feeling towards eating meat. For example, if I order something that normally comes with meat without it, and they put meat on it anyway, I get upset. Do not tell me not to be upset. First, it is my right to feel any emotion I want, and you can’t tell me how to feel or react instinctively to something. Second, I feel guilt that, even though I won’t eat it, it was still prepared on my behalf. It will most likely be thrown away. Though it wasn’t my intent, an animal has been killed, cooked, and thrown to the garbage because of me. So I am going to be upset. You don’t have to agree with me, but you can respect that that’s how I feel.
The bottom line is, many vegetarians are very sensitive about our dietary choices. If we aren’t guilting you about eating animals, then don’t bombard us with questions and judgments of our practice. Learn to have some respect for the sacrifice we make willingly. Maybe even learn from us and make some ethical changes in your own diet.
Sincerely,
Vegetarians and vegans everywhere
