Being a vegetarian who doesn’t eat vegetables is something most people probably can’t imagine. People already assume being vegetarian in general is difficult, but for me, it’s all I’ve ever really known for about half my life. My parents thought it would be a phase at the time, but I just stuck to it. There was really no legitimate reason for me to decide to be vegetarian. With this said, there are often certain stigmas associated with being a vegetarian. Oftentimes, people are taken back when they find out I’m vegetarian. It almost seems like being vegetarian is so out of the ordinary and people think I can’t eat ‘good’ food when none of that is true.

One of these stigmas is that we’re all the epitome of health and wellness and that being fit is important to all of us. This is probably the one topic I get asked about the most and being healthy is definitely not the reason I do not eat meat. Living a healthy life is definitely great and I try my absolute hardest to adhere to a semi-healthy lifestyle (aka forcing myself to eat certain veggies and, at least, a salad per day).

Another is that we all do it for the animals. Personally, I do love animals and think they’re great but to me, not consuming them is just an additional bonus. I really do not even mind when other people eat meat around me. When on the other hand, some people become vegetarian simply for health reasons. While at times these stigmas can be true, I can confirm that they are not always true. I, for one, am a vegetarian who does not enjoy vegetables. I will add a disclaimer and say I do eat some veggies but that doesn’t go far outside of potatoes, lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes. I will admit to trying different veggies from time to time, but the key word is "try."

I am pretty adventurous when it comes to trying new food, but tend to stick to my favorites more frequently. In my world, pizza has it’s own food group, cheese is in or on nearly everything, and I will probably enjoy almost anything fried. I will be the first to admit I love a fresh salad, but it is definitely not my go-to a majority of the time. I try new food all the time and love tasting food from different cultures; my meals are just always ordered without meat. I really don’t see this decision being a big deal because usually restaurants are very accommodating to a wide variety of needs. Even colleges nowadays are very vegetarian-friendly and it truly does make this life choice very easy to stick to. I do not believe vegetarianism should be looked down on or frowned upon. I also do not think it is extremely unordinary, millions of people are vegetarian. Every vegetarian is different, we all aren’t the same people with the same ideals. Everyone has their unique reasons for their choices and outlook on life. All we can do is greet people with an open mind and respect their individual opinions.

There are also plenty of healthier options outside of vegetables that are actually quite delicious. Fruit, nuts, sandwiches, and so many other foods. Smoothies are perfect for just about any occasion at any time and can be extremely healthy and yummy. So, don’t be afraid to split some food with your vegetarian friends, chances are they like a lot of the same food you like, too. Did someone say Domino’s? I’d love to.