Since becoming a vegetarian over ten years ago, I have experienced a lot of praise and ridicule for my decision. Despite coming from very carnivorous families, I have been able resist the temptation and not cave in to the persuasion. Every day is a constant struggle and explanation of my life choices because not eating meat is such a foreign concept to people. But here are some of the standout struggles that I experience on a regular basis.

1. You go out to eat and there’s nothing on the menu that doesn’t have meat in it, but you have to make a decision.

2. You constantly get questioned for why you ever decided to adopt this lifestyle.

3. Your friends and family convince you to just give in and eat meat.

4. You go over someone’s place for dinner and they forget / don’t know that you are a vegetarian and you have to awkwardly tell them, starve, or eat only salad and bread.

5. People tell you to just “pick out the meat” like that makes it any better.

6. People act like their being a vegetarian for a week is equivalent to your endless struggle that has defined your life for years.

7. People think by telling you that you not eating animals is not going to stop them from being killed will dissuade you from continuing to be a vegetarian.

8. Constantly having to check the ingredients on things like chips, baked beans, fries, and other foods that seemed vegetarian, but aren’t.

9. Never being able to attend a cookout without bringing your own veggie burgers or inconveniencing the cook.

10. On the rare occasion you go to a restaurant with more than three vegetarian options and you are extremely overwhelmed with options.

11. Everyone suddenly becomes a nutritionist and tells you how much protein you’re missing out on.

12. People ask if they can eat meat in front of you.

At the end of the day, being a vegetarian is a lifestyle I chose and expect to be respected by the people around me. Even though my diet isn’t ideal for the average carnivore, I don’t push vegetarianism on anyone and hope that they don’t push their diet on me. Being a vegetarian makes me happy and I’m just as healthy as any other person, so please, let a vegetarian live!