I became a vegetarian about a year and a half ago due to ethical and health reasons. While I've learned a lot and enjoyed being a vegetarian, it has made for some...interesting conversations whenever I go home to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
The region's local cuisine is a hybrid of meat-heavy Mexican traditional dishes, Texas BBQ, and their out-of-control lovechild, Tex-Mex food.
While I don't think I can speak for all vegetarians who visit their Mexican relatives in Texas, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that, if you were to find yourself in that situation, these are some travesties you'd probably come across.
1. First of all, TACOS. Need I say more?
Basically all my self-control melts at the glory of tacos.
2. Your health is a constant source of worry.
"But mija, where do you get your protein from?"
3. Your pastor thinks you’ve entered a new-age cult.
"But that's not what veganism means..."
4. Your cousins pity you with a cheeseburger in hand.
"But really, guys, I don't miss being unhealthy..."
5. You come across a steakhouse every 10 seconds and very little, if any, legit vegetarian restaurants.
Google Maps becomes your best friend.
6. Corn miracles called tamales are out-of-bounds.
They may look like Elven bread from Lord of the Rings, but they're made with pork lard...
7. You get told you’ve been Americanized and are forsaking the foods of your ancestors.
…even though it's the United States that has the biggest mass production of beef in the world AND my Azteca ancestors ate corn and avocado too, so...
8. Your relatives think you’re living the life of a rabbit.
"And what do you eat, lettuce and carrots?"
But they have no idea about all the amazing dishes vegetarians (and even vegans) get to eat, including these brownies! Thank you plants!
9. Aunts whisper to each other under their breath as if you weren't there.
"Si que se hizo vegetariana."
"She what?"
"Mmm-hmm."
10. You have to explain the American food industry because your relatives don’t get why eating meat would ever be unethical.
They might think you do it to spare an animal’s feelings, but you have a lot of reasons.
The cruelty of the meat production industry in the U.S. as well as the additives and hormones in meat are things that many people who grew up or live in Mexico don’t know about. A lot of my relatives lived in the country, where their access to meat was unadulterated by production—their dinner grazed outside their window. Sadly, that’s not the way things are anymore.
11. People think white meat is a vegetarian option.
Because red beef is the only legit meat, right?
But all hyperbole and parody aside...
Being a vegetarian in a tight Mexican community in Texas can be a very challenging experience, because it's like historical cuisine trying to preserve its dishes within the travesties of the modern American food industry. Plus, there are all sorts of cultural discrepancies and stigmas that come with vegetarianism (although vegetarianism in Mexico is another story entirely).
But having a supportive and understanding community that validates your dietary and ethical convictions can make this whole journey all the more pleasant. Who knows, they might just jump into your bandwagon one day and make health-conscious choices for themselves!
