I gave up eating animals eight years ago, and in those eight years, I have realized that it isn't vegans who are shoving their dietary opinions down the throats of others; it's meat-eaters.

My diet has been picked apart so much over the years that I'm surprised that it hasn't been given its own roast on Comedy Central (are those still a thing?). And now that I am also gluten free, it's like a whole other floodgate has opened. I've been told that the way I eat exemplifies my vanity (because I obviously have no other reason to not eat rotting flesh than being skinny, right?), that I must be deficient in every nutrient known to man, that I am just following a "stupid fad," that animals were meant for eating...the list could continue for hours.

At first, when I was what I like to call a baby vegan, these comments really bothered me. What would inspire so many people to have such strong opinions on something that ultimately didn't affect them? *cough* pro-life activists *cough*. Now that I'm a seasoned veteran when it comes to this lifestyle, I truly believe that the criticism is never about the diet itself. It's all about the fact that the dieter is doing something that is abnormal and against the status quo. We are a society that values conformity above all else, so why should that differ even when it comes to stupid things like what you decide to put in your mouth?

Despite what internet jokes would like to have you believe, I can count on one hand the number of people I have genuinely attempted to convert to veganism. Sure, I love to talk about the reasons behind my decision, the health benefits, and the environmental upsides as much as the next herbivore, but here's the catch: I only bring these up when I'm asked about them. Whaaaat, you say?

Believe me, I know that this mindset goes against everything you've ever heard about pushy vegans, but hear me out: has there ever honestly been success in convincing someone to do something they are just not interested in doing? Let's be honest, no. So, I hold my tongue unless I'm asked otherwise. And when I am asked, I'm happy as hell.

I developed this don't ask, don't tell mentality as a way to save the sanity and normal blood pressure levels of both parties involved. Personal experience has proved time and time again that people love to disagree simply for the sake of disagreeing, even when their arguments can be shut down with facts and living proof. And you know what? That's fine! To each their own, and to each to eat their own as well. There is nothing wrong with personal opinion: respect mine, and I will respect yours.

Still, there are those that love to ney-say even when left unprovoked. These are the people that are convinced that you have an eating disorder and think it's funny to sneak cheese on your veggie burger. I have come to the conclusion that, like your mama always told you, they're just jealous. If you look good and feel good, well damn, it must be witchcraft. You must be unhappy. There must be some pitfall in what is apparently a perfect equation. But at the end of the day? I get it, I do. Humans are naturally skeptical.

But honest to God himself, if there was a downfall to eating this way, I would have experienced it by now. So to the haters: I feel great eating plants. And I'm probably healthier than you, too. Vitamin deficient? Protein deficient? My blood work would state otherwise, but tell yourself whatever you need to make yourself feel better.