Question for Vegetarians

[disneyfav4ever]

I just recently started eating a pescetarian, (mostly vegetarian) diet, and have been taking a lot of demeaning comments about it. How do you deal with people who say things like, "you won't stick with it," "it's just a phase," "there's nothing you can eat," "what you eat is boring," "I'm going to sneak bacon into your food," and "you can't even give up fish, so you won't be able to never eat steak again."

Just wonder how others deal with things like this. I know "just ignore it," will probably be a lot of people suggestion, but I am asked things like this almost every day, including being asked a few times a day what I've eaten recently.

 

[npmommie]

Why are they so concerned with what you eat or don't eat?
why are you pescatarian ( which is NOT vegetarian btw )

eating a veg diet is not restrictive in the least, in fact I think it is more varied than straight up meat and potatoes.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I have been one for many years...really I do not care what people think and I have never had anyone ever say anything. Even at Disney!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

just educate yourself enough to answer them back in a polite and reasoned way!!

the "gonna sneak bacon thing"...hate that. Just remind them they COULD, it won't kill you, but it would be really rude and inconsiderate of your feeling/choices.

"won't last", etc......only thing you can do is stick it out and prove them wrong.

"nothing you can eat"...again, come back with an educated and reasoned answer.

kill 'em with kindness and prove them wrong.....

seriously though, if these are your friends....you might want to reconsider their "friendship"!!!

(only one I got this from was my MIL......20+ years later......I think she's seen how wrong she was!!!!)

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Why are they so concerned with what you eat or don't eat?
why are you pescatarian ( which is NOT vegetarian btw )

eating a veg diet is not restrictive in the least, in fact I think it is more varied than straight up meat and potatoes.

I know pescetarian isn't technically a true vegetarian diet, but I am trying to eat as vegetarian as possible, and in over a month I've only eaten fish about three times. I'm actually trying to eat as vegan as possible, but am having a real hard time cutting most cheese out of my diet.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I know pescetarian isn't technically a true vegetarian diet, but I am trying to eat as vegetarian as possible, and in over a month I've only eaten fish about three times. I'm actually trying to eat as vegan as possible, but am having a real hard time cutting most cheese out of my diet.

cheese and dairy are the hardest. Have you tried searching for menu ideas - I know there is a thread here sharing recipes.

depending on what your concerns are (health vs. not eating anything with a face) you could try just going to organic/locally raised dairy that would be healthier, etc.

 

[amyren]

Our family has been vegetarian for a year. Actually exactly a year this weekend. We got a lot of those comments at first but they are tapering off. We still get the random, “do you want a hotdog” ((snicker)). I think our friends and family are beginning to respect our decision. Actually, some of them have started using some of my veggie recipes. I’m sorta a vegetarian evangelist.

 

[budbeerlady]

Not very nice people!

I have been a wanna be for 4 years now, I am lacto-ovo so it was easier. After the first 2 weeks it was very freeing, I was stuck in a box so to speak. There are so many wonderful vegetarian meal that our family eats now. And IF you feel the need to use morning star or boca most people cannot tell the difference in a dish. I have only had a couple of times when I was at a loss what to eat, mostly my poor planning to bring something with me.

Good luck with your health changes.

 

[disney_mommy]

I just recently started eating a pescetarian, (mostly vegetarian) diet, and have been taking a lot of demeaning comments about it. How do you deal with people who say things like, "you won't stick with it," "Watch me." "it's just a phase," "No, not really." "there's nothing you can eat," "I've found plenty to eat, thanks." "what you eat is boring," "Not to me!" "I'm going to sneak bacon into your food," "Please don't disrespect me in that way." and "you can't even give up fish, so you won't be able to never eat steak again." It's a process and I'm right where I need to be. But thanks for your concern."


Just wonder how others deal with things like this. I know "just ignore it," will probably be a lot of people suggestion, but I am asked things like this almost every day, including being asked a few times a day what I've eaten recently. Tell them!

My suggestions are in red above. Or, you can just ignore them. They'll eventually get tired of you not playing so they'll move on to something else.

And good for you!

 

[worm761]

I will start by saying that I am not a vegetarian and have no desire to be one. BUT if people are being rude, start questioning their choices. Give it right back to them and show them how rude they really are. My nephew is a vegetarian, not by choice. He has PKU and cannot have protein. The questions are crazy.

 

[FireDancer]

I would just let it roll off. At first they are probably used to the way you used to eat and since the vast majority of people don't stick with lifestyle changes they probably just think it is a phase with you.

If you do stick with it after a while it will just become who you are and the barbs will stop for the most part. I am not a vegetarian but I am a pretty healthy eater and used to get the same comments. Once it changed from a phase into a lifestyle most of the little barbs stopped.

 

[CowboyCO]

Just give them the same answer I give when people express dismay at the fact that I hunt for deer and elk-- "because it tastes good and I enjoy eating organic".

 

[bumbershoot]

At the beginning, I just wouldn't be talking about it enough to let people make those comments. Especially since you're still eating fish. I will admit that I still allowed fish for quite some time (the reasoning was that I *would* catch, kill, and cook it...but finally I admitted to myself that I never had and never would), but very very rarely, and ONLY ever at home, in private. It wasn't something I wanted to confuse people with, because if you say "vegetarian" and then eat fish, people will think you're lying (which you are, but I mean they will think you're lying and DO things about it, like put sneaky things in your food). Or they'll think that vegetarian means fish, and that will cause problems for the next true vegetarian they go to cook for.

There have been really persistent people in my life, who questioned me to the point of nearly making me lose my temper...those exact people became vegetarian within the year. They were asking questions because they wanted to *learn* about it. But they never admitted their reasons, it was one of those things you understand in retrospect...

 

[minkydog]

I know pescetarian isn't technically a true vegetarian diet, but I am trying to eat as vegetarian as possible, and in over a month I've only eaten fish about three times. I'm actually trying to eat as vegan as possible, but am having a real hard time cutting most cheese out of my diet.

My DD17 has been pescatarian for 2 years and vegetarian for 3. I consider her vegetarian because she only eats fish about 2-3 times/month. I figure if you're eating veg 27days a month, you pretty much qualify. DD is very quiet about it. She doesn't proselytize or make anyone feel bad for eating meat. She's never demanding; she just eats whatever she can.

You can definitely do this. Since DD went veg we have all reduced our meat consumption. Rather than eating meat 10 times a week, we're eating it less than 5. I also make sure all our sides are veg. In fact, last Thanksgiving everything on the table except the turkey was vegetarian, including the dressing, gravy, and collard greens. So we're not vegetarian, but it's better for us than before.

DDs diet is very well-balanced with beans, rices, pasta, fruit, veggies, and whole grains. She eats eggs and cheese a few times/week as well. About 2 years ago, she became seriously anemic. She had to go back to meat, plus big fat iron supplement for about 3 months. But after that, she was fine. Her doctor is fine with it, as long as she is eating eggs, cheese, and a little fish.

I'm sure you will get a lot of push-back from vegans, who are very strict with their diet. But it's not a contest. You get the same big, gold trophy at the end of the day.

 

[WDWBarb]

It is strange, how people want to make comments on what you eat. I've been vegetarian for about 21 years now and I still get comments all of the time. I quit having business lunches for this reason - I actually had clients "attack" me for being a veg (no, I don't tell them, but they really key in when I say, "garden salad, no bacon bits or eggs please").

I guess some people feel threatened by the choice we have made. What's very strange is that people would be SO offended if I commented on the steak they were eating and berated their choice.

Someone else said it - "kill 'em with kindness." I've discovered that the best tactic to get people to change is to reflect qualities they would like to see in themselves.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I would just simply say, "Thank you for your support." LOL! What they think of you is none of your business. I gave up most forms of meat in 1987 (chicken and fish went in 2004) and some family still think it's a phase. I have added a small amount of fish into my diet, recently for health reasons. But, I reserve the right to change my mind at any time.

It bothers me more when other vegetarians, in all their various forms, nit pick on other veges over semantics! Yes, I will eat some fish but the rest of my diet is strictly vegetarian. So, I tell people I am vegetarian. That means I do not want want chicken stock in my soups, rice pilaf, butter, mashed potatoes, etc... gelatin in my yogurt or marshmallows. It's much easier to avoid these things I won't eat by saying vegetarian, rather than having to explain my entire eating philosophy & protocol. LOL!!!

Go for it!! There is tons support out there for you if you want it!!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

At the beginning, I just wouldn't be talking about it enough to let people make those comments.

I haven't really outright told anyone I quit eating meat, and even the people I do tell, they know I still eat fish occasionally. Though it's been over a month now, and I've only eaten seafood I think four times. But my family know, since I gave them all the meat I had in my freezer, and my friends know, because them I did tell, (but they are not the ones making comments,) and my coworkers know, because they can see what I buy when I do my grocery shopping, and I eat at least one meal a day five days a week with some of them. They just noticed the addition of things like tofu to my diet, and asked. I didn't expect the responses and flack I've gotten for it.

 

[parrothead365]

Never could figure out why other people worry about what you eat If you want to eat vegan then knock yourself out Its not for me but I say eat and let eat.

 

[shortbun]

I was a vegetarian in the 70's and everyone thought it was cool. My son is a veggie now, no one picks on him but his best friend's mother and dad don't give him a choice when they are serving meat. I'm talking, it's a hot dog or just a bun and a salad with bacon in it. I've started sending him with a peanut butter sandwich. Last summer I even sent a jar of peanut butter to their house.

 

[bicker]

I just recently started eating a pescetarian, (mostly vegetarian) diet, and have been taking a lot of demeaning comments about it.

There are many people out there who simply cannot stand that other folks live according to their own beliefs and values. I see that not only as a vegetarian.

How do you deal with people who say things like, "you won't stick with it," "it's just a phase," "there's nothing you can eat," "what you eat is boring," "I'm going to sneak bacon into your food," and "you can't even give up fish, so you won't be able to never eat steak again."

I ignore them. If I'm feeling particularly snarky, I'll thrown one of the more vicious insults against animal-eaters that I see the über-vegan advocates regularly launch. While I think everyone should make their own decisions in this regard, I also believe in speaking to people in their own language.

I do have some suggestions about what not to do, though: Don't try to convert them. As with practically everything, they need to come to you. Don't even defend your decisions to them, beyond drawing the parallel to their own insistence that they live according to their own decisions.

Never could figure out why other people worry about what you eat

It's all part of the "you should do as I believe you should do instead of what you believe you should do" power-play many people like to engage in.