The truth comes out
When people find out that Steven and I are vegetarians, or when it comes up in conversation, a very typical response is, “I’m practically a vegetarian myself! I rarely eat meat!”
It gets so old.
I understand why people say it – they’re trying to relate to us. They’re trying to make us feel welcome. They’re trying to make us comfortable. They’re trying to make us like them. I appreciate all of this.
But – when I’ve seen you wolf down an entire plate of ribs / 10 pieces of bacon / a huge steak / half of a Thanksgiving turkey, I know you are not “practically a vegetarian.” Especially if I’ve never seen you eat a meal without meat in it.
This all sounds judgmental. But, it all honesty, I don’t give a crap who eats meat and who doesn’t (although I do notice). I dated Steven for 3 years before he became a vegetarian, and it never bothered me. I even made cold cut meat sandwiches for him to take to work. And we served prime rib at our wedding (with a vegetarian option, of course).
If you don’t bother me about not eating meat, why the hell should I bother you? Unless you’re shoving your meat dish in my face, harassing me, I don’t give a crap.
A few weekends ago, we met a friend of my uncle while having dinner at my Grandma’s. The friend’s response to finding out we’re vegetarian was surprisingly refreshing:
“I think I would just die if I couldn’t eat meat!”
Side Note: Even though it’s been 7 years since the 9/11 attacks, I still get a huge lump in my throat when I see the photos/videos. I guess some things hurt for a lifetime.
Themocracy
a full slab, did they at least have a salad 🙂
you’re not alone, there’s no way to see it other than deeply and devastatingly sad.
Hee hee, I don’t blame you for being frustrated. There’s a big difference between “I don’t often eat meat” (a diet I used to have) and “I’m practically a vegetarian!”.
People mean well, but they sure make themselves look silly in the process. :p
That’s how I feel about vegetarianism, too. It’s admirable, and I would do it if I thought I could, but I just really don’t think I could. I like meat too much.
That’s why I am a Vaguetarian! LOL. I eat meat a couple of times a month and I also eat a lot of raw and macrobiotic foods, but I didn’t want people trying to correct what niche I’m in according to what I eat or what I used to eat. So I just figured I’d out myself as a vaguetarian and since it really doesn’t have a true definition, nobody could give me a hard time. Nobody likes being labeled and nobody likes to be reprimanded if they change their eating habits. Anyway, I like most people who are kind and respectful of others. Eating habits are never an issue. Anyway, it is nice though when someone can just come out and tell the truth like that and not feel like they are going to be judged. And yeah, I’ll always think of certain people and memories during this time of year. Great post!
I was a pescaterian as they say- I ate fish but no chicken, pork or red meat for many years but then one fateful day my uncle bbq’d some trout in bacon and well, I didn’t pick it off. I ate all of it!
Damn do I love me some bacon. 🙂
I think your attitude is very healthy. People need to really just worry about themselves. You are right, why should they care if you are, or are not a veg head? My daughter (12 yrs) became a vegetarian about 2 years ago. I encouraged her because she felt so strongly about it. It’s so much healthier and ya know, the Bocca products are not so bad. I’ll eat with her sometimes because I basically cook 2 meals (one for my meat eating boys and myself, and one for her)- that can get a little tiring…. I’m so tired tonight I don’t know if this comment even makes sense. Hope you are doing well, and yes, 9-11 has been on my mind, all day feeling kinda sad.
de – I think they had potatoes with it 😉
diane – They DO mean well! They probably just don’t realize that I do see it as being a huge difference.
Jess – Thank you for your honesty! See! That is all I want! I don’t mind if someone “likes meat too much.”
teeni – I like that you came up with your own definition, because sooner or later, people probably WOULD try to label you. It just seems that’s the way they are!
sizzle – LOL! Even I think bacon smells good 🙂 Where you a pescaterian for health or moral purposes?
javaqueen14 – I think it’s great that you’re letting your daughter try this diet out. And especially that you accommodate by making two meals.
I’m an unrepentant carnivoir, however I can and frequently do eat vegetarian meals. (I really miss Wallaby’s veggie fajita!) My sister quit eating grains (to help control her blood sugar), and it’s sometimes hard to find a meal out that caters to that particular need. I say, to each his/her own.
I am not even close to a vegetarian and I didn’t even notice when we had lunch. I would miss fish too much and well, hamburgers LOL 🙂 And I don’t like beans, so I think I would be screwed in the long run ::::big smile:::::
Now that summer is over, the bbq will be winding down it’s season. Which means I normally eat less meat. I rarely eat chicken anymore, but still love a good steak. My wife was vegetarian for a time (before I knew her), but now eats meat, but not that often. It would be hard for me to totally give it all up. I live by moderation most of the time, so it’s not gorge.. gorge.. gorge. It’s planned and spaced apart.
The other day, I went to lunch with a co-worker, who is vegetarian, and I tried a bite of her tofu salad. While it had a decent taste to it, it wasn’t something I would think i would want to eat on a regular basis. So I concluded that if I ever become a vegetarian, I would have to stick to just foods that a naturally vegetarian and not vegetarian foods that try to taste like something else.
Fish would be a hard thing for me to give up. Love fish. So I would be a pescetarian.
Oh, and dairy products. Cheese, butter and milk would be a tough toss.
i never really understood how hard it would be for me to be a vegetarian until i started really learning about it… i don’t know what it is but i love meat… (now that sounds just dirty!! lol) someone once told me that if i watched that movie about slaughter houses i would change my mind… and to be honest, that’s why i haven’t watched that movie- i don’t know that i would want to give up meat… i’m glad that you’re open-minded though, unlike one of my vegetarian friends, he would sit there and just slam us for eating meat…
like you, 9/11 will always be an emotional day for me…
=^..^=
I’m practically an omnivore. How’s that? 😉
My step-daughter became a vegetarian recently. In fact, she has also joined PETA and has gotten rid of all of her leather shoes, purses,etc. I am proud that she has chosen a healthy lifestyle. My husband and I both eat meat. He couldn’t exist without it(or so he thinks).:) I think whatever a person chooses, eat meat or not, is a personal choice. I don’t feel I need to try to feel closer to someone by trying to become what they are(or almost what they are). One can not ALMOST be a vegetarian. You either ARE or you’re NOT. We recently went to the MAYO employee picnic with her(she’s a Laboratory Scientist) where they served mostly meat selections. There were a couple of fruit items and some pasta salad, but that was it. She never said anything to her Dad nor to me about what we ate and we never give her any crap about what she doesn’t eat. However, I am concerned about what do I cook for her when she comes for holidays? We don’t do the traditional turkey, we have lasagne. Veggie lasagne, maybe?
My older son is very sensitive and loves animals. It did not surprise me when he decided to become vegetarian a few years ago. It lasted for at least a year and then he decided to be vegan also. I tried really hard to do it all with him but I just couldn’t. I still helped him plan his meals and respected his choice. He was responsible for writing things on the grocery list so he would have halthy food to eat…I wasn’t ok with him being a candy-tarian or anything unhealthy. After a few years of religiously following it, he got a huge craving for Lucky Charms and when we read the ingredients, he saw that if he had them he would be consuming gelatin (I think that is what it was). He decided he was ok with that and has slowly been adding meat back in too. I haven’t pushed him at all though. In our house we respect other peoples choices even if they aren’t what we happen to be choosing. I do rarely eat meat, but I would never claim to be a vegetarian. My mother in law does that and then scarfs down burgers and it just plain cracks me up sometimes!
This may be personal, and if so you can choose to ignore it but have you always been vegetarian? If not, what made you decide to try it?
Odie – I can’t imagine how hard it would be to not eat grains 🙁 That’s almost a case to eat more meat 😉
Felicia – Beans are a good source of protein for vegetarians! You would just be stuck eating tofu 😛
martymankins – I am not a big fan of vegetarian products trying to taste like meat either. And I don’t really miss the taste of meat. I miss holding a hot dog in my hand, or eating a warm burger. I do like the boca/morningstar/gardenburger products for that reason.
CourtneyInControl – Your vegetarian friend is giving the rest of us a bad name! 😛 😉
kapgar – And that is the truth!
Denise – That is cool that your step-daughter made this decision. Especially since she is so level-headed about it. The leather thing bothers me too. But… how can you not have leather seats in your car? ARG… it’s so frustrating. I try to buy fake whenever I can. Veggie lasagna is amazing. I have a good recipe if you want it! I’ve also had family members make me quiche, vegetarian chili, vegetarian corn dogs… yum yum!
tori – Candy-tarian? HA HA HA! I think I was a chip-tarian when I started out! I am amazed that your son made this decision at such a young age, and stuck to it for so long. I love seeing passion in kids that young! And the fact that you supported him probably helps him be a more accepting person over all 🙂 I have not always been a vegetarian. I became one about 7 years ago, because I had a friend whose parent was vegan and I began learning a lot about animal cruelty. I didn’t want to… feel that guilt, so I gave up meat. I wrote a post about it (A LONG TIME AGO!) that I will copy into an email to you 🙂
ooh, i didn’t know you were vegetarians! your POV is interesting. have you ever read schnozzfest? she recently became vegan and wrote a long post about how much it pisses her off when people say “omg, i could NEVER do that!” When i say that, it’s usually because i’m impressed at your convictions / willpower / ability to be more healthy than me, not because i think you’re a freak for not eating meat 😉
Alice – I haven’t read schnozzfest… but now I want to look her up! I understand what you’re saying about “I could never do that.” But I can also imagine how schnozzfest might be offended, because some people say it in a way like you’re weird for doing it, and some people, like you, say it in an astonished way.