how do i tell others that i am a vegetarian?

my close pal knows but everyone else?

im quite scared not sure why maybe worried that they will make fun of me and start going on about the reasons one needs meat etc


i sometimes go over to a relatives house and all they have is meat, how do i let them know that i do not eat it?

i do not want them 2 go out of their way just for me....but.....do i just eat before i go? if i do they kinda complain and say well you knew you were coming over for dinner.....


help please orgers.

Love M

i hate to tell you this, but you're just going to have to buck up and get ready for the rainbow of responses you're going to get from people, because for some reason, people LOVE to expound on their opinions if you mention you're a vegetarian.

as far as telling people i'm a vegetarian, i've heard every single argument, justification, excuse, debate, apology, smartmouth remark, and downright rude comment in the book.

and ya know what? i just learned to grow a thick skin, because people's responses say more about them and THEIR insecurities than it says about me and the discipline i've maintained for the past 20 years.

at this point in the game, i don't really volunteer the fact that i'm a vegetarian unless it's relevant. if i'm at a party and someone wants to offer me some snack item with meat in it, i just say "no thanks" and don't explain why. it's not that i'm ashamed or anything, it's just that i don't always want to go into the whole vegetarian discussion every time i get around people and food.

but yeah. the downside of vegetarianism is that you're going to get a LOT of comments from here on out. don't pay em any mind. educate people when you can. let people know when they're not being respectful. have a sense of humor about it, but let them know you're serious about your choices.

but mostly, don't pay em any mind.

Anxiety said:

Curd Nerd

Fauxie said:

Leek Geek

Anxiety said:

Potata Fellata

Fauxie said:

Seitan Ass

Anxiety said:

thanks gorgeous!

Anxiety said:

I didnt know I was suppose to do that, i just gobbled up food with you and tried not to fart like a cat!

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

oh, and some people will go off on long verbal sessions about vegan cows for hours on end.

And others, especially in the South and Midwest, will tell you ~ "yeah, I'm vegetarian too but I gotta have my chicken and fish" . Others think it's funny to try to trick you into eating foods containing meat but others are cool and genuinely interested. Then there is my mom who insists I can eat Yoplait yogurt because it is "Kosher" . Anx gave excellent advice. I don't usually volunteer the information unless it's relevant. Have strength in your decision and know it is the right thing for you and that will help provide the right answers without offending people. Quiet grace is generally more effective than a megaphone grandstand, I've found.
[Edited 7/25/08 21:03pm]

Anxiety said:

The alarm systems were a good idea.....

I recently started eating chicken again, but when I was eating a vegetarian diet, I just didn't say anything, and most people didn't really notice.

If someone did say something, I'd just reply "I'm trying to eat less meat right now to get heathier" and that would usually suffice

Good luck girly

thekidsgirl said:

thanks sweetie

MoonSongs said:

thanks honey

Anxiety said:

missmad said:

It a true story!

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

lol, its all good hun!

missmad said:

Its even funnier then you would think!

In Minneapolis we always eat somewhere between veggie/vegan. ( Its not like we miss the meat.)

Its a very long story but we always have a hickory dickory dock session and that one was on protecting cows from meat eaters...

Simple.

Make fun of ppl who eat meat.

Never once do I miss a chnce to express how disgusted I am at somebody chewing on a cow.

It feels great.

Try it.

rushing07 said:

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

2 cute!