I’ve been a vegetarian my entire life. I chosen to follow a vegetarian diet because I believe that it is the best for my health, the environment, and animals. As much as I enjoy being vegetarian, I do get some rather annoying comments when someone finds out about my dietary choices.
“I’m vegetarian, but I eat fish.”
Newsflash - Eating anything that had a working heart beat does not make you vegetarian. Fish are animals, ergo eating fish makes you a pescaterian. If I had a dollar for every time someone called themselves vegetarian, when in reality they eat meat, I’d be a millionaire. Now I realize that when some people say that they’re vegetarian, even though they are not, they don’t mean any harm and are simply not educated in the matter. We live in an era where almost everyone owns a smartphone, it’s not that hard to google the definition of a vegetarian diet.
“What do you even eat? Grass?”
No, I don’t eat grass. What do you eat? Animal guts?
“Where do you get protein from?”
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need an enormous amount of protein. The U.S. recommended daily allowance of protein is .8 grams per kilogram of bodyweight (.36 grams per pound) for the general population. Let's say you weigh 150 pounds. That means that you just need 54 grams of protein. That’s really not a lot. Getting protein as a vegetarian is also very easy. Nuts, soy, low-fat dairy products, beans, and lentils are all excellent sources of protein.
“Why don’t you eat meat? It’s soo good!
Being vegetarian is better for your health, animals, and the environment. Personally, I think that outweighs the “amazing” taste of meat. Plus, I love the food I eat. I think it’s just as flavorful and interesting as any meat dish.
“How do you do it?”
I’ve been following the same diet for my entire life, so it is very easy. If you want to try switching to a vegetarian diet I recommend slowly incorporating more meat-free dishes into your diet, rather than quitting cold turkey. Being a vegetarian is not a punishment. I have linked a few of my favorite Youtube channels below for easy and delicious recipes.
Now in all seriousness, I know I have come off as rather angry in this article. This is because comments like these can get really annoying over the years. However, I understand that most of them just come from a lack of education, and if anyone wanted to know more about the food I eat, I’d be happy to tell them. I promise I don’t bite in person!
Youtube channels with good recipes:
- Mind over munch: https://www.youtube.com/user/MindOverMunch
- Hot for food: https://www.youtube.com/user/hotforfoodblog
- Jess Beautician: https://www.youtube.com/user/JessicaBeautician